Clipping versus Hand Stripping
Untrimmed Airedale
A terrier's coat was originally its natural defence against predators which lived underground. Consequently, terriers were bred to work the prickly hedgerows chasing these predators which had large claws to dig underground. That is How Terriers worked. That is also why the terrier which hunted these predators had to have a specialised protective double coat called rough.
Should the dog be attacked, this rough coat had hair that would come out easily, leaving the dog unharmed. In other words huntsmen selected this special non-moulting coat that became the terrier's defence against the pickles as well as the predators it was bred to hunt.
Rough Coated Terriers Today
Clippered Airedales
Today very few Terriers hunt predators that live underneath the ground. Nor do they hunt in the thick undergrowth of hedgerows and prickles. However, in the modern world the Terrier's coat has become an integral part of their breed type. With no predators or thick undergrowth to pull the coat out, the method of hand stripping was developed as an extension of a natural moulting process. Called rough coated Terriers, they not naturally moult. In simple terms, their coats do not fall out all over your clothes and carpet. Rather, the older coat has to be 'tugged' out. This process of tugging the old coat out is called ' hand stripping'.
Advantages of Hand Stripping
Hand Stripped Airedale
When hand stripped, the body coat not only looks good, but it is also very healthy. Hand stripping removes the old loose coat, leaving the new body coat behind. If however you clip the dog all over, you cut the old hairs, leaving their roots within the follicles of the skin. This can irritate the dog and be a primary cause of eczema in a terrier.
With this type of coat, the richer colour and the correct texture are at the end of the hair, while the paler and softer hair nearer the skin of the dog. So, when clipped, this type of coat grows back pale and more like a carpet than one that is hand stripped.
Hand Stripping an Older dog
If you decide to hand strip an older dog, you will be rewarded with maintaining a beautiful coat, free from irritations. But if for any reason find hand stripping the older dog a bit of a drama for either you or your dog, a satisfactory compromise is to hand strip the body coat, and clip the tan areas. Alternatively, you may like to strip some of the longer hair of the coat and just leave the new hair behind. If choosing this option, it is important to keep up the 'undercoating'. This is what is called 'rolling the coat'.
References and Further Reading
[1] Jane Harvey, DVD "How to Groom an Airedale" Rangeaire Vision, Victoria 1985, 2004 ISBN 978-0-9804296-0-2
See also 2002 - Jane Harvey, "Learning to Groom Rough Coats" in National Dog, the Ringleader Way ((Published by Sahjobe Pty Ltd, Menangle Park NSW ABN 86 075 412 761), Lower Portland NSW) December 2002 Vol 5 No 12 Page 37
BREAKING NEWS.
We have now published a unique Terrier book 'Terriers Unveiled' Available at our sister site: https://rangeairevision.com/terriers-unveiled/