Irish Terrier Grooming

Irish Terriers have wiry, dense, double-layered coats that are short to medium in length. While the coats don't require much in the way of brushing or bathing, many breed owners hand-strip them several times per year. Below you'll find details on maintaining the Irish Terrier coat, a section dedicated to hand-stripping, and info about clipping and haircuts.

These dogs' short- to medium-length, dense, wiry coats don't require a ton of care, so Irish Terrier grooming isn't too time-consuming overall. Breed members shed very little, and their coats don't mat or tangle much, so they'll need brushing once or twice a week to keep their coats looking healthy and clean. Baths are recommended about every six weeks (or if the dog becomes especially dirty or stinky). And while Irish Terriers can have their coats clipped (which would need to be done every 2-3 months), many breed owners, particularly those who show their dogs, prefer to strip them either by hand or with a stripping knife. Stripping would be required about four times per year.

A firm bristle brush works best for brushing these dogs. To brush an Irish Terrier: first wet the coat with mist from a spray bottle, then brush the coat section by section, moving in the direction of hair growth; if you encounter a stubborn tangle or mat, first try separating it with your fingers, then finish working through it with the brush.

If you're following the brushing with a bath (and most dog breeds should be brushed prior to bathing): either a bathtub or an outdoor kiddie pool and a garden hose will work. Be sure to use canine shampoo, as the human kind can irritate a dog's skin and make it itchy. First wet the coat, then apply a quarter-sized amount of shampoo to the dog's back; lather well and work downward (and don't forget the legs!). Rinse thoroughly, towel-dry, then finish with another quick brush-through to make the coat look neat and clean.

Both clipping and stripping the Irish Terrier coat (discussed in more detail in the Plucking & Stripping and the Styling & Haircuts sections) can be done at home, but it's a good idea to visit a professional groomer at least once. The groomer can demonstrate how the clipping or stripping should be done, and can provide tips on how to groom an Irish Terrier in general.

Stripping a dog's coat involves removing the dead hair from the outer coat so new hair can grow in. It can be done either by hand (whereby the hair is plucked out), or with a stripping knife--but most breed owners prefer hand-stripping their Irish Terriers. The process is fairly simple, but can be time-consuming--a mature Irish Terrier can take up to 5-6 hours to completely strip--so many people choose to do one section each day, and divide the process into four or five daily sessions.

IRISH TERRIER HAND-STRIPPING:

• First brush the dog thoroughly.
• Unless you plan to strip the entire coat at once, pick a section. Suggested sections are 1) head, cheeks, and ears; 2) neck and throat; 3) chest, back, and sides; 4) legs; 5) stomach, butt, and tail.
• Go through each section carefully and closely. Use your thumb and forefinger to pluck a small amount of hair. When you tug gently on the hair, if it's dead it'll come out easily. Repeat the "tugging" process over the entire section.
• Brush again to straighten the section and to remove any stray dead hair.

Hand-stripping will take some practice, but those who learn to do it say the process is definitely worth the time. An Irish Terrier with a freshly stripped coat will look fresh, neat, and sharp.

Though stripping an Irish Terrier's coat is often the preferred method, some owners choose instead to cut their dog's hair by clipping its coat. It should be noted that clipping these dogs' coats will likely change both the texture and the color of the hair; post-clipping, it will be softer, and will probably turn to a dull light brown (or even gray) instead of rich red or wheaten.

If you choose to clip, the typical Irish Terrier haircut is a Puppy Cut, in which the entire coat is clipped to 1-1½ inches. You'll need some high-quality clippers that have a #10 blade; clip the hair moving in the direction of growth, making sure not to apply too much pressure to the clippers and cutting into the dog's skin. As you clip, also make sure to check the blade regularly to make sure it doesn't get too hot, thereby burning the dog's skin. Finish by trimming the facial furnishings with scissors.