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Wire-haired dogs are always ready for adventure, enabled by their bristly, coarse outer coat that provides insulation from the elements, repels burs, and protects them from dense underbrush. To ensure that a wire-haired dog’s coat stays in its ideal form (along with preventing odor and skin problems), they need a specialized grooming service called “hand-stripping.” Hand-stripping dog coats is a pain-free process that seeks to preserve the dog’s rugged coat.
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Understanding the basics of hand-stripping can help you make informed decisions when choosing a suitable groomer for your pet. Here’s what to know.
Hand-Stripping: A Specialized Grooming Service for Wire-Coated Dogs
Kim Kier, owner of Little Barks Grooming & Boutique in Columbia, South Carolina, has more than 20 years of experience in the pet styling industry. She shares that hand-stripping is a specialized service that requires training, practice, and an understanding of different breed standards.
For example, in the breed standard for Standard Schnauzers, the coat must be “tight, hard, wiry and as thick as possible,” a form achieved by hand-stripping. An inexperienced groomer may instead clip a wire-haired dog’s coat, ultimately affecting its color, sheen, and texture. Clippers or scissors may also disrupt the hairs’ natural growth cycle, which can damage the coat and affect regrowth.
“Hand-stripping is a premium service and will (and should) be more expensive than a traditional groom,” Kier says. “An untrained pet strip can be painful for the dog and may not produce the results the owner seeks. Knowledge and skill are key.”
Before making an appointment with a new groomer, check whether they have experience hand-stripping wire-haired dogs. This way, you’ll know your dog will receive care that helps them look and feel their best.
Which Dog Breeds Benefit from Hand-Stripping?
Your dog’s coat should dictate whether they need hand-stripping — not necessarily their breed. Dachshunds, for instance, come in three varieties: smooth, long-haired, and wire-haired. Each of these varieties has different grooming needs, with only the latter benefiting from hand-stripping. Furthermore, most, but not all, terriers benefit from hand-stripping. Some notable exceptions include Bull Terriers, American Hairless Terriers, and Boston Terriers.
Other non-terrier breeds that can also benefit from hand-stripping, whether sparingly or fully, include:
- German Wirehaired Pointers
- Wirehaired Vizslas
- Irish Wolfhounds
- Brussels Griffons
- Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
“Hand-stripping is a specialized grooming technique that is generally reserved for pets that are involved in the ‘show’ ring,” Kier explains. “Most pet dogs can maintain a healthy coat that looks fabulous with what most would call a ‘pet strip,’ which is a clipper trim with carding to remove the soft and downy undercoat.”
The Process of Hand-Stripping Dogs’ Coats
A groomer with the training and skill necessary for hand-stripping will likely have their own technique for removing dead hairs and encouraging new coat growth. If they’re styling a dog headed for a conformation competition, they will likely use finger-plucking, where they pull the skin taut, grasp a few strands of loose hair between their thumb and forefinger, and pull in the direction of the hairs’ growth — rather than straight out.
“Proper hand-stripping should be a gentle rhythm to remove the hair, and never forceful,” Kier says. “A gentle but intentional hand helps this process to be more comfortable for the pet and the groomer. Hand-stripping before the bath makes the process easier.”
If a groomer is styling a companion dog, they may rely on what’s called a “carding knife” rather than plucking hair with their fingers. These tools resemble butter knives with comb-like serrated edges. The amount of space between the knife’s teeth controls how much hair is removed at a time.
“Most owners choose to maintain wire-coated, flat-coated, or broken-coated breeds by traditional grooms with clipper trims, with carding used to remove the dead coat to maintain the coat and skin,” Kier says. “This is almost always the grooming process for most pets, maintaining a natural but easily maintained trim.”
Tools Used for Hand-Stripping Dogs
Some tools that groomers incorporate as part of hand-stripping dogs include:
- Rubber thimbles. A groomer may apply these rubber or silicone grips to their thumb and forefinger, helping retain a firm grip on loose hairs.
- Pumice stones. Applying a pumice stone to the dog’s wiry coat can loosen dead hairs and make them easier to remove in combination with a comb or brush.
- Clippers. To prioritize the dog’s comfort, a groomer may sparingly use clippers on their facial hair, throat, and other sensitive parts of the body.
- Carding knives. These tools resemble a comb combined with a butter knife. They help remove the dead undercoat, leaving the dense topcoat intact.
Another important tool in your groomer’s arsenal is their knowledge of dogs’ hair growth cycles. There are four, but the most relevant to hand-stripping is the telogen phase. In this penultimate stage, the hair remains in the follicle but has detached from the root.
Pulling these “resting” strands simulates how a wire-haired dog would naturally shed their coat in the wild. In the midst of navigating tough terrain, loose hairs would be plucked by brambles, underbrush, and fallen branches.
How You Can Help Maintain Your Wiry-Haired Dog’s Coat at Home
A reputable, experienced groomer will take the time to assess your dog’s coat and explain which procedures benefit them most. They will also explain how to maintain your dog’s wiry coat in between hand-stripping sessions. For example, they may recommend using the “double brush, double comb” method. It’s not intended to be a substitute for hand-stripping but can enhance its results.
This weekly process involves:
- Brushing your dog’s coat with a pin brush (which stimulates the skin and removes dead hair)
- Using a medium-toothed comb to remove tangles
- Applying a fine-toothed comb that extends to the skin to smooth the coat and further remove tangles
- Brushing your dog with a slicker brush
Your groomer may also recommend “rolling.” Here, while petting your wire-haired dog, grasp strands close to the root and pull in the direction of growth. You may opt to use rubber thimbles or chalk to get a better grip.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hand-Stripping Dogs’ Coats
As you examine whether your dog could benefit from hand-stripping, you may have many questions about this nuanced grooming technique, such as:
- Is hand-stripping painful for dogs? “Most pets do not mind hand-stripping on the body,” Kier says. “[A groomer may] use clippers and thinners on more sensitive areas (i.e. sanitary, face, and throat) to keep the pet happy and comfortable.”
- How can I make grooming sessions less stressful for my pet? Consistency and positive reinforcement are your greatest resources when minimizing discomfort surrounding hand-stripping appointments. “If you want your dog to be hand-stripped, start them at a young age with grooming,” Kier recommends.
- How often does my dog need hand-stripping? Your dog’s grooming regimen depends on many factors, including their breed and how quickly their coat grows.
A final question: why not just clip a wire-haired dog? While initially convenient and less time-consuming, this will eventually soften the dog’s coat, posing the risk of skin conditions and negatively affecting temperature regulation. Finding a groomer who specializes in hand-stripping can take some time, but in the long run, it’s a worthwhile investment in maintaining the color, texture, and health of your dog’s coat.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.