Hand stripping is a specialised grooming technique used to maintain the natural texture and colour of certain dog coats.
Unlike clipping, which cuts through the hair shaft, hand stripping removes dead hair from the root to promote new growth. This method is commonly used for wire-haired breeds and coarse-coated terriers and is a essential grooming technique used for show dogs to keep their coats in optimal condition.
If you're curious about hand stripping and whether it’s right for your dog, this guide will walk you through the essentials.
Contents
What is Hand Stripping?
Hand stripping involves manually pulling out the long wirey hair from the dog’s top coat in the direction of growth to reveal the soft undercoat underneath. Only the loose, dead hair of the top coat is removed by pulling it from the root rather than cutting it with blades. If the hair isn't stripped, breeds with wire and coarse coats can be prone to the hair follicle becoming clogged leading to skin irritation and for the coat to become matted.
This process mimics the natural shedding cycle and ensures that the coat remains coarse and vibrant in colour. Hand stripping can be done just using your fingers to pull out the hair or a stripping knife to help speed up the process and make it more comfortable.
Hand stripping is not suitable for all dogs! However It is a particularly useful and important technique for maintaining the correct texture of terrier coats and wire-haired breeds to assist in shedding of their old coat. Clipping the hair of these breeds can cause the coat to become softer or lose its protective qualities.
Hand stripping must be performed with the cycle of coat growth, about every 8-12 weeks and must only be done when the coat is ready to come out! Pulling the hair before it is ready to shed is very uncomfortable and can set up a dog with a negative experience of grooming. Leaving the coat too long between grooms can leave the coat to become 'blown'. The longer hairs can soften, hair making it more difficult to come out easily and making hand stripping more uncomfortable for the dog.
Before & After hand strip of a wire-haired daschund by professional groomer @Pawfection By Zara
Which Dogs Benefit From Hand Stripping?
Hand stripping is most commonly used for terriers and wire-haired dog breeds such as:
- Border Terriers
- Rough haired Jack Russell Terriers
- Schnauzers
- Wire-Haired Dachshunds
- Airedale Terriers
- Irish Terriers
- Irish Wolfhounds
- Schnauzers
- Lakeland Terriers
- Brussels Griffon
- Airedales
- Wire-haired Vizslas
- West Highland White Terriers
- Fox Terriers
- Cairn Terriers
- Norfolk Terriers
Show dogs often require hand stripping to meet breed standards, ensuring their coat remains correct in texture and appearance. However, pet dogs can also benefit from this technique as it helps keep their coat healthy and free from matting.
Hand Stripping Knives and Their Benefits
Stripping knives are grooming tools designed to make the process of hand stripping the coat easier and more efficient. These knives have serrated edges that help grip the hair for easy removal. Whilst they are called knives, the aim is not to cut the hair. Instead they help to quickly remove the dead hair intact from the root without breaking or cutting or it. As only a few hairs are taken out at a time, this can be quite a time consuming task for a full groom!
Using a stripping knife can:
- Speed up the process
- Are much more comfortable to use.
- Reduce strain on the hands when used for long periods.
- Provide a more precise strip
- Ensure an even finish across the coat
Must Have Hand Stripping Knives For Beginners:
How to Hand Strip a Dog at Home
Unlike clipping, it's best not to bath your dog before you hand strip them to give you a better grip on the hair. Here's some simple steps to hand strip your dog at home:
Assess the Coat – Ensure the coat is ready for stripping by testing some strands of hair with your fingers. The long top hairs should be loose and come out easily when pinched.
Hold The Skin Taught - It's best to start along the top line of the dog, from the head to the tail. To ensure the skin isn't tugged or pulled, hold it taught just above the area that you want to strip with your free hand.
Using a Stripping Knife – Holding your chosen stripping knife perpendicular to the dog's body, follow the grain of the coat in a combing motion. Then catch a small amount of the top coat between your thumb and the top of the knife. Gently pull the knife along the body in the direction of hair growth to quickly release the hair from the coat.
- Work in Sections – Avoid over- stripping one area; instead, work evenly across the coat. It's possible to blend the coat into longer sections such as the legs when you get the hang of the technique.
- Select The Right Knife - Hand stripping can be done all over the dog's body depending on their coat and look you want to achieve. Use a coarse knife for the jacket (the main area of the body) and the legs. A fine knife is better for the finer hair on the head, ears and face and for blending to create a soft transition between two different lengths.
- Take Breaks – Hand stripping can be time-consuming and tiring for both you and your dog. Short breaks can help keep your dog comfortable and give your wrists a rest too!
- Finish with Carding – Use a carding knife or coat rakes to remove excess undercoat and smooth out the finish.
What is Carding?
Essentially, carding is a grooming term that removes the undercoat, whereas hand stripping removes the top coat. Carding is a technique often used alongside hand stripping to maintain healthy skin by improving air circulation and helps to keep the dog's coat in top condition.
The remove the loose undercoat, a carding knife or a dull hand stripping knife is used at an angle in a short brushing movement to rake through the hair to remove and thin out excess hair.
Alternatively undercoat rakes are brilliant tools for quickly and gently removing the dead undercoat. These handy tools ae useful for a range of breeds and particularly those with a combination of wire and soft undercoat.
What is Hand Plucking?
Hand plucking refers to the process of removing hairs individually using your fingers rather than using a stripping knife. This technique is often used on the more sensitive areas, such as the face and ears, where precision is needed. A pumice or stripping stone may be used and rubber finger covers to aid grip on the hair. Some groomers prefer hand plucking for achieving a natural look, especially on show dogs.
When Should You NOT Hand Strip a Dog?
There are certain situations when hand stripping is not recommended:
- If your dog has a skin condition or irritation
- If your dog has been previously clipped, as the coat may no longer be suitable for stripping
- If your dog has been neutered - the reduction in hormones after spaying or castration can soften the texture of the coat making hand stripping difficult.
- If your dog is elderly or has sensitive skin
- If your dog is nervous or simply intolerant to the process - some dogs simply do not like it!
Alternative To Hand Stripping
Clipping is a great alternative to handstripping your dog. Whilst it might not be the standard look for their breed, your dog's welfare and comfort is the most important factor.
Clipping can change the look of the coat but offers a quick and convenient groom to allow you to keep your dog's coat in an easy maintenance trim. This short style makes for easier grooms and for their coat to remain tangle and mat free.
Hand Stripping Knives - A Tool To Add To Your Grooming Kit
Hand stripping is an essential grooming method for wire-haired breeds, keeping their coats healthy and maintaining the correct texture.
It involves pulling out dead hair using fingers or a stripping knife, often accompanied by carding and scissoring for last touch ups.
While show dogs typically require hand stripping for breed standards, pet dogs can also benefit. However, it’s important to know when not to hand strip, particularly in cases of skin issues or prior clipping.
For grooming tools tailored to your dog’s breed, take a look at our Grooming by Breed pages on our website. If you need any advice on hand stripping or dog grooming in general, feel free to contact us—we’re happy to help!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does hand stripping hurt the dog?
Hand stripping, when done properly should not hurt your dog and should only remove a few hairs at a time. However, hand stripping can be painful if you pull live hair or the undercoat so getting the technique right and judging when the coat is ready to be stripped are the most important factors for knowing when to use this technique. A stripping knife must never touch the skin. The teeth on the blade are just to help comb through the top coat and grip the hair for removal.
