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What is Hand Stripping?

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Hand stripping is the proper grooming method for most terriers, spaniels, and many other breeds.

Dog groomers use this method to remove excess hair from the dog’s coat and coordinate shedding. The hair is removed with either a stripping knife or stripping stone, with the top coat removed to reveal the dense, soft undercoat. The most common method of grooming is clipping, which 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 dead coat from the root (not just the top layer), making room for a new coat 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 colour with each clip.

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What Breeds Require Hand-Stripping?

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When it comes to hand stripping, it is more about the type of coat than the breed of dog. Of course, certain dog breeds have certain types of coats, so you can identify some breeds that require hand stripping based on this fact alone. The type of coat that requires hand stripping produces two types of hair – the undercoat is soft and dense while the top coat is longer and wiry in texture. Dogs with wiry coats go through a specific growing cycle in which the hair becomes thicker and darker as it grows – if you do not remove the dead hair from the top coat it will have a negative impact on the overall appearance of the coat.

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Prices vary according to breed, size, and the amount of work needed, and will be individually tailored to your dog. The prices below are rough estimates only.

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Small Terriers (ie. Border Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Jack Russel, etc) From £40

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Long Legged Terriers (ie. Welsh Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Irish Terrier, etc) From £45

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Medium Breed (ie. Basset Griffon Vendeen, Springer Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, etc) From £48

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Large Breed (ie. Setters, Airedale, Wire Hair Viszla, etc) From £55

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