How to Groom a Terrier

The way you groom your terrier depends on whether she's a show dog or a house pet. If your terrier is a show dog, you'll need to groom her using the stripping method, where dead hair is removed by hand to leave specific colors for the show ring. Show dogs are never clipped.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Strip or pluck the dead hair from a terrier, either by hand or by using a stripping comb. Stripping removes only the dead hair and leaves the texture of the coat unchanged. Pull in the direction the hair grows.

2. Use a clipper to taper the hair along the back of the terrier's tail. Most groomers groom the tail with a Number 5 clipper.

3. Cut a 1-inch-long fringe around the sides of the terrier's belly. Some terriers have a longer skirt while others have no skirt at all, depending on the terrier breed and if the dog is a show dog or a house pet.

4. Trim the ears and skull of the terrier using a Number 10 clipper. Pull the brows forward and trim using scissors so they have a V-shape.

5. Comb the terrier beard down and cut it using scissors so it's straight and neat.

Tips & Warnings

• Find a photograph of your specific terrier breed to determine the appropriate way to groom your dog. Various terrier breeds are groomed in differently.
• If your terrier is not a show dog, you can groom him with clippers, which is less expensive and time consuming.
• When stripping a terrier, never pull up and never twist the hair, or you'll break it rather than remove it.