Other Ways to Groom a Border Terrier's Coat

Border Terriers have short, wiry hair and usually get by with minimal grooming. In fact, brushing a Border Terrier's coat too often can ruin its thick overcoat, according to the Terrier Grooming website. There are other ways to groom a Border Terrier's coat -- don't just brush your dog and call it a day. Combing will keep its fur healthier than brushing will. Hand stripping, which involves pulling out the dead hairs, is even healthier for the dog than brushing or combing. In addition, a little trimming of the head and neck will make him look quite dapper.

  1. Stripping

    • Strip your Border Terrier's coat completely every six to eight weeks. This will remove the outer coat, which dies out periodically to make room for new growth. To do this, first stand the dog on a grooming table or other elevated surface and grab a fold of its skin gently but firmly. Take a few hairs of the outer coat between your thumb and index finger and pull gently in the direction the hair grows. If the hair is dead, it will come out right away. If there is any resistance, the hair is not ready to come out. Strip the body, legs, throat and chest with the aim of getting all the dead hair out. For the tail, divide your stripping into sections. Do the base of the tail one week, the middle the second week, then the tip on the third week. Over time, this will create the "carrot" look that is the American Kennel Club standard for Border Terriers.

    Combing

    • If you don't have the time to strip your Border Terrier, you can also comb its hair. Use a fine-toothed comb with teeth long enough to penetrate the dog's coat. You don't need to comb your Border Terrier's coat more than once a week. Focus on getting out dirt and dead hair. You can also use a stripping knife as a comb to pull out dead hair in the undercoat. Both stripping knives and combs are available at most pet stores.

    Trimming

    • Border Terriers' coats do not grow continuously like that of a Yorkshire Terrier, for example, but they can still benefit from regular trimming. Use grooming shears with rounded tips to avoid harming your Border Terrier if she moves suddenly, and make sure the dog is comfortable being groomed before you attempt a trimming. Trim the hair under the chin and around the snout to a uniform length. You may want to find a photograph of a show terrier to base your styling on. You can also use scissors to clean up the scant but long hairs on your dog's abdominal area and inner back legs.

    Au Natural

    • It's great to groom your Border Terrier if she likes it and you have the time, but another option is to simply leave your dog's coat alone. Border Terriers take very little maintenance, and they don't shed as much as some other breed. Rub the dog down with a currycomb every week or so to minimize shedding, and otherwise, leave it alone. A natural-coated Border Terrier will look somewhat scruffy -- in an endearing way.