Grooming/Bathing Help

Thanks PnP you've articulated perfectly what I'm getting at.
My dog was never a big fan of being groomed (being a brat lol) but the alternative was overheating, skin problems, accumulation of dirt, matting and parasite infection...so not being groomed wasn't an option and he had to get over it, he now enjoys it and his head didn't fall off.

A (popular deshedding tool) breaks hair on a lot of dogs and to my mind causes lots of damage, but probably doesn't hurt...loads of people use it because they see shed loads of hair coming out with minimal time/effort and it makes their lives easier. I have more of a problem with things like that.
 
CorvusCorax said:
Thanks PnP you've articulated perfectly what I'm getting at.
My dog was never a big fan of being groomed (being a brat lol) but the alternative was overheating, skin problems, accumulation of dirt, matting and parasite infection...so not being groomed wasn't an option and he had to get over it, he now enjoys it and his head didn't fall off.

A (popular deshedding tool) breaks hair on a lot of dogs and to my mind causes lots of damage, but probably doesn't hurt...loads of people use it because they see shed loads of hair coming out with minimal time/effort and it makes their lives easier. I have more of a problem with things like that.
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Unfortunately we see a lot of dogs that don't like being groomed. There are varying degrees of dislike. Some will just worry a bit but accept it. Some will stress to the point of biting and throwing themselves around but can learn over time to trust and accept. Others will never be accepting - and that's either down to someone not having the skill set to rehabilitate and owners not willing to do their homework. And for those we sedate and shave off. No messing about.

I'm fairly good at reading dogs. I like to read about behaviour and understanding body language. I'm not particularly fluffy on the subject and I do not profess to be a behaviourist. But I like to think that since I've done a little behaviour study that my dogs have become more relaxed, have been more accepting and in turn my grooms have got better. But if a dog really doesn't want something done I firmly believe in humanity over vanity. I don't care, shave it off, make it easy for the dog. I want dogs to cooperate and not be terrified of the process. You can't win them all though, and sometimes you just have to pick your battles.

Having said all that, I still believe truly that handstripping done correctly is no more painful than brushing out a coat, and in some cases less so.

Oh, and by the way, I agree with you on the (popular shedding tool) comments lol
 
I was advised not to bring mine at all by several people lol.

I think it is also a wider issue of dogs being bred for looks, not temperament. And calmness/resilience/ability to deal with stress is just as important as looking cute and cuddly IMO.
 
ThursdayNext said:
Such as...? I mean what benefit does stripping have that is denied a clean, regularly brushed dog?
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If stripping is to encourage a coarse coat, and a new layer of harsh coat is grown over soft under coat then what you get is a double layer of protection. The harsh top coat acts as a barrier against sharp jaggy things in the undergrowth, and a tight dense pelt will keep water off the under coat which provides warmth.

A terrier coat which has become soft and wispy offers none of those things. Unless you plan to keep it short and put a jacket on the dog, then it has none of those benefits. The dog's coat will act as a sponge to elements and dirt. It then becomes a bigger job in the long run for the owner who must constantly bathe the legs and undercarriage. Too frequent bathing isn't great for that type of coat either. So it's basically a shave it short and be done with it type scenario.

Stripping it, if it's the correct coat, will mean twice a year in the groomer (or diy) and give it a proper natural coat which sheds water and dirt much easier.

Often pet owners do not manage a softer coat type easily as it becomes a daily job after each walk to ensure the legs are dry and brushed. So they skip it and it becomes matted. Matted fur traps moisture, which can cause hot spots, hide debris which can irritate or damage the skin.
 
ThursdayNext said:
Such as...? I mean what benefit does stripping have that is denied a clean, regularly brushed dog?
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M-in-law had a border clipped as she hated being stripped, the coat was awful for ever more, tangled and hard to maintain. Regualr grooming keeps things neat but doesn't solve the problem.
You admit you don't actually know anything about stripping yet are dead against it?
 
Clodagh said:
You admit you don't actually know anything about stripping yet are dead against it?
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Nope.

My instinct is that
- pulling 1/3 or your hair by the roots isn't fun
- hair grows from the roots so clipping can't influence new hair growth

I was asking those with expertise about the benefits of stripping to see if there was anything that would make me think it would be worth it for my dog. That is the joy of HHO - one can learn from all sorts of people :-)
 
yes hair grows from the root, but the coat cycles and when it's in Telogen stage the coat is ready to shed. So what you're doing is pulling out what is naturally going to come out - but doing it in a grooming setting.

Many terriers will actually attempt to strip the coat themselves by scraping along stones and buildings as they're walking, thru hedges and roll on grass. I strip most of the border terriers I do twice a year, spring and autumn. The coat is completely blown, and much of it comes out with brushing. The rest with a finger and thumb. It's not a forceful operation, it's gentle enough hat dogs often fall asleep. Sometimes following neutering the coat is spoiled for stripping as the coat becomes very soft, and sometimes more tightly rooted. Those dogs I don't strip. I might coat king them before a bath, which is no more painful than brushing - and then clip the rest. It preserves some of the harsh texture.

Hair that has been left within the root and clipped on the end isn't going to shed as easily, and therefore what starts to grow again from the follicle is left thin and wispy, and becomes easily matted.

I know this seems hard to believe and I get that it's not for everyone, or every dog. I don't force this upon those who don't want to know.

Perhaps you have to see for yourself what a difference clipping and stripping do to the texture, and how a dog behaves while it's being done by an experienced groomer.

Now, some will argue that clipping a coat that would normally be scissored will ruin it. I have yet to find any scientific reason why this should be,, and experience has not shown this to be the case for me. I have some ideas why this particular wives tale has become so popular. But til I see scientific proof of it, I won't believe it ;)
 
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