Many new Schnauzer Grooming Club members have a common question:
WHAT IS HAND-STRIPPING?
Hand-stripping is plucking the hard, top-coat hairs to promote new hairs to grow in. Schnauzers were originally bred to have a dense, wiry, coarse, weatherproof coat, so it could brave intense winter conditions to still do its farm tasks in the mountains of the Alps, in Bavaria. Seasonally, the farmers would “pull-down” excess topcoat to grow a fresh “jacket” for the next season. Obviously, the farmers would have to breed for coats that released easily, in order to efficiently groom their dogs without ruining their working relationship. Breeding for the hard, weatherproof, easy-pull Schnauzer coat was critical to the survival of the breed until the last century. Now, many Schnauzers no longer have the genetics for hard, strippable hair and will need their coats clippered & scissored to keep them neat and clean.
For those Schnauzers who still have a coat that can be stripped, top-coat hairs grow continuously until they fall or are pulled out, and since only the new-growth tip of the hair is hard, hand-stripping is the only way to keep the new, hard, weatherproof “jacket” growing in. The timing and frequency of hand-stripping can be variable depending on the needs, wants or purpose desired. Hand-stripping can be done as often as weekly or bi-weekly for dogs being actively shown or as infrequently as only seasonally. There are techniques and strategies that are fundamental to hand-stripping, whatever “look” ultimately suits a dog’s life and lifestyle best.
WHEN CAN I START HAND-STRIPPING?
Typically, we start hand-stripping a good candidate as a puppy, that makes socialization much easier. This is a good time to evaluate the coat and how easy or difficult it might be to hand-strip. With a few exceptions, Schnauzer puppies are all born with black puppy-coat. As the puppies grow up together, coat texture can easily be determined — the younger the puppy is when wispy black puppy coat starts curling up off the back, the softer that coat will be. You’ll be able to see that happening before 8 weeks in soft coated Schnauzers and if it’s still not seen by around 12 weeks that indicates a very correct, hard coat.
By 3-4 months some finger-plucking and light raking of the puppy coat alongside other grooming socialization (maintenance clipperwork, toenails, brushing, etc.) is the best way to get your puppy started. When you start this early, the puppy gets used to letting you touch him safely all over, and he gets used to a variety of physical sensations on his skin and you can avoid some arguments on the grooming table.
By six months old, it may be too late for some puppies to adapt to the cooperation required for hand-stripping. Other puppies can still go on to be hand-stripped but very likely will need shorter, more frequent sessions than ones started younger. During puppy’s first year, we gradually transition from mostly finger-plucking and raking to pulling the majority of the topcoat with a tool like a stripping stone or stripping “knife” or “comb.”
CAN I HAND-STRIP A COAT AFTER IT’S ALREADY BEEN CLIPPERED?
Sometimes a coat can be “brought back” to hand-stripping after being clippered, but those are the exception. If it was a hard coat to begin with, it didn’t have too much length when it was cut, it was cut with a longer clipper blade, and not more than one or two times, then it might be possible to return to hand-stripping but it must be understood that it usually takes 6 months to a year of diligent and consistent work to do it.
Not all Schnauzers are candidates for hand-stripping, especially in Minis and Giants. If it’s something you’re interested in, it’s best to discuss that priority with your breeder ahead of puppy selection so they can help you find the best fit, or let you know that’s not something they breed for so you can move on and keep looking. Many breeders of “pet only” Schnauzers are unaware of correct, hand-stripped coats and may, in fact, breed for the exact opposite as that seems to be a current fad, so asking questions about hard coats and hand-stripping should reveal that pretty quickly.
Even if your current Schnauzer turns out not to be a good candidate for hand-stripping, the more you learn now will help you select a better candidate in the future if it’s something you want to learn.
HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT HAND-STRIPPING?
If you’d like to learn more about hand-stripping your Schnauzer, I’m hosting a free Webinar on Saturday April 6th at 3:00 pm Eastern time called “Getting a Head-Start on Hand-Stripping,” where I’ll share fundamentals to help both beginners and people with more experience get better, more predictable and reliable results, as well as get off to the best possible start. To join us, use this Zoom link:
Topic: Get a Head-Start on Hand-Stripping
Time: Apr 6, 2024 13:00 Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88297612024
Meeting ID: 882 9761 2024
I look forward to sharing the space with you and greatly appreciate your interest, encouragement and enthusiasm over the last year and into the future. 💫
Teaching Schnauzer Grooming, one person at a time.
It turns out I love in-person sessions at dog shows because I already love the energy and environment and being around all the beautiful and unusual dogs. I don’t always get to enjoy that fully, though, because showing requires so much energy and focus from me.
I went to some local dog shows over the last two weeks, as usual, but not to show a dog this time which was unusual. I went to teach, holding several private, in-person sessions with people who are normally too far away to meet with face-to-face.
It was awesome! I helped one person final prep her Standard Schnauzer for a show the following week, teaching her how to trim and prepare legs and face for the ring and setting her lines in the right place to be competitive. I helped another diagnose a damaged coat and create a reconstruction plan to get the hard coat back so she can be shown as originally planned.
I also met with owners of two different Standard Schnauzers and created customized hand-stripping schedules for their show plans later in the year. We met to evaluate where their dogs were on the path to readiness and to meet the professional handler I had referred them each to.
Last but not least, I truly enjoyed a session with a Brussels Griffon and his owner, mastering the finger-plucking techniques and secure, supportive restraint that allows the hand-stripping process to be gentle and easier for dog and groomer.
I’m not sure when my next in-person “show days” will be, though I am already looking ahead to those opportunities. I’ll definitely let you know here and in the Facebook Group when I have more information. Is there somewhere you wonder if I can come? Let me know — drop me a line at StrawHatStandards@gmail.com. Meanwhile, if you’re close enough or willing to travel to Warrenton, VA, I will gladly set aside time to meet with you for an in-person private session.
See you out there and love your dog for me!
Leslie
Next Month: Sneak Preview! The Schnauzer Groomer’s Toolkit!
- What tools do you need to get started grooming your own Schnauzer at home?
- What do experts keep in their toolboxes?
- How do I choose the right equipment?
- And more!
You don’t need to break the bank or overwhelm yourself with grooming tools — I’ll help you understand what YOU need most, whatever your level or goals. Watch for your next Schnauzer Grooming Club Newsletter in about a month!
