I have a 6 month old male Airedale pup. I began hand plucking his coat when he was 10 wks.old for him to get used to me tugging gently at his hair.
When he was 4 months I began using a stripping knife on him, a medium for his body and fine for his face and head area. He is developing a good hard coat but my problem is the amount of hair he is losing. I also can't seem to be able to define his face properly with a stripping knife and don't know how to blend it in properly using clippers.
I'm in a quandry. If I take him to a groomers and have him clipped to properly give me a guide line to then strip would this [one time] damage his coat forever and become soft?
He's our family pet and not a show dog and he has a beautiful reddish, caramel color with black. Would his color also fade out from clippering one time?
Welcome advice please....
Posted on Feb 27, 2003, 1:43 PM from IP address 207.6.154.253
I personally would not shave your pup's coat. It will soften the coat and you will then have to strip down even more to get that harsh texture back. It will come back, but with alot of extra work. what knives are you using. Have you tried a fine macknife?
Posted on Feb 28, 2003, 6:10 PM from IP address 24.229.169.201
Hi Lori
I purchased [Warner] knives from the advice of a groomer from a pet supply house. A medium and fine blade.
What is a macknife? This is my first time at hand stripping. We used to own Schnauzers and clipped them. I also heard thinning shears are helpful to finish off the Airedale coat. Is there any truth to this before I purchase a pair??
So one clipping would indeed soften the pup's coat?
Is there a good grooming book anyone could recommend about Airedales?
Posted on Mar 1, 2003, 11:00 PM from IP address 207.6.154.253
sonnen puts out a video about stripping airedales. there are detailed instruction at the pearson stripping knives site on handstripping. This is for wire hair fox terriers but can be applied to a pet airedale.
Posted on Mar 3, 2003, 4:08 AM from IP address 24.229.169.201
sonnen puts out a video about stripping airedales. there are detailed instruction at the pearson stripping knives site on handstripping. This is for wire hair fox terriers but can be applied to a pet airedale.
Posted on Mar 3, 2003, 4:08 AM from IP address 24.229.169.201
You really aren't supposed to use clippers... but if you aren't showing your dog, and don't want to strip the coat out, I would recommend using a 7 blade and go with the hair NOT against the 'grain'. Scissor the furnishings....
Another good idea are the Mars brand 'rakes' you can buy now that anybody can use, and while they aren't as good as stripping, they do a nice job of cleaning out a coat. Good luck!
PS-- my retired champion is 'shaved' I figure 'who cares' he has done his job, and I don't want to always look cute. I have him in a Westie/Scotty type clip and he looks very nice.
Posted on Jun 27, 2002, 1:23 PM from IP address 64.160.124.227
Hi
I happened at the website where you posted how to cut your westie. I have had the same problem along with one more. I am looking for AKC registered male to mate with my female. She is in heat right now.
My name is Linda and I live in Northern California, near to Santa Rosa California.
If you could be of any help I sure would love to hear from you.
Thank you
Linda
Posted on Aug 27, 2004, 9:19 AM from IP address 64.165.210.120
Do you have any Terrier Type from the 1960s.When Shirley Lund from Bellingham, Wa. was writing articles on the Australian Terriers? Thank you. Marge Ford
Posted on Jul 29, 2001, 12:37 PM from IP address 64.12.102.153
If you can either pull some with working terrier, Cairn or Lakie info, or any of the less common breeds, I'd love them. Let me know about how much shipping and how/where to send the money (check-credit card-PayPal, whatever)
Wynne Eden
GrayMare Hollow Terriers
Posted on Dec 10, 2001, 5:51 PM from IP address 65.83.183.200
ran accross an old email from you offering old terrier magazines; if by some miracle you still have any i'd love them. please respond with shipping estimate, etc. here's hoping, barb
Posted on May 7, 2003, 10:48 AM from IP address 152.163.189.131
Some Airedales have coats that can be clipped and still retain color and some texture, but most I have seen will not. Usually the coat will become softer and gray, more so as time goes by. You could do a pet stripping (just stripping the back coat and clip the head, neck, and rear)to make your dog look better. Raking to coat with an extra fine stripping knife might help by removing some of the undercoat, but the best solution would be to do a proper stripping job, although you may not have the time or the inclination.
Monty
Posted on May 14, 2001, 9:26 PM from IP address 208.188.160.84
We have had Airedales for many years two of them Spaire-dales (rescues). We have home-stripped or pro-stripped all of them. The two rescues came to us clippered by the rescue people (to make her presentable) or by the previous owners (who found it easier on them to just "buzz" it away). The clipped coat just doesn't feel right. With one clipped and one stripped in the house the difference is quite easy to feel. Behavior is different, too. The clipped gal frequently seems uncomfortable and is always scraping against furniture, the walls, anything to help pull out the hair "whose time has come!"
The previously-clipped coat can be brought back with a lot of work but that wiry stripped coat is what the Airedale all about!
Posted on Nov 30, 2001, 1:40 PM from IP address 158.93.84.89
The Mars knives are very good. Cheaper and more readily available are the Mikki knives. They are also much cheaper and have a curved handle that prvrnts the knife form twisting in your hand and causing blisters. The Hauptner Real knife is great for detail (ears etc!)
Posted on Aug 25, 2002, 11:26 AM from IP address 213.123.127.91
When the big dog shows come to your area, look for the merchants selling to the show people. Check out their assortment, see how they feel and if you have your 'dale with you, give a quick pull or two. I like MacKnife and have used them since the '70s. And I like some of the Mars knives; especially the short little fine one that's great for ears.
I carried a permanent callus on my index finger for years from stripping. Then it dawned on me that it could be avoided by putting something over my finger to absorb the pressure and friction. After several wrong starts, I purchased a good pair of smooth leather work gloves at the do-it-yourself store making sure that they fit well but not too tightly. Then, I stripped for thirty minutes or so to see where the knife rubbed. Since I wanted fine finger tip control, I cut the fingers off the one I held the knife with making sure that there was sufficient leather along the length of my index finger and thumb.
Posted on Jan 19, 2003, 6:56 PM from IP address 216.78.141.208
Where would you like to start? At the beginning when first starting to strip or tips on final trimming to prepare your dog for showing or general maintainence to keep your dog in a reasonable coat all the time?
Monty
Posted on May 14, 2001, 8:28 AM from IP address 208.188.160.93
When you begin to strip broken-coated dogs, you will be sore but you will develop calluses in places on you fingers and hand. A way to minimize the hurt and callus formation is to cut the fingers from a good, smooth leather work glove leaving enough to cover the spots where the knife rubs your skin.
Posted on Nov 30, 2001, 1:46 PM from IP address 158.93.84.89
I received a letter from Paula Joseph Johnson, making a plea for help in her effort for Airedale rescue in Oklahoma. She is overwhelmed with the task and can certainly use assistance. Anyone who can offer help or any ideas, please post here and I will let her know.
Monty
Posted on May 11, 2001, 5:32 AM from IP address 208.188.160.89
Many visitors to our site fail to enter the "free knife drawing". I'm sure many are concerned with giving out info on the net and I share that view, but we do not use the entries for anything except the drawing....honest. The idea is to make some potential customers more familiar with our knives, nothing more. Still, I'm sure some will doubt our motive, but that will just makes the odds better for the ones who do enter.
Monty
Posted on May 11, 2001, 5:15 AM from IP address 208.188.160.89
Less work for me too...not all those e-mails to answer. I think it's hard to give something away :) Maybe you'll be lucky this month,and if not keep trying.
Monty
Posted on Jun 30, 2001, 10:48 AM from IP address 208.188.160.85
We are just acquiring a wire fox terrier and plan to do our own grooming
on the dog. I am trying to obtain the articles written by Mrs. Arden
Ross called "Broken-Coated Terrier" for the price of 9.95. If you can
be of assistance I would appreciate it. We plan to do the stripping and
will eventually be needing the necessary equipment. Iff you have a
catalog please also let me know. Thanks for any help.
Posted on Apr 20, 2001, 6:13 PM from IP address 208.188.160.20
I see that the American Wire Fox Terrier Club is out of stock on this book. Maybe someone else knows where to find a copy. The main points on stripping are contained in our excerpts of her articles, however I'm aware this may not be enough for someone who is just starting.
Monty
http://www.strippingknives.com
Posted on Apr 20, 2001, 6:23 PM from IP address 208.188.160.20
I found the Airedale Terriers Club of America has the book available you can go to their website for information on ordering the book, I just got mine last week (it takes them several weeks to respond, but its worth the wait, the humor alone is worth the price.
regards,
Jeri
Posted on May 8, 2001, 12:25 PM from IP address 205.188.197.152