How to Groom a Small Terrier

With terriers -- such as the short and smooth-coated Manchester Terrier and the wiry double-coated Cairn Terrier -- grooming techniques and requirements vary greatly. All terriers require some degree of grooming to maintain a healthy coat and skin. Some -- like the Yorkshire Terrier with its long and fine hair and the West Highland Terrier with its double white coat -- require more time than most.

Things You'll Need

  • Slicker brush
  • Fine-toothed comb
  • Stripping knife
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Brush the terrier's coat to assess where it needs to be trimmed or stripped. Brushing will also remove knots and tangles from long-haired or single-coated terriers like the Yorkshire or Silky Terrier. Part the hair if needed and brush from the root to the ends of the hair.

    • 2

      Trim the beard and facial hair of a long-haired terrier to give the muzzle a clean appearance and so that food and water doesn't stick to the face.

    • 3

      Trim around the anus of the terrier to prevent matted feces. This is especially important for a long-haired terrier and a terrier with a wiry coat.

    • 4

      Comb through the entire coat to remove dead hairs.

    • 5

      Using the stripping knife, pull out dying hairs. Grasp a few hairs between the knife and your thumb and pull quickly in the direction of the growth. Hairs that are dead or dying and ready to be stripped will usually be discolored or stick out from the coat.