Wire Coats

Breed examples include Border Terriers, Wire Coated Dachshunds, Schnauzers, Irish Wolfhounds.

What is a wire coat?

As the name suggests, the coat is rough and course to the touch and the hair is thick and bristly when compared to the soft coats other dogs possess. Wire haired breeds don't shed their coat however this therefore creates a unique requirement for grooming as it is necessary to pull the old dead hairs out using a process called hand stripping.

What is hand stripping?

This is a time intensive grooming technique that requires older hairs to be pulled out of the coat by hand or using hand stripping tools. The process can take up to three hours depending on the breed.

What are the reasons for hand stripping rather than clipping the coat?

Hand stripping is recommended for wire coated breeds to remove dead hair from the root, preserving the coat's natural, coarse texture, vibrant colour and weather resistant properties. When a wire haired coat is clipped instead of hand stripped it becomes soft, dull and light coloured.

When can a wire coated dog not be hand stripped?

  • The dog has previously been clipped - once a dog wire haired dog has been clipped, the hair is cut rather than pulled which softens the coat. This makes the hair root anchor into the follicle making subsequent attempts at hand stripping painful and difficult.
  • Neutering - when a dog is neutered it can change the hair growth cycle and alter the coat texture making it unsuitable for hand stripping.
  • Skin conditions/ sensitive skin - if the dog suffers from skin issues, the pulling action can be painful and damaging.
  • Nervous or intolerant behaviour - if a dog is stressed, elderly or finds the long process forced, hand stripping may not be the best option for your dog.
  • Soft/ mixed coats - not all wire haired dogs have a true wire coat. If the coat is naturally soft, stripping can be uncomfortable and won't produce the desired effect.

How often should your dog be hand stripped?

Hand stripping can only be performed during a specific growth stage - typically Spring and Autumn so we would recommend booking your dogs hand stripping appointment every 6 months.

 

If you wish to discuss your dogs requirements please don't hesitate to contact me using the contact buttons below.