Hi Andrew,

Thanks for your question and info you shared about Bandit, I'm sure he is a wonderful character. With regards to how his coat will react to him having beein neutered is not set in stone. Some Borders coats don't change others become softer and thicker, but this doesn't usually happen for a few years. If you are able to strip Bandit's coat then yes do so, if you can continue then it will help to keep his coat in good order, it may be that he is not going to grow a heavy coat all over, but just have the longer hairs over his shoulders etc.

The weatherproofing of the Border jacket is down to the double coat and the close top harsh coat, so if you continue to hand strip Bandit he should retain his correct coat.

I hope that this is helpful and puts your mind at rest and that you have many enjoyable years with Bandit.

Best wishes

Viv

Dear BTW

I am resident in the Charente in South West France and having researched accredited breeders outside the UK, bought a Red Grizzle bitch from Brigitte and Pascal Bernaudin at Glen Mara Border Terriers in Villiers Saint Benoit 89130 in April 2010.

Very happy withMaude, soon to be two years old in January.  Had her handstripped twice (once every six months) by supposedly qualified French groomer and am bitterly disappointed with results.   I have noticed a couple of bald patches under the top coat between her ears and on her back which leads me to believe she's been clipped.   Is this irrepairable?  

Question is, how do I continue to maintain her coat?   Can I get her hand-stripped after she's been spayed (she was done in February this year)?  Seems a strange question, but I seem to remember reading that spaying affects their hormone levels which in turn affects their coats.   She does seem incredibly 'hairy'her shaggy coat grows very quickly.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Yours hopefully

Clare Hauxwell

Hi Clare,

It is lovely to hear from a border owner in France, but sorry that you are concerned with the actions of the groomer. However, from you comments about bald patches I would associate those more with perhaps over zealous stripping rather than clipping. You say that Maude is a red grizzle, red coats can be quite difficult to maintain and as you say she has now been spayed, which is likely to have a detrimental affect on her coat. You are correct in saying that spaying can cause the coat to be more difficult to strip, due to the hormonal change. It is quite likely that Maude has a heavy long top coat, but not much of an undercoat, therefore, when the coat is stripped it can leave bald patches.

If you want to continue to have Maude's coat stripped I would suggest that you attempt to roll the coat yourself, by this I mean that you regularly remove the top long coat keeping it tidy. Did Maude's breeders show borders? If they did maybe you could approach them and ask for their guidance in caring for her coat.

I hope that this is of some help and good luck with the grooming.

Best wishes

Viv

Hi,

My 4 year old border terrier has just been hand stripped and is very 6 months, he gets a really think coat and I have had a go myself and managed to get a lot out before he went to the groomers. This time he came back and after a few days he has little stops on his back almost like little scabs that are now starting to rub of. When he comes back he always seem to scratch a lot.

Is this because of the hair being pulled out ?

Thanks for your time

Sam

Hi Sam,

I read your question with great interest as this seems to be another example of stripping and bathing on the same day. I had been intending to write another little piece about this as I have heard of a few more poor borders who have been seriously ill as a result of the groomer not realising that this can cause severe reactions to some dogs.

It does sound as if your border has a mild reaction but it is worth being aware of this as it may get worse with each grooming, I would suggest therefore that you have a word with your groomer and request that your dog is stripped only, hopefully then there will be no more skin eruptions.

Best wishes

Viv

Hi,

Can u help please? I have a Border Terrier female pup nearly 6months old but she has the coat of a Jack Russell, smooth single coat. Can you tell me if we should be seeing some top coat by now please? We saw her mum who had a plentiful top coat, we never saw dad. Thanks,

Jane.

Dear Viv

I read with interest an old Q&A post where you were talking about not stripping and bathing on the same day.

My 4 year old male has recently been stripped and I must say for 3 days afterwards he is very unwell.  He seems fine on the day but the next morning he is lethargic, won't eat, doesn't want to go for a walk and general looks unwell and listless.  After the 3 days be bounces back but he does seem to develop little scabs and won't let us anywhere near them.

I am most concerned as it has been getting progressively worse and I am thinking of having him clipped as I cannot put him through it or the family!  I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts as he does appear to be having some sort of reaction.

With all kind wishes

Jane Wilson

Hello Jane,

Thank you for your question and I am pleased to hear that the old Q & A's have been of interest.

From what you say about your Borders reaction to stripping it sounds very similar to all the others that I have been told about, but thankfully not as severe as some poor dogs who have ended up having to be prescribed antibiotics for, some for weeks.

Do you know if your groomer baths your dog before or after stripping him, and if she does is it possible that she could omit the bathing. Hopefully he shouldn't react adversly to just being stripped, but do check his skin for a few days after to make sure that all is well.

It would be interesting to know the outcome of his next grooming, perhaps you would let us know.

Good luck and I hope that you don't have to resort to having your Border clipped.

Best wishes

Viv