Why Use the Stripping Technique on Your Dog?

Do you have a coarse haired dog? Then you know that they leave their hair everywhere. Today, we're going to tell you about the stripping technique. 
Why Use the Stripping Technique on Your Dog?

Last update: 04 April, 2019

When we’re deciding what kind of dog to get, we think: “One with short hair won’t leave hair anywhere and he’ll be much easier to comb. However, those with long hair are so beautiful…” What a dilemma! In the end, maybe you chose a long-haired dog because he was so gorgeous, even though you saw a lot of beautiful short-haired dogs as well. But what to do with his hair?!! To help with this hair dilemma, today we’re going to tell you about the new stripping technique.

Just the idea of being able to stroke such a furry, hairy dog all the time is what led to your decision to get a long-haired dog. When he’s a puppy, his hair isn’t that difficult to deal with. However, as it continues to grow, you realize that his hair isn’t just long, it’s coarse as well. So, how do you comb it? Easy, try the stripping technique

What is a coarse-haired dog?

The stripping technique is very helpful.

Coarse-haired dogs are those that don’t lose their hair, like Schnauzers, Poodles and even Dachshunds. Although it’s true that some coarse-haired dogs are easier to brush than others, coarse hair will always be difficult to deal with.

That’s where this new technique called stripping comes in, and we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about it. 

What is the stripping technique?

Stripping won’t just help to make your dog’s hair beautiful, it will also keep his skin healthy.

Although it may seem like a good thing for the pet owner, it’s actually a disadvantage that coarse-haired dogs don’t shed their hair. That’s because the dead hair can clog their hair follicles and cause infections and other harmful conditions. Additionally, this could stop the growth of new hair.

That’s why it’s necessary to eliminate the dead hair so that new hair has room to grow and for the skin to be able to breathe. The consequences of not removing this hair are:

  • Texture loss
  • Pore infection
  • Loss of hair color and shine
  • Less hair protecting your pet from cold and heat
  • Increased molting

How do they do the stripping technique?

Keep in mind that, just like when we go to the hair salon, the “dog hairdresser” will ask you to bring your dog with ‘dirty’ fur. Because of this, you shouldn’t bathe him for several days before his appointment.

After the appointment, you shouldn’t bathe him for another few days so that the skin can breathe and his pores will be cleansed. His pores will open after the stripping, and so bathing your pet could allow soap to enter the pores, thereby causing an infection. 

First, in the stripping technique, they will remove the hair that’s already dead. To do this, they have special thimbles with hooks that will latch onto the hair to remove it. These professionals have experience doing this, so they won’t hurt your pet.

Then, they will see if there’s an inner layer that protrudes from the outside. If this happens, they’ll use a type of comb called a coat king. This comb should only be used by a professional, since overuse could weaken your pet’s hair.

This technique can cost around 50 dollars, which might make you think twice about doing it. However we have some good news for you – you can do it at home.

How to do stripping at home

A woman cutting her pet's hair.

Remember, you want to let your pet’s hair get dirty before you do this. Then, ruffle his hair with your hands so that it’s sticking up a bit. Take some tufts of hair in your fingers and start sliding them upwards. The dead hair should come out easily. 

Using a special stripping blade, you’ll go through all of his hair to get any leftover hair. Remember, you don’t have to do it all at once. Instead, you can do it little by little over several days.

The only bad thing about doing stripping at home is that, if your dog has an undercoat, it’ll be very difficult to groom without the right tools. And, if you don’t know how to use the tools you have, you could hurt your pet.

So, that’s the stripping technique – the choice is yours!


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.