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Hand Stripping Wire Coats: What Groomers Should Know
Hand stripping is slow, skilled work that many owners have never heard of. Here is what it involves and how to handle it.
Wire coated breeds, including many terriers, schnauzers and wirehaired dachshunds, have a harsh outer coat over a softer undercoat. There are two ways to keep that coat tidy: clip it, or hand strip it. Most pet grooms are clipped, but knowing how to strip, and when to suggest it, is a skill that sets a groomer apart.
What hand stripping is
A wire coat grows, matures and then dies, but the dead hair often stays in place instead of shedding cleanly. Hand stripping means pulling that dead outer coat out by hand or with a stripping knife, so new harsh coat can grow in. Done correctly on a ready coat, the dead hair comes away easily and most dogs tolerate it well.
Why it matters to the coat
Clipping cuts the hair rather than removing it, so the dead base of each hair stays in the follicle. Over time, many groomers find that clipped wire coats turn softer, lighter in color and more prone to matting, while stripped coats keep their crisp texture and rich color. For show dogs, stripping is the norm. For pets, it is a choice the owner makes once they understand the trade off.
Tools and technique
- Fingers first. Many groomers strip with thumb and forefinger, sometimes with a finger cot or chalk for grip.
- Stripping knives. Used to help grip the hair, not to cut it. A knife that cuts is being used wrong or is too sharp.
- Carding. Pulling a fine blade or carding tool through the coat removes loose undercoat and helps the outer coat lie flat.
- Work with the growth. Pull in the direction the hair grows, in small amounts, with the skin supported by your other hand.
Timing and rolling coats
A coat is ready to strip when the outer hair has fully grown and loosened, usually signaled by a coat that looks open, long and a little scruffy. Pulling before it is ready is harder on the dog and the groomer. Some owners and groomers keep the coat in constant condition by "rolling" it: stripping small amounts every few weeks so there are always layers of coat at different stages. Rolling takes commitment from the owner but avoids the bare stage after a full strip.
Talking to owners
Most pet owners have never heard of stripping. Explain it simply: it keeps the coat the way the breed is meant to look and feel, but it takes longer and costs more. Be clear that switching a long clipped coat back to a stripped one can take time, and that not every dog or every coat is a good candidate. Some owners choose a mix, such as stripping the body and clipping sensitive areas.
Pricing the work
Hand stripping is much slower than clipping the same dog, and it takes real skill. If it is priced like a clip, the groomer is losing money on every one. Many salons price it by the hour or as a separate service. If you are on commission, check what a strip actually pays you per hour with the guide to what each groom really pays you, and compare a few days in the hourly vs. commission calculator. A specialty like this is also a strong reason to ask for a better rate.
Learning the skill
Stripping is best learned hands on, from someone who does it well. Breed clubs, experienced show groomers and some grooming schools teach it. For more on building skills, see how dog groomers get trained, and for another coat type that changed salon work, how doodles changed the grooming table.