CockersOnline Forum

Cocker Specific Discussion => Grooming => Topic started by: x Lou x on January 27, 2010, 03:24:34 PM

Title: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: x Lou x on January 27, 2010, 03:24:34 PM
Hi Chester is 9 months old and has been castrated (because of an undescended testicle) but his coat needs a good trim as you can see!
How do I know when the coat is ready to be hand stripped? I know that his coat might change because he has been castrated and might not be able to be hand stripped so do I get him clipped instead? and what is the best cut to ask for at the Groomers?  Is it best to take pictures?  Can anyone recommend a good Groomers near or in Peterborough?

Lots of questions I know!!  but any help would be helpful...thanks

Louise
(http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab304/xLoux/Jan%202010/DSC01149.jpg)
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: luckypenny on January 27, 2010, 04:50:38 PM
Crikey - that's quite a bit of hair!! :005: , but he IS gorgeous.   
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: x Lou x on January 27, 2010, 05:43:24 PM
I know, daily brushing is fun!

He gets called Little Bear every where he goes!

This is Chester with his hair brushed back but it doesn't stay there for long!!!

(http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab304/xLoux/Jan%202010/th_DSC01143.jpg) (http://s874.photobucket.com/albums/ab304/xLoux/Jan%202010/?action=view&current=DSC01143.jpg)
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: Little-Miss-Molly on January 27, 2010, 06:03:03 PM
OMG....... I could just give him a great big cuddle, he is one fluffy bear :luv:
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: hollyd443 on January 27, 2010, 06:33:58 PM
Wow! That is a lot of hair bless him!  :luv: My two are workers with no coat so can't really advise but Jenny Jaspersmum pointed out a link to a grooming tutorial post that looked like a really good 'do'. Will try and kind it!

Edit here it is: http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=32160.0
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: x Lou x on January 27, 2010, 07:55:59 PM
I'm not sure if I'm brave enough to have a go myself just yet, I think I will get him sorted at the groomers and then try and keep him in shape.

Thanks for the link, what sort of clippers would you use? Do they have all the blades with them? and how would you cut the legs and feet?
 :lol2:




Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: vikki.k on January 27, 2010, 08:07:17 PM
He's gorgeous, Jeanette is very close to Peterbrough she might be able to suggest a groomer.

Where abouts are you? I lived about 15 miles away from Peterborough when I was growing up, now just outside of Cambridge  :blink:
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: Jeanette on January 27, 2010, 08:23:00 PM
Hi, I live in Peterborough, Indie was stripped but is now clipped - there is a groomer near me who clips cockers but I still go to the cocker breeder who has been the only one to do Indie's coat as I like to visit her anyway for a natter   :D    She is outside of Peterborough though, Spalding way - if thats no good I know two other groomers, one in Hampton where I live and another one in Yaxley who does do handstripping - be prepared to pay a lot for that though.   

Feel free to PM me if you want any contact details.   
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: x Lou x on January 27, 2010, 08:31:41 PM
I don't mind driving out a bit if I can find a good groomer, could I have the details for both please (Spalding and Yaxley) Would the breeder trim dogs she hasn't bred? (and a natter sounds good too!)

I'm new to this what does PM mean?
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: Jeanette on January 27, 2010, 08:34:11 PM
I don't mind driving out a bit if I can find a good groomer, could I have the details for both please (Spalding and Yaxley) Would the breeder trim dogs she hasn't bred? (and a natter sounds good too!)

I'm new to this what does PM mean?

Private Message - I'll send you one.   

Heres a link to Indie's first haircut - http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=42490.0

Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: x Lou x on January 27, 2010, 08:42:33 PM
Wow, she looks lovely I hope she can work wonders with Chester!!!  Was that the groomer in Spalding?
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: Jeanette on January 27, 2010, 08:46:55 PM
Just typed you a message and my laptop just died  >:(  On the desktop now so will type out again
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: Max X 2 on January 27, 2010, 10:56:29 PM
 :luv: What a beautiful fluffy bear  :luv:

Chester is about the same age as Harry.  His hair has been very easy to pull out & I'm having to vacuum daily so I knew he was about ready for his adult cut  :D
Have you tried hand stripping Chester yourself?
I hope you find a good groomer & suggest maybe taking some pictures of what you want
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: x Lou x on January 27, 2010, 11:15:03 PM
I have noticed more hair about the house, it must be a sign!! 

Not sure about having a go myself yet, taking pictures is a good idea, I think I'll miss the bear look!!

Thanks
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: Max X 2 on January 27, 2010, 11:23:09 PM
I'm not sure if I'm brave enough to have a go myself just yet, I think I will get him sorted at the groomers and then try and keep him in shape.
I don't blame you.  It took me a while to pluck up the courage to start trimming Max myself but with Harry being so hairy I wouldn't have known where to start so I had him trimmed last week by a groomer & hopefully I'll now be able to follow her lines.
Although like I said, I constantly hand stripped his back - it's very therapeutic  ;)   
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: bluegirl on January 28, 2010, 10:49:29 AM
If your dog has been castrated then it is will be kinder to have him clippered or use the coat king for a more natural look. He can still be clippered sympathetically into a show type look with all the feathering just thinned and left longer.
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: black taz on January 28, 2010, 12:40:08 PM
Taz was castrated at 7 months and i have stripped him and he has a beautiful coat now, but then again i do cheat sometimes.  Get a metal toothed comb, thread an elastic band between the teeth and comb.  You will have to be gentle so it doesnt tug him too much until his coat comes out a bit easier.  Once you have got the bulk out it is just a case of daily maintenance, but has both Taz and i find grooming very relaxing it is not problem to me.  Like Max X 2 i had a professional groomer scissor cut him the first two times, now i just cut a bit off at a time so avoid mistakes.  WIth Taz being black, it does ocassionally hide the odd slip up.

Unless you really want him clipped all over, i would try at least giving handstripping a try for now otherwise you may regret it later, as i suspect that once you have him clipped handstripping would be impossible.
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: Max X 2 on January 28, 2010, 02:19:40 PM
It took quite along time - maybe 12-18 months before Max's coat changed after his castration & although I didn't hand strip him I went to a grooming workshop & the breeder there managed it very easily, he'd even been clipped once when we got him at 10 months, if I were you I'd not be tempted to go down the clipper route just yet, but that's just my personal opinion.
Whatever you decide we'll need before & after picture  :luv:   :D
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: x Lou x on January 28, 2010, 02:27:37 PM
Thanks everyone for all your help So glad I found this site  :lol2:
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: Rats and Dogs on January 28, 2010, 05:32:08 PM
Oh wow - a brown Duggie! :005: I didn't think any other dog had a fringe like his.

I hope you find a groomer who you are happy with. I've started doing Duggie myself, I've only Coat King'd some of his back, and used thinning scissors on his head, so far, but I did Tia last night (as she stays still) and I just trimmed her legs, feet and underneath, after using the Coat King on her back, and thinning scissors on her face and head. It's not perfect, but she is a lot tidier, I didn't like her clipped look, it was too severe. :D
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: x Lou x on January 28, 2010, 08:35:21 PM
Have you any photos of Duggie Please I'd like an idea of how Chester might turn out.
I love the way he looks now even the fringe, but the knots are getting to hard to handle.   :-\
Hope I'm doing the right thing!
 
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: Rats and Dogs on January 28, 2010, 08:50:53 PM
Have you any photos of Duggie Please I'd like an idea of how Chester might turn out.

There's a before and after pic on page 4! :005:
http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=68780.0

You are probably right in going to a groomers first, then maintaining his coat yourself, if you can, but I'm just keen on having a go myself, as I couldn't even get near Gari with a brush, and I'm enjoying being able to brush and groom Duggie and Tia. :D
Title: Re: Hand strip or Clip?
Post by: x Lou x on January 28, 2010, 09:54:19 PM
Thanks He really looks Like Chester  :lol2: so cute