Border Terriers, Westies, Cockers, Schnauzers
Hand stripping
Dead coat pulled by hand with a stripping knife and finger-and-thumb, which keeps a wire coat harsh, waterproof and the right colour. The only way to keep a terrier looking like a terrier, done by Bethan.
Clip a Border Terrier and in a year it is soft, pale and no longer waterproof. Stripped, it stays the harsh red-grizzle coat it was bred for. It takes longer and we charge for the time, and it is worth it.
Hand stripping removes the dead outer coat at the root when it is ready to come out, which does not hurt a dog with a wire coat; the new coat is already growing underneath. Bethan works through the body in sections with a knife and by hand, keeping the pattern so the dog looks right at every stage, with the furnishings scissored and the head tidied to the breed.
It suits Borders, Westies, Cairns, wire-haired Dachshunds, Schnauzers, Airedales and working-type Cockers. It does not suit a coat that has already been clipped for years, because the texture is gone, and we will tell you honestly whether yours can be brought back. The first strip of a neglected coat is done over two visits.
What is included
- Full body strip with knife and by hand
- Pattern kept to the breed
- Furnishings scissored, head tidied
- Bath after stripping, not before
- Nails, ears and sanitary tidy
- Honest advice on whether the coat can be stripped
What it costs
From £55 for a small terrier to £85 for a cocker or a large wire coat. Two to three hours, every eight to twelve weeks. Clipping a wire coat instead is the full groom price. Prices include VAT. See the price guide for every size and coat type, and the add-ons.
Questions about hand stripping
Does hand stripping hurt?
Not when the coat is ready and it is done properly: the dead hair is loose at the root. A dog that has never been stripped may fidget at first because it is new, so the first session is shorter. We never strip a coat that is not ready.
Book a groom.
Tell us the breed, the size and what you would like, and we confirm a slot by text within a working day. Nervous dog, first groom or a cat: say so and we book the quiet room.