How to Strip a Westie

The Westie, or West Highland White Terrier, is a harsh-coated breed. This means they have a double coat. Each hair follicle grows two types of hair. One is the harsh, wiry outer coat of guard hairs and the other is the soft, fuzzy undercoat. Stripping pulls out the dead guard hairs and much of the soft undercoat, resulting in a dog with significantly less hair that is ready to grow a new crop of guard hairs. Unless the coat is stripped, the dog will lose much of its harsh outer coat and the fur will become softer because each hair follicle will sprout multiple soft hairs unless they are regularly removed.

Stripping is required for show dogs, but many Westie owners opt for cutting or clipping their dogs because stripping is a time-consuming procedure that is expensive when done by a professional groomer. Stripping the coat at home on a weekly basis will help maintain the harsh outer coat.

Things You'll Need

  • Stripping knife
  • Slicker brush
  • Grooming chalk (optional)
  • Table
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the dog on a table. Brush the dog thoroughly with the slicker brush to remove any knots. Brush in the direction the hair grows on the dog's body. Brush with and against the direction of growth on the dog's legs. Lift the dog up under the front legs with your forearm to brush the chest and belly, hugging the dog's back to your chest. Be sure the brush bristles reach down through the hair to the skin.

    • 2

      Start stripping the coat at the back of the neck. Rub a small amount of chalk into the hair, if using. The chalk will help you to grip the hair. Hold the handle of the stripping knife in your palm with the smooth side of the blade facing you.

    • 3

      Place your hand on the dog just above the area to be stripped to keep the skin taut. Grab a very small section of hair with the serrated blade teeth and place your thumb along the serrated edge to hold the hair in place.

    • 4

      Use a brushing motion to quickly and firmly pull the blade along the hair in the direction that it grows. Pull the hair out using your elbow and shoulder. Using your wrist will only cut the ends of the hair.

    • 5

      Strip a small area of the coat at a time. Take frequent breaks if your dog becomes restless or tired. Complete the job over the course of a few days, if necessary.