How To Hand Strip A Dog
If you lot've e'er owned a terrier or wire-coated breed then I'm certain you've heard a little bit about hand stripping.
But for people exterior these breeds hand stripping may seem like an odd and even uncomfortable practice. I can clinch you that paw stripping is not merely painless, it very much benefits the dog.
Let me explicate what it is we're doing, why it's beneficial, and how professionals actually practice it.
What Is Hand Stripping?
Hand stripping is the procedure of manually removing dead hairs from the follicle to encourage new hairs to grow in with a naturally thick and bristly texture.
Why is this of import?
By manually removing hairs from the skin yous help maintain proper coat texture and color. This is ideal for working breeds such as Terriers.
If we were to cutting hairs (with clippers or scissors) this would probable cause permanent damage to the coat (more on that later on).
Keep in listen this process causes no pain or discomfort when done properly.
Wiry coated breeds go through a cycle in which hair reaches a maximum length and is fix to be pulled.
In the past, working terriers would take their coats naturally pulled by running through brush, hunting, tunneling, or simply past going about their twenty-four hours.
Without these daily activities follicles have trouble shedding hairs which will crusade the coat to become overgrown – also called a blown coat.
At this point the hair is like shooting fish in a barrel to remove from the follicle.
Grooming coordinates with this cycle to manually remove dead and loose hairs, while likewise assuasive us to shape the glaze to appear more fashionable.
The average pet will only need stripping every 3 to six months, however more than frequent grooming will brand for a more than desirable "bear witness coat".
Show dogs are plucked weekly, often multiple days per week.
Which Dogs Get Hand Stripped?
Any canis familiaris with a wiry coat that is easily removed can get manus stripped.
This includes most Terrier breeds, as well as some sporting or hound breeds. Many mixed terrier blazon dogs from southern areas also have a 'strippable' coat.
Hither's a few examples:
- Airdale Terriers
- Wirefox Terriers
- Wirehaired Dachshunds
- Schnauzers
- Border Terriers
- W Highland White Terriers
- Irish gaelic Wolfhounds
Why Can't We Apply Clippers?
Using clippers on a wire glaze will cause long term or permanent damage!
Stripping is the process of removing the pilus completely from the skin.
By removing individual hairs we stimulate the pilus root and encourage new thick wiry hairs to take it's place.
Cut the hair (using clippers or pair of scissors) will not remove the root, and hairs will often grow dorsum improperly.
Hairs that are cut (not pulled):
- Grow dorsum thin and silky, creating a nightmare of matting and tangles.
- Will become hard to clean and retain bad odors.
- Colors will appear diluted or faded, or will disappear to completely white.
The finish issue of cutting hair (rather than stripping) completely changes the look and feel of your canis familiaris, and makes their coat much more difficult to manage.
Why Do Some Dogs Accept a Wire Coat?
The history of wire coats can be traced dorsum to origins of terrier breeds.
The give-and-take "terrier" comes from the old french name chien terrier – and translates to "earth dog" – indicating it'south purpose rather than to the breed itself. These dogs were meant to tunnel in search of vermin.
Terrier dogs assisted hunters and farmers during the 1800'southward in search of rabbits, badgers, rats, and other pocket-size vermin. Later they would be bred with hounds and other breeds to amend their hunting skills.
The fitted, coarse coat offers natural protection while hunting and tunneling, as well as:
- A protective layer against bites from vermin.
- Protection from harsh brush, burrs, and branches.
- Dust, dirt, and water easily falls abroad from a wire coat.
- Long eyebrows protect terrier'due south eyes from dirt and bites while they are "down the hole".
Hair Growth Stages
Like to human pilus, canine hair goes through a continuous growth and shedding bicycle.
Anagen is the initial growth phase for new hair. Hair will continuously grows from the roots. During this phase hair growth can range from v days to 7 years.
Catagen is the transitional stage in which hairs reach their full length and cease growing.
Telogen is the Resting phase in which hairs residual within the root while new hairs grow beneath it. The old pilus will somewhen be ready to shed, or in this instance, hand stripped.
Each stage tin exist affected by age, nutrition (or dietary changes), stress, and overall health.
Hand stripping is removing hairs post-obit the Telogen stage.
The pulling of hairs triggers a response in the follicle in which new hairs are encouraged to abound – maintaining their original coarse texture.
How Groomers Hand Strip
Your dog has two layers coats – an undercoat (the soft under-layer of hair that insulates), and a coarse, protective outer layer called the guardcoat or top coat.
Each individual hair follicle will contain several hairs of both undercoat and baby-sit glaze.
Every bit we remove undercoat we encourage more guard coat to have information technology'south place.
Once again, the goal is to encourage a thick and textured coat called a jacket. While also shaping the coat into our desired fashion.
Hand Stripping Tools
As the name implies, hand stripping tin can be washed with just your hands. Withal, tools will make the job a little easier (especially for newcomers).
We dive deeper into the best tools for each brood in our Handstripping Masterclass.
Stripping Knives
Don't let the proper noun stripping knife confuse yous – this pocketknife is non for cutting.
In fact, the duller your pocketknife the amend.
They're simply a dull toothed comb that allows groomers to get a better grip (before stripping knives were widely available groomers would frequently apply a dulled butter knife).
Groomers volition grip hair between the flat of the blade and their thumb, and then gently pull in the direction of growth. The teeth assistance guide the coat into your finger and up onto the apartment of the blade.
Knives come in four main varieties:
- Extra fine (or detail) – For the head, ears, face
- Fine – Head, neck, finishing all areas
- Medium – Body, legs
- Coarse – Body, big breeds
Each bract is a comb with teeth that range in density. A fibroid comb allows more hair through untouched, while a 'actress fine' comb will remove the majority of hair.
Finer blades are used for finer particular work (such as the face up), while fibroid blades are used for the body or big breeds.
Unfortunately there is no "one size fits all" – you lot will need all 4 knives to consummate a full groom.
However, there is an alternative method using a stripping stone (which we'll cover later).
Remember: Stripping knives should never cut hairs and therefore should be quite boring. If your knife is cut into the hairs then manually dulling on a rough surface is recommended.
I personally have a carpet sample from a hardware store filled with chalk and sand that I will rub my knives on. Others volition cutting up a cardboard box earlier using their knives to dull them. Do not e'er use a fresh pocketknife on a dog.
Stripping Stones
Stripping stones are a great all-in-i tool that can carte du jour and strip. Their rough surface allows for gripping onto hairs without cutting or excavation into the pare.
If you're just starting out I recommend using a stone as it can be used for multiple tasks – such as carding, and for effectively details such as the face or neck.
Bonus Tip: If the rock is too large for your easily endeavour cut information technology in one-half.
Carding Knives
Carding knives come in many shapes and sizes, and many stripping knives can be used for carding past irresolute from a pulling to a raking technique.
Learn more most Carding Dogs.
We 'carte' as the very first step in the process to remove excess undercoat and to let for easier hand stripping with our stripping knives.
Undercoat Rakes
For thicker coated breeds you may find a bladed undercoat rake helpful. Only it'southward not a suitable replacement for a carding knife or stripping rock.
I simply recommend these if you take a very thick coated big brood.
I often utilize an undercoat rake on pet Airedales, Lakelands, and Wire Foxes. Some breeds may non demand undercoat removal.
Dachshunds, for example, typically do not have as much undercoat as their long-legged terrier counterparts.
Paw Stripping Techniques
Raking/Carding
This is typically the commencement pace of the process – if necessary.
Carding or Raking is the removal of undercoat with a knife, pumice stone, or undercoat rake.
This also encourages the coat to lay flat which allows for easier mitt stripping in the adjacent pace.
Recollect: Just because we're using a carding knife does non e'er hateful nosotros're actually carding. Carding is the action of removing undercoat (with whichever tool we deem necessary at the time.)
Plucking
Plucking is essentially hand stripping with your hands.
Groomers volition hold the skin tight and use their finger tips to pull a few hairs at a time. This is a slow and methodical procedure that requires a high level of skill.
Stripping
Stripping is using a tool to hand strip. We use an assortment of hand stripping knives for different parts of the body. Always pull in the direction of the grain.
Remember: Stripping Knives do not actually cutting – they're for getting a tight grip. Always ensure your knives are dulled beforehand.
Rolling
Rolling is a method of removing undercoat by folding the skin into a roll to reveal long undercoat hairs. The long hairs are and then removed by stripping or plucking.
Patterns and Styles
Think of hand stripping as the procedure, and shaping and styling as the end result we want.
Most breeds have their own distinct grooming style. This is especially of import if you are hand stripping for the show ring.
- Wire Haired Dachshunds, for example, should take a sleek body and appear almost like a smooth coated dachshund, but with a prominent beard and eyebrows. (Learn more virtually handstripping wire haired dachshunds)
- While the Irish gaelic Wolfhound has a 'rustic' wait that almost appears messy.
When beginning this process information technology'south of import to study each breed and their unique preparation requirements.
Safety
Paw stripping is best left to the professionals.
This procedure, if done incorrectly, tin be very uncomfortable for your dog.
Stripping too brusque, removing far too much coat, or using the wrong technique or tools are common mistakes.
If you lot are causing large bald patches with redness, bumps, or rashes then Stop IMMEDIATELY.
Bathing
A freshly stripped canis familiaris will accept open follicles and very sensitive skin for several days. Bathing immediately after must be done with great care.
The Truth About Bathing
Bathing is a hot topic in the hand stripping world right now.
Many multi-generation handlers don't always bathe their dogs jackets, preferring a quick wipe with water and Listerine.
Newer groomers are learning more than and more about peel science and how bathing really does help the dog's skin.
With that being said, bathing a stripped dog should be done with the utmost caution!
Bathing stripped dogs can easily introduce infection. Therefore I e'er recommend you:
- Utilize cool water and a very gentle shampoo (Artero "Relax" is made specially for stripped dogs).
- Ensure your bottles/cups/containers are cleaned and sanitized.
- Your towel must be brand new or freshly washed.
When in doubt, bathe two-3 weeks before stripping and wait 1 week post-strip to breast-stroke your dog.
Of import Terms To Call back
Here's a few terms you will likely hear hand-stripping groomers utilise:
Jacket refers to the coarse outer glaze or guard glaze on your wire coated breed.
Carding is the first stage of hand stripping where we remove backlog undercoat using a 'carding knife'. This encourages the glaze to lay apartment which allows for easier hand stripping.
Rolling – Taking the skin and forming a gyre, allowing the longest hairs to exist quickly and easily plucked without pulling the shorter under-layers.
Plucking is hand stripping without the assistance of tools (using your hands only). This is done only past skilled groomers.
Jammies refers to a dog beingness stripped down "naked" or very curt to their undercoat.
In the Rough is a canis familiaris with a coat that is completely grown out and ungroomed.
Staging is stripping different sections of the dog at different times so you get a desired result. For example: The longest parts of the coat are pulled starting time and left for six-8 weeks, so the dog is in perfect coat for a domestic dog show. Dogs will be pulled baby-skin smooth in those areas.
Shaping is the process of mitt stripping to attain a certain style or "shape".
Furnishings are the long hairs on the legs, head, and belly.
Peak Coat / Baby-sit Glaze – The coarse out layer of the coat.
Undercoat – The softer and thicker under layer of coat.
How To Get Started With Hand Stripping
Hand stripping tin be a tricky process; there are hundreds of tools out there, every breed has a unlike pattern, and it'due south easy to take likewise much off and exit holes in their glaze.
Most of all, you don't desire to cause discomfort to your dog in the process.
It's more than I tin explain in a single article. We go into the finer details in our Hand Stripping Masterclass.
Our Masterclass is a video class for groomers of all levels (even total beginners) and goes over:
- All the "Practice's and Don'ts"
- All the all-time tools for the job
- The unabridged hand stripping process explained in detail
- Step-past-pace how I hand strip dogs from offset to end
- How I earned award winning grooms in a short time
If you lot desire to join the adjacent online class intake you can learn more hither.
Source: https://www.playbarkrun.com/hand-stripping-dogs/
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