Welsh Terrier Grooming

The Welsh Terrier has a medium-length, wiry coat with defined facial furnishings. Welsh Terrier grooming isn't especially time-consuming, but will require regular brushing and either clipping or stripping every few months.

Here you'll find details on maintaining the Welsh Terrier coat, including great info about brushing and bathing. You'll also see instructions on hand-stripping, and descriptions of some popular Welshie hairstyles.

In addition to its coat, your Welsh Terrier will need maintenance in other areas. Brush the dog's teeth 2-3 times per week; clean the ears monthly; and trim the dog's nails every 2-3 months.

Find answers to your questions about Welsh Terrier grooming in the sections below!

Though their coats don't shed much, Welsh Terrier grooming is still a bit time-consuming. They'll need to be brushed 3-4 times per week too keep their wiry coats in good shape; baths are only necessary when your Welshie gets particularly dirty or stinky, as too-frequent bathing can rid the coat of its waterproof oils. Many owners strip their Welshies' coats several times per year--and while this breed's coat can be clipped (and some prefer clipping to stripping), regular clipping of a Welshie's coat can dramatically alter its color, texture, and overall appearance.

Grooming a Welsh Terrier will require the use of both a pin brush and a 2-in-1 comb. To brush your Welshie: starting at the shoulders, use the pin brush to brush the coat section by section, moving in the direction of hair growth. If you encounter a mat or tangle, first try working it out with your fingers, then continue working through it with the comb if needed. Finish the brushing by going through the legs, chest, and neck, then use the comb to smooth the facial furnishings.

If you're following the brushing with a bath, make sure to use a gentle canine shampoo, as the kind made for humans can irritate your Welshie's skin. To bathe: wet the coat thoroughly, apply a quarter-sized amount of shampoo to the dog's back, then lather well, working downward and outward. (And don't forget the legs!) Lather the chest and neck last, then use a washcloth to clean the head, ears, and face. Rinse completely, towel-dry, then give the coat another brush-through to make it look clean and neat.

And to strip or to clip? Stripping your Welshie's coat will keep it looking more natural (and if you're showing the dog, it'll be required), but some are afraid of the time it takes and prefer clipping their Welshies instead. (For further details on both methods, see the Plucking & Stripping and Styling & Haircuts sections of this page.) Regardless of your preferred method, it's a good idea to visit a professional groomer at least once. The groomer can offer advice on how to groom a Welsh Terrier in general.

In reality, stripping a dog's coat isn't the monster task many people believe it is. While stripping is time-consuming, with some practice it can become quite easy! Though some use a stripping knife, for wire-coated breeds like the Welsh Terrier, hand-stripping is the most effective method. Depending on the individual dog, a Welshie will need to be hand-stripped every 3-4 months.

Some things to keep in mind when hand-stripping your Welsh Terrier: first, placing the dog on a high stable surface like a table is best. And at first it might be good to have someone else hold the dog while you work--at least until you and your Welshie get used to the long (but not difficult!) process. Here are the steps:

• Give the dog a thorough brushing.
• Start stripping: going through the coat in tiny sections, grasp a bit of hair with your thumb and forefinger and pull gently. If a hair is dead, it should come out easily.
• Repeat the above process over the entire coat. (Note that this may take an hour or two.) Stripping the Welshie's facial furnishings may be difficult, so only attempt it if you feel confident about doing it--and if your Welshie even lets you!

And that's it. Again, it may take some time, but your Welsie's coat will look fantastic. And though "plucking" the hair may seem like it would hurt the dog, most owners say their dogs don't really have an issue with the process. So give it a try--you'll be glad you did!

With their wiry, medium-length coats, a number of Welsh Terrier haircut styles look great on these dogs. Note, however, if the coat is clipped instead of stripped, over time it will soften in texture and be more dull in color.

Depending on the cut style for your Welsh Terrier breed, a cut will need a touch-up trim every 2-3 months.

Some popular Welsh Terrier cut styles:

• Puppy Cut: A low-maintenance style. The entire coat is clipped short (to about two inches). Some like to leave the facial furnishings a bit longer. Can be done at home with some practice.
• Show Cut: Leaves most of the length, but requires some precision. The coat is scissor-trimmed by only a half-inch or so; the face and head are left longer and rounded. Requires a groomer's expertise.
• Teddy Bear Cut: Similar to a Puppy Cut, but the hair on the legs, face, and head is left longer and carefully rounded to make the dog resemble a stuffed animal. Probable best done by a groomer.
• Schnauzer Cut: Makes the dog resemble a Schnauzer. The body hair is clipped short; the hair on the legs and underbelly is left longer and rounded. The facial hair is full and rounded. Needs a groomer's skills.