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How to groom a Terrier

© Chris Chamberlin

Grooming your Terrier

There are several types of terriers. Some have soft coats, others have hard, wiry coats, and some have both. Short legged or long, all terriers have similar grooming steps. The only difference in most is the cut on the head.

The soft coated terriers like the Yorkshire Terrier, Skye Terrier, Silky Terrier and Tibetan Terrier have a parted back and very natural look. Their coats are grown long and require a great deal of attention. Regular brushing is a must to keep these beautiful dogs looking like they should. Pet clips, often referred to a puppy clips or kennel clips, provide owners with a less demanding grooming routine, but the breed look is lost to convenience in most cases.

Stripping ( done with the aid of a stripping knife) and Plucking (done by hand or rather by the fingers and fingertips) are mandatory for Terriers that will be shown. The purpose is to remove dead hair and maintain the natural texture of the coat. The best time to do a strip is when the coat is "blowing"( falling out naturally).

NEVER use clippers on a coat the requires stripping if you intend on showing your terrier. Clipping not only removes the correct texture but it also removes the proper color for the show ring as well. It is the one distinct marker that will make your terrier stand out between pet and show dog. If you want the look without the price tag of showing, find a groomer who knows how to strip and hand pluck your terrier, but be prepared for additional cost. Not many professional groomers are asked to strip out a terrier on a regular basis as few customers care to pay for the service, so be sure to inquire if they have the knowledge to do the job correctly. It takes regular maintenance and plenty of hours to achieve a polished look. Learning the procedure at home requires patience for you and your dog and plenty of practice.

Stripping consists of gripping a small amount of hair on the blade of a stripping knife held down with your thumb and pulling the dead hairs out of the coat. Pull straight out and don't bend the hair, pull up or twist your wrist as this will break the hair instead of removing only the dead hair. Always pull the hair in the direction it grows (usually to the rear or downward). Plucking the hair with four fingers will achieve the look without the use of tools. If you hold the skin taut it helps to remove the hair quickly and won't allow the shin to be pulled up as you go along.