Handstripping is a specialised grooming technique used for dogs with wiry coats. It’s the process of removing all the dead hair from the coat by hand rather than cutting it with scissors or clippers which damages the coat and causes it to lose its colour and waterproofness. 

Correct handstripping helps to maintain the natural texture and colour of the coat, ensuring the coat remains healthy, vibrant, waterproof and in line with the breed standard. While it requires more effort and skill than using clippers, hand stripping can have significant benefits for both the coat and the skin for dogs. 

Here’s what you need to know about this grooming technique.

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Hand stripping can offer many benefits to dogs which may include:

• Maintains Coat Texture: Regularly hand-stripped coats stay coarse and wiry, maintaining the natural texture the breed standard requires.

• Encouraging Healthy Coat Growth: By removing dead hair, hand stripping opens up the hair follicles, encouraging new, healthier hair to grow in its place.

• Improving Skin Health: Hand stripping removes dead hair that can block pores and trap dirt, reducing the risk of skin irritation and improving overall skin health.

• Preserving Coat Colour: Clipping can dull the coat colour and soften the coat over time, while handstripping keeps colours rich, vibrant and harsh by removing dull, dead hair. 

• ​Waterproof Ability: By removing dead top coat hairs this allows for the growth of a new, hard, and dense outer coat that naturally repels water. Unlike clipping, which cuts the hair and can soften the coat, hand stripping pulls the dead hair from the root, preserving the natural coarse texture that provides protection. This method maintains the coat's natural insulating and protective qualities, keeping the dog warmer and drier. 

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What Breeds Need Handstripping?

​​​Terrier Group​​

• Airedale Terrier

• Australian Terrier

• Border Terrier

• Cairn Terrier

• Dandie Dinmont Terrier

• Glen of Imaal Terrier

• Irish Terrier

• Jack Russell Terrier (Rough)

• Lakeland Terrier

• Norfolk Terrier

• Norwich Terrier

• Parsons Russell Terrier

• Scottish Terrier

• Sealyham Terrier

• Welsh Terrier

• West Highland Terrier

• Wire Fox Terrier 

• Any mixes of the above breeds including poodle mixes could be handstripped. We can discuss the coat ype in the free consultation  

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Toy Group

• Affenpinscher

• Griffon Bruxellois

• Any mixes of the above breeds including poodle mixes could be handstripped. We can discuss the coat ype in the free consultation  

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Gundog Group

• German Wire Haired Pointer

• Korthals Griffon

• Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla

• Italian Spinone

• Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer

• Any mixes of the above breeds including poodle mixes could be handstripped. We can discuss the coat ype in the free consultation  

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Utility Group

• Schnauzer (All Varieties)

• Any mixes of the above breeds including poodle mixes could be handstripped. We can discuss the coat ype in the free consultation  

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Hound Group

• Basset Fauve De Bretagne

• Basset Griffon Vendeen (Grand and Petite)

• Griffon Fauve De Bretagne 

• Irish Wolfhound

• Otterhound

• Portuguese Podengo (Rough)

• Scottish Deerhound

• Wire Haired Dachshund (Miniature and Standard)

• Any mixes of the above breeds including poodle mixes could be handstripped. We can discuss the coat ype in the free consultation  

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Pastoral Group

• Picardy Sheepdog

• Any mixes of the above breeds including poodle mixes could be handstripped. We can discuss the coat ype in the free consultation  

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Working Group

• Russian Black Terrier

• Any mixes of the above breeds including poodle mixes could be handstripped. We can discuss the coat ype in the free consultation  

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What Breeds Can Be Deshed?

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Terrier Group​​

• Bull Terrier (Mini and Standard)

• Fox Terrier (Smooth)

• Jack Russell Terrier (Smooth)

• Manchester Terrier

• Staffordshire Bull Terrier

• Any mixes of the above breeds as long as the coat is smooth. We can discuss the coat ype in the free consultation  

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Toy Group

• Affenpinscher

• Griffon Bruxellois

• Chihuahua (Smooth)

• English Toy Terrier 

• Italian Greyhound

• Miniature Pinscher

• Pug

• Russian Toy

• Any mixes of the above breeds as long as the coat is smooth. We can discuss the coat ype in the free consultation  

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Gundog Group

• Bracco Italiano

• Braque D’Auvergne

• German Shorthaired Pointer

• Pointer

• Labrador

• Weimaraner

• Any mixes of the above breeds as long as the coat is smooth. We can discuss the coat ype in the free consultation  

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Utility Group

• Boston Terrier

• Bulldog

• Canaan Dog

• Dalmatian

• French Bulldog

• Japanese Shiba Inu

• Korean Jindo

• Schipperke

• Shar Pei

• Any mixes of the above breeds as long as the coat is smooth. We can discuss the coat ype in the free consultation  

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Hound Group

• Azawakh 

• Basenji

• Basset Bleu De Gascogne

• Basset Hound

• Bavarian Mountain Hound

• Beagle

• Black & Tan Coonhound

• Bloodhound

• Cirneco Dell'Etna

• Dachshund (All Smooth Varieties)

• Foxhound

• Grand Bleu De Gascogne

• Greyhound

• Hamiltonstovare

• Harrier

• Hungarian Vizsla

• Ibizan Hound

• Pharaoh Hound

• Polish Hunting Dog

• Rhodesian Ridgeback

• Whippet

• Any mixes of the above breeds as long as the coat is smooth. We can discuss the coat ype in the free consultation  

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Pastoral Group

• Australian Cattle Dog

• Beauceron

• Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois)

• Border Collie (Smooth)

• Collie (Smooth)

• German Shepherd (Short Coat)

• Lancashire Heeler

• Norwegian Buhund

• Swedish Vallhund

• Welsh Corgi (All Varieties) 

• Any mixes of the above breeds as long as the coat is smooth. We can discuss the coat ype in the free consultation  

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Working Group

• Boxer

• Bullmastiff

• Dobermann

• Dogue de Bordeaux

• Entlebucher Mountain Dog 

• German Pinscher

• Great Dane

• Great Swiss Mountain Dog

• Mastiff

• Rottweiler

• St. Bernard

• Any mixes of the above breeds as long as the coat is smooth. We can discuss the coat ype in the free consultation   

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