Hand Stripping
Hand stripping is done by hand, using a painless "pulling" technique, allowing a new coat to grow. Although not all dog coat types can use this method, it is the healthiest method for the coat on those dogs who can use it. It keeps the natural colour and texture, if not enhancing it. However, some dogs may not accept this method.
Can my dog be hand-stripped?
Hand-stripping revolves around the 'Breed Standard' groom, in other words, what groom show dogs receive. Most terriers get hand stripping as well as Schnauzers, Cocker Spaniels, Irish Wolf Hounds, English Springer Spaniels and more!
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Dogs that have been clipped already cannot go back to hand-stripping (it is not impossible, we don't offer this as the coat as to be re-trained entirely).
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If your dog is a puppy and has not been clipped, we suggest you give us a call to discuss the options.
Why do we charge hourly for hand-stripping?
At Crackin DG, we charge $110.00 per hour for hand-stripping (including the bath/blowdry process).
Here are a few reasons why we charge what we do:
1. Expertise
Here at Crackin, we have all award-winning stylists in Hand-stripping; this has taken years of training and time to achieve the quality of work we do.
2. Time
Compared to a Breed Groom clip, it is much more time-consuming. Each hair is pulled out by hand, taking hours, whereas the clip is straight across the body, taking minutes. The time is also why we have caps on how many we can do a day, etc.
3. Harsh on Groomers Body
As it is a time-consuming process and a repetitive procedure, it results in injury quickly (shoulder pain, wrist pain, etc.).
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Two types of Services
Pure Hand Strip
A pure hand strip is an entire dog that is traditionally stripped to be completed as so. This is the whole dog for some breeds, like the Irish Terrier. Others, like the Cocker Spaniel, traditionally have their head, neck, and top of ears clipped, furnishings scissored, and the rest hand-stripped. In other words, how a 'SHOW DOG' would be groomed!
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Combination Groom (Hand Strip/ Clip or Thin)
A hand strip/clip is a shortcut in some areas. It cuts down time, resulting in a slightly cheaper service but a similar result. This may also be a better option for dogs getting older or with a lower tolerance to certain areas.
For example, a Cocker Spaniel is sensitive with its front legs, to clip/thin down the front legs at an appropriate length instead. Or for a Terrier, to thin down the furnishings rather than stripping. But the central portions of the dog are still stripped (along the back).
The following two images reflect this service.
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A puppies experience with Hand-stripping at Crackin
Hand-stripping requires training from a young age to get used to the process. When a puppy books in, we do what is possible to their threshold; whether that is a completed job or not, their happiness is more important. When 'completed' is mentioned, this means a groom, like an adult dog, either taken back or over all areas.
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For example, the dog to the left is a Cocker Spaniel puppy; he has had his back hand stripped and his front legs slightly done, but not completely. The colour difference you see is the adult coat (on the back), and the lighter colour is the puppy coat.
An experience with a Blown or Overgrown Coat at Crackin
With gundogs (like the first two photos), you cannot expect a perfect breed profile (getting the hand-stripping right down), as there will not be enough time; we don't like to spend more than three hours on a dog in one session). We make a bulk reduction but cannot do 'fine tuning' like a regular client.
The term 'Blown Coat' is more used when talking about a wire coat. This is when the coat is grown out ten weeks plus and no longer has layers, so it needs to go right down to the first. You may sometimes see blad spots as there is no undercoat. You can see this in the images below.
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A Hand-Stripping client of Crackin's:
Clients that receive Hand Stripping at Crackin must meet this critera.
Gundogs (English Springer Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Setters etc.)to be groomed at $110 per hour:
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4- 6 weekly schedule - this means the dog must be booked in this time frame, at a maximum of 6 weekly.
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A yearly schedule is locked into the books, as we book out very fast (reschedules within the timeframe if need be closer to the time are accepted if achievable)
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If your dog exceeds six weeks, the price will go up to $150 per hour (including bath/blowdry). Purely for the extra coat, the dog will now be holding and is now in a 'BLOWN' state.
The only exception of the above dot point is if your dog receives a combination groom (STRIP/CLIP); read above to see what this is- this will still be at $110 per hour.
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Terriers and Wire Coat (Schnauzer, Border Terrier, Airedale Terrier, etc.) to be groomed at $110 per hour:
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6- 10 weekly schedule - the dog, must be booked in this time frame, at a maximum of 10 weekly.
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A yearly schedule is locked into the books, as we book out very fast (reschedules within the timeframe if need be closer to the time are accepted if achievable)
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If your dog exceeds ten weeks, the price will go up to $150 per hour (including bath/blowdry). Purely for the extra coat, the dog will now be holding and is now in a 'BLOWN' state.
The only exception of the above dot point is if your dog receives a combination groom (STRIP/CLIP); read above to see what this is- this will still be at $110 per hour.
More FAQ
How long does Hand-Stripping take?
In general, it takes anywhere between 2-3 hours. But it is very dependent on the size of the dog and its coat.
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How much does Hand-Stripping cost?
$110 per hour for clients on a locked-in schedule, $150 per hour for blown or overgrown coats.
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What if I want the Breed Groom trim but something more affordable?
No problem, we can offer the Breed Groom but clipped. Still the same groom, just a different technique. The photo to the right is a clipped breed groom.
