Our dog needs hand stripping but is too old and achey to stand for three hours?

Question

Do you think that we can do a decent job with clippers, we have bought soe dog clippers and are just too worried to start using them as we are not sure we can make her look good. She is an Airedale Terrier.

Answer 1

I've hand stripped my terriers when I was showing them...a lot of work for sure! But if your dog is old, there's no reason to put him through this. I use an electric clipper on all my dogs now, and it's fast and easy. It may take awhile before you get good at it, but your dog won't care! :)

Answer 2

Most grooming clippers have guards (comb-like extensions that stick out past the blades) for cutting hair to different lengths. I think you can do a decent job of an Airedale cut by using the guards for different parts of the body.

I'd get a photo of an Airedale with a proper cut, and follow that, rather than just giving her an all-over shave-down.

Just be very careful with the clippers around places where the contour of her body changes, such as where her legs meet her torso and around her tail. Don't turn the clippers at an angle...always keep them parallel to her body.

Before you start on her, hold the clippers behind your back and switch them on so you can see how she reacts to the sound. If that doesn't scare her, bring your hand around and show her the clippers. Then hold them in your hand, but not touching her, and place the back of your hand against her back so she can feel the vibration as well as hear the buzzing. If everything is still going well, start the clipping on her back, which is the least-sensitive part of a dog's body, using the longest guard.

The idea is to shorten her fur gradually, in stages, so you don't want to take her back fur down really short and have her decide she doesn't like the idea, so then you'll have a dog that looks like she was run over by a lawnmower. If you do goof up, remember that hair grows out and no haircut is permanent. I've had to tell myself that after some haircuts I've gotten.

Whenever you finish a session, praise her and reward her.

Answer 3

The groomer usually starts by clipping with electric clippers or stripping, using a stripping knife. The coat may be cut in a particular style, according to the breed. Poodles, for example, are often closely clipped around the face, feet and tail but their coats are allowed to grow longer around the legs.

By having this breed for some time now you have grown accustom to what the overall dog is suppose to look like.
Using clippers will be much easier for you & the dog.

I use to use clippers as well as scissors on my english setters there fine when you get the hang of them problem I had was to get the dog to sit still when it first heard them lol

Answer 4

Terriers can be clipped down when they are too old for stripping. I do not suggest you try it yourself. You can easily cut his skin with the clippers, not to mention it's a lot harder than it looks and he will probably come out patchy and uneven. You can usually find mobile dog groomers who will come to your house to clip him for you, or see if you can find a vet or grooming salon that will do him quickly and without bothering with the bath or anything, just the quick clip and send him home. I would advise you try something like that before you try to do it yourselves.

Answer 5

I had an old schnauzer and she needed to be clipped (for the last time). I took her to the groomer and explained the situation and the groomer let me stand by my dog. We took breaks so she could rest. We went outside for potties, had treats, etc. It really was a good experience for my dog, me and the groomer. She got a HUGE tip.