When talking about hand stripping, pet owners tend to have a lot of questions at the beginning, especially if they are new to this type of grooming and they are hoping to do it themselves rather than simply going to a groomer to get the job done. We get it. This can all seem a little intimidating. There’s good reason for that. Hand stripping needs to be handled with care to work effectively. However, if you go into the process knowing what you are doing and what to expect, it doesn’t have to be an anxiety-inducing task. Having questions and concerns is important. That’s why we are here to alleviate your concerns and provide some answers.

The process is somewhat given away by its name – stripping loose hair by hand. But it is not all that simple. Hand stripping is a type of grooming method that dog owners use to remove excess hair from their dog’s coat. The most common method of dog grooming is clipping, this method involves the use of a pair of electric clippers which cut or shave the top layer of hair on a dog’s coat. The difference between clipping and hand-stripping is that not only is hand-stripping done by hand, but it removes coat from the root (not just the top layer) so a new coat is able to grow in. Each time you clip a dog’s coat instead of hand stripping, you are just taking off the top layer of dead fur rather than removing it from the roots. As a result, the coat may become duller in texture and color with each clipping, which is why many people consider hand stripping to be preferable. Is it an ideal solution for every dog? Of course not, it all depends on the dog and the coat. For some dogs, it’s not just the best solution, but the only one as well. If you are causing large bald patches with redness, bumps, or rashes then STOP IMMEDIATELY. Bathing

About Handstripping

In the past, working terriers would have their coats naturally pulled by running through brush, hunting, tunneling, or simply by going about their day. Newer groomers are learning more and more about skin science and how bathing actually does help the dog’s skin. It’s important that you don’t bathe a wiry coat too often because it can cause the hair to dry out. When you bathe your dog, it’s important that you use a shampoo specifically formulated for wiry haired breeds due to the unique makeup of their coat. If your dog is dirty, it’s worth bathing and drying before grooming to make the job easier.

Okay, so maybe not everyone likes homework. With that in mind, let’s get it all out of the way and focus on this curious dog known as the Bichon Frise, French for “curly white lap dog.” Hey, the French are nothing if not a little bit literal. By manually removing hairs from the skin you help maintain proper coat texture and color. This is ideal for working breeds such as Terriers. We dive deeper into the best tools for each breed in our Handstripping Masterclass. Stripping KnivesThey’re simply a dull toothed comb that allows groomers to get a better grip (before stripping knives were widely available groomers would often use a dulled butter knife). Groomers will grip hair between the flat of the blade and their thumb, and then gently pull in the direction of growth. The teeth help guide the coat into your finger and up onto the flat of the blade. Carding knives come in many shapes and sizes, and many stripping knives can be used for carding by changing from a pulling to a raking technique. Handstripping helps support the healthy growth of hair, but it’s helpful to understand how it helps. To do this let’s first explain the four stages of hair growth in dogs. Developed in the 1950s in the United States, the Peekapoo is one of the oldest designer dog breeds. In fact, these hybrids had their start even before the term designer dogs was coined in the first place- and their long history is just a testament to their many qualities. Bred to be a low-shedding, hypoallergenic companion dog, the Peekapoo gained popularity by the early 1960s and is still a popular breed today.

This includes most Terrier breeds, as well as some sporting or hound breeds. Many mixed terrier type dogs from southern areas also have a ‘strippable’ coat. Less shedding – unlike many other dog’s they don’t shed their coat which means less of those pesky dog hairs around the house. To groom a wiry haired dog breed we’ll use a method known as handstripping. This is a time intensive grooming technique that requires older hairs to be pulled out of the coat by hand or using a grooming knife. The process can take any time up to two hours depending on the dog breed. You can find the pricing for our handstripping by using our online quote tool. The stages of hair growth in wiry coat breeds The end result of cutting hair (rather than stripping) completely changes the look and feel of your dog, and makes their coat much more difficult to manage. Why Do Some Dogs Have a Wire Coat?For the past two decades, many purebred dogs have been cross-bred to make new designer dog breeds that combine the likeness and characteristics of two different breeds. The Doxiepoo is the result of mixing a purebred Dachshund and a purebred Poodle.