I'm new here, and my cairn, Cricket, has had some major skin issues for the last year.

She is 3 years old now and has never been stripped. Her issues started last year for the most part, right before she turned 2, when I moved back into my parents' house for awhile and my mother began to bathe my dog on nearly a weekly basis. I told her not to and she would complain that my dog smelled "like dog" and would give her a bath when I wasn't home. (My mom never had a dog until they found a Havanese 5 years ago and I won't even go into how that is going...) After several months of this, Cricket got really oily skin and is always digging at her ears and her face. I have taken her to the vet several times and no one ever mentioned stripping. They said it was yeast, heres some special shampoo and some medication, I went through all that and now I am back to square 1. Her ears smell really bad and I have started to go at them myself with q-tips (gently).

As I was searching the internet this morning I found this forum and started to go through the old posts about stripping. Cricket was never stripped and I have a feeling that this might just help solve her skin issues, or at least I am willing to give it a try. The thing is, as I looked through the forums and followed links to websites, I kept seeing the word "strip" and no explanation as to what stripping actually is. I see there are brushes, but to me it sounds like you are sitting there plucking all the dog's fur out with a pair of tweezers. I know I sound like an idiot, but I honestly don't know! Can some explain to me in very simple terms how to actually strip a dog and what it is? Or point me in the direction of a good website? I would really appreciate it!!!

Stripping is basically, taking a small amount of hair in your hand and pulling the longest strands out. I know someone else on the form can help better. Just wanted to address cleaning ears with vinger and a cotton ball. If it is a yeast infection vinger will kill the infection. Good luck.

My Nephew has a dog with yeast. It is a battle they fight all the time with the dog itching etc...

They have a dog that requires no grooming. They even went as far as shaving the dog which did not help. The itching and yeast has nothing to do about stripping your dog. That is not what is causing the yeast. That is just a problem with the skin etc... Stripping is pulling the dead hair. I don't strip myself so others can help you on how to do that. What does Cricket eat? Name of dog food. Lots of Cairns are allergic to Soy, Corn & wheat. I feed a grain free food and Kramer is 4 and has no skin or allergy issues. My Nephews dog they put on Evo high protein and grain free and he is a lot better but not perfect.

Thanks, I will try the vinegar and cotton balls.

I have just started her on wheat free food, haven't seen a difference yet. Mostly the stink comes from her ears but her skin is oily. She eats Nutro Natural Choice. I will have to give it a little longer before I see a difference if it is food related.

Here is a link to a post I did earlier this year. I took photos while I was stripping one of my dogs.

I really need to post more photos but haven't had time to groom my dogs lately...

Hope this helps, if you have questions- just ask!

Home Hand Stripping thread

I use a mars coat king for my stripping. I love it! I basically would brush the dog out with the MCK and it would pull out the majority of the dead hair.

I'll be honest though, I don't strip in the summer anymore. My dogs are not show dogs and it can get hot and sticky here in Missouri. We use a trimmer now to cut their hair. They both seem happier for it.

Scruffy has food allergies and when his hair gets too long it gets oily and he gets itchy. I have noticed that during the winter his skin is better if I keep him well groomed by stripping and in the summer his skin is better when I cut his hair.

Hope that helps. Food also plays a big part. We do as much grain free as we can for Scruffy and Dixie.