Is handstripping painful??

[leejaysmum]

I'd like advice about hand stripping Terriers please. I have a 6 month old Border Terrier, and whilst she doesn't need professional grooming yet, I know she will at some stage and I admit, I am worried! I have seen hand stripping and it seems so brutal, so I was wondering if the alternative is clipping, and if not, why not? It must be painful to have hair plucked out surely??My neighbour said her Border Terrier was terribly sore with red painful to touch skin when hers was done recently, and I'm not sure I could allow this for my pup if it isnt absolutely necessary. What is the science behind hand stripping, and would it be detrimental to have a clip instead? I only want whats best for my pooch like any responsible owner. Thanks in advance.

[lankeela]

Hand stripping only plucks out dead hairs, but you need to start it as soon as possible or else your dog will object to having to stand and be plucked for quite a long time in one go. It is an ongoing thing, and does not hurt as the hair is already dead. It is the only way to keep a good harsh coat in good order, if you clip the coat will go soft and fluffy and be harder to clip, meaning the skin will be pulled and more painful. You can also get clipper sores or burns if the groomer is not careful or experienced. Clipping also does not give the correct outline like hand stripping does.

[oldmaggie]

Both my parsons hate hand stripping so I just use clippers on no 3 and quickly go over them. They are both quite happy with this and the younger one even qualified crufts after clipping not stripping. No sore skin. No soft coat

[woofgang]

it sounds to me like your neighbour took her poor pup to the wrong person :-( hand stripping shouldn't be a brutal process.
If you aren't showing and don't need a "correct" outline you could try a furminator to remove the loose hair. Most dogs love them.
another alternative would be to learn to hand strip yourself. then you would know the dog was in good hands and you could do it bit at a time gradually extending the length of time that you do at any one go

[seadogg]

My B.T.s never cared for plucking even when done gently on dead hair. A stripping comb is quicker with a little practice and they don't seem to mind. A pal runs a mini hacksaw blade over his and it looks O.K.

Test for me is that they can be comfortable and stand wind and driving rain ( though have shared a sleeping bag with a wet B.T more than once).

[leejaysmum]

Thank you for your replies, its given me food for thought. I think I may initially try the easy option and try the Furminator and see how we go. I'd never heard of them until Woofgang mentioned it. Ive researched them and will try it and hope I get a good result! (Truth is, Im more wimp about the handstripping than Roxy is! LOL!)

[tillyh345]

hi we have our border stripped every 6 months professionally, she strips him shampoos him and clip his nails for �35 , he doesnt seem to mind at all and he is never red and sore, and looks and smells lovely after.