How to groom your wire coated dog
From scruffy little terriers to rugged working breeds, wire coated dogs have a charm all of their own. At WOOOF we love seeing these textured, bristly beauties come through the door!
Wire coats are found across a huge range of breeds - think Western Highland Terriers, Border Terriers, Wire Fox Terriers, wire coated Dachshunds, Schnauzers, Airedales, Irish Wolfhounds, and many more.
The coat is made up of a coarse, dense outer layer and a softer undercoat beneath, designed to protect these dogs in all kinds of terrain and weather.
✂️ Grooming Wire Coated Dogs
There are several grooming approaches - the gold standard for maintaining a true wire coat is hand stripping, a technique where dead outer coat is rolled or pulled out by hand (or with a stripping knife) rather than clipped. This keeps the coat's natural harsh texture, colour, and water-resistant qualities intact.
Clipping a wire coat instead of stripping will soften the texture over time and can cause the colour to fade, but many owners opt for clipping for convenience and affordability. It is also quicker, so for the more anxious dogs who don’t like being in the salon, this can be a better option.
🤚 Hand-stripping
Also, two techniques used for hand stripping include carding and hand stripping.
While often used together, carding knives and stripping knives target different layers of a terrier's coat. Carding removes the soft undercoat, while stripping removes the long, wiry top coat.
The Key Differences:
Carding Knife: Used in a combing motion to rake out the fuzzy, dead undercoat. It helps the wiry top coat lay flat and maintains the dog's colour.
Stripping Knife: Used to grip and pull the long, dead outer guard hairs from the root. It acts as an extension of your fingers to help pluck the hair without cutting it.
At WOOOF, we are lucky enough to have one of the world master’s handmade stripping knives, which is a work of art to look at and use!
🪮Shedding
Wire coated dogs are generally low to moderate shedders but it varies between breed - the harsh, dense outer coat tends to hold onto dead hair rather than dropping it around the house. This is one of the reasons hand stripping exists — the dead coat needs to be removed manually because it doesn't shed out naturally the way other coat types do.
📅 Grooming frequency
For hand stripped coats, a rolling strip every 8–12 weeks is typical to keep the coat in cycle
For clipped wire coated dogs, a full groom every 6–8 weeks is recommended
Breeds with furnishings (like Schnauzers) may need more regular face, feet, and body tidies in between
🏠 At-home maintenance
Brush through weekly with a slicker brush or bristle brush to remove debris and loose coat
Check for matting behind the ears, armpits, and around the collar
Wipe down the beard and eyebrows after meals — wire coated breeds are notorious food catchers!
Keep ears clean and dry, especially in drop-eared wire breeds like the Dachshund
🐾 Between grooms
Pop in for a tidy of the face, feet, and sanitary areas between full grooms
If you're keeping a hand stripped coat, stay on a regular rolling strip schedule to keep the coat in cycle
Grass seeds are a real risk for wire coated dogs — that coarse, grabby coat loves to collect them, especially around the paws, ears, and groin. Check thoroughly after walks in spring and summer!
Wire coated dogs are tough, spirited, and full of personality — and their coats are just as interesting as they are. If you'd like to chat about the best grooming approach for your wire coated dog, give us a call or book a complimentary meet & greet!
