First Stripping

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Lol!

[Toto-lee Cairn]

First stripping, here, has been divided over what seems like furever.  All puns intended.

Actually, it has been a bit easier than what I anticipated.  If I get Toto distracted, a bit, I can pull the long hairs I am now recognizing as the ones to pull.  He has two favorite chew toys, aside from Momma (still), that he only gets for grooming sessions, and while he lays on his belly and just chews-away, I can pull hairs from his coat, trying to focus on just one area at a time.  I started with the back, behind the head, and some off his rear legs.

Just this a.m., I tackled some of his head and face, and he looked at me a bit puzzled, but I got quite a bit pulled.  I have been hesitant to tackle the brows, but even now, I think I can see the ones that I should be able to pull.   I admit that some time back, I had to 'scissor-cut' around the anus, and was a nervous wreck with those shears in hand.  It went well, but it took several attempts to get it done -- and a number of treats.

[Toto-lee Cairn]

Continuing with the grooming efforts.  As I get a little more confident, it goes better.  I am dismayed to think, however, that by the time I get him completely done -- if I ever get to that point -- it will be six months later, and time to start all over again.

QUESTION:  Do you ever take shears to any part of the Cairn?  I did clip around his anus, and I am thinking his brows need something more -- when I look at photos of Cairns, they don't seem to have the 'brows' or outer 'eyelashes' like what my Toto does. What about the ears?

I do trim his paws, neatly around the feet, and I have had to trim the fur between his pads.  Almost always a fiasco.  But, I am grateful to a trick I learned from the Dog Trainer -- I put a little peanut butter on a large cooking spoon, and sort of distract the little guy to get the job done.  Of course, it takes the three of us -- my husband, me, and Rupert, to keep Toto distracted long enough for me to make a few quick snips.

 

[Toto-lee Cairn]

Any other tips you hand-strippers can share?

I got (2) small boxes of those rubber fingertips, like what accountants use, to pull hairs.  My thumb and index finger needed different sizes, of course, and I could only find the things in very small boxes at a chain office supply.

Keeping Toto from trying to eat them has been a bit of a trip.

[bradl]

4 hours ago, Toto-lee Cairn said:

very small boxes at a chain office supply

Look for a local Safety Supply company that services industrial or manufacturing type businesses. The thin latex ones are called finger cots and you can often find them in boxes of 50 or 100 or more at a bulk price. They are typically in the first aid section but sometimes also in a material handling section (finger cots are often used to keep fingerprints off stuff). Random example courtesy of google  : https://www.northernsafety.com/Product/9997/Natural-Rubber-Latex-PowderFree-Fingercots-720-Bag ; our local Cairn club also has a version in one-size-fits-most: https://www.crctc.org/store/product/185-finger-cots/.