Hand Stripping

Professional Hand Stripping for Terriers in Columbus, Ohio

Designer Paws Salon offers expert hand stripping for wire-coated breeds at both of our Columbus-area locations — Upper Arlington and Westerville. Hand stripping is a specialized technique that very few groomers in central Ohio still offer, and it’s the only way to maintain the correct coat texture and color on terriers, schnauzers, and other wire-coated breeds. Our award-winning competition groomers have stripped show dogs and pet dogs alike, and we’ll work out a schedule that fits your dog’s coat and your timeline.

What Is Hand Stripping in Dog Grooming?

Terriers are double-coated. They have two types of hair that make up their coat: the dull-colored, softer undercoat, and the rich-colored, wire top coat. Hand stripping is the process of removing the dead hairs from the top coat by finger plucking or by using a stripping knife. It’s performed on a dirty coat because it’s easier to grip and remove the hair. When you remove the top coat this way, new hair emerges from the same follicle — and it grows back thicker, with more vibrant color and the correct wire texture.

Only the upper portion of a terrier’s top coat is actually colored and has the wire texture terriers are known for. The lower portion is very thin and dull in color. A terrier needs to be hand stripped when you spread the coat out with your fingers and you see dull, soft undercoat showing through. If they aren’t hand stripped at that point, the whole coat will eventually change color and become softer in texture — what groomers call a “blown coat.”

The top coat and the undercoat grow out of the same hair follicle. If your terrier isn’t hand stripped and carded regularly, the follicle becomes clogged with fine hairs and oily sebum. This can lead to skin problems — including the pimples or “acne” sometimes seen on miniature schnauzers.

Breeds That Need Hand Stripping

If your dog is one of these breeds, hand stripping is the right grooming technique to preserve the breed standard coat:

• Terriers — Jack Russell, Wire Fox, Cairn, Norfolk, Norwich, West Highland White (Westie), Scottish (Scottie), Lakeland, Welsh, Border, Airedale, Irish, Sealyham
• Schnauzers — Miniature, Standard, and Giant Schnauzers
• Wire-coated sporting breeds — German Wirehaired Pointer, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Vizsla, Wire Dachshund
• Other wire-coated breeds — Brussels Griffon, Affenpinscher

Not sure if your dog should be hand stripped? Mention the breed when you book and we’ll let you know what the right approach is. For dogs whose coat has already been clipped down for years and “blown,” we can usually still bring the harsh coat back over a series of strip sessions.

Does Hand Stripping Hurt the Dog?

No — when it’s done correctly, hand stripping does not hurt. Wire-coated breeds were specifically bred to have a coat that releases this way; the hairs being removed are dead hairs that are ready to come out of the follicle naturally. Some dogs may not enjoy having certain sensitive areas plucked, and if you aren’t showing the dog there’s no reason to strip those spots — they can be clipped or scissored instead. We always read each dog and adjust the appointment to keep them comfortable.

Why Not Just Clip a Terrier Down Instead?

When you clip off a terrier’s coat with electric clippers, you’re cutting through the colored, wire top coat and leaving the soft, thin, dull undercoat behind. Every time you clip the dog down, the coat continues to get softer and lighter in color. The only way to restore a proper harsh coat is to strip out the undercoat and let the top coat slowly grow back in its place. It can take many months and several strip sessions to bring a clipped terrier’s coat back to the correct color and texture — but it can be done.

The Three Types of Hand Stripping

There are three approaches to hand stripping, and we’ll choose the right one for your dog’s situation:

• Full strip — everything comes off and the dog is left with just the undercoat fuzz, or bald (groomers call this “stripping to undies”). The dog will look great at about 10-12 weeks once the top coat grows back in. Until then, expect a rather naked look.
• Staging — used when preparing for a specific date, like a dog show or grooming competition. Different parts of the dog are stripped on a schedule, because each area grows at a different rate and each section needs to be a different length to show off the dog’s structure.
• Rolling the coat — used when there are many layers in the coat. Each visit, a layer is removed so there’s always shorter coat underneath. The dog never walks out naked, and new top coat growth gradually overtakes the soft undercoat. This is the most common approach for pet dogs.

How Hand Stripping Works at Designer Paws Salon

For most pet clients, we spread the stripping work across several visits with a few days to a week between sessions. This keeps your terrier comfortable and lets us monitor how the coat is responding. We’ll set the schedule together at your first visit and adjust as we go. Hand stripping is more time-consuming than clipping, so appointments are longer than a standard groom — we’ll let you know what to expect when you book.

Book Hand Stripping in Upper Arlington or Westerville

Ready to schedule? Book your hand stripping appointment online at Designer Paws Salon. New clients are welcome — please mention your dog’s breed and current coat condition when you book so we can plan the right approach. If you’re not sure whether your dog needs full hand stripping or a different service, we offer full-service dog grooming as well, and we’ll recommend the best approach during your appointment.