Schnauzer Hand Stripping VS Clipper Grooming

This article concerns all Schnauzers: Mini, Standard and Giant. Nowadays you can find plenty of articles and video courses how to simplify grooming and making a Schnauzer haircut easy.  We kindly ask you to read our article before you bring your dog to a grooming saloon and make clipper grooming around the whole body!

All Schnauzers pet parents know that these dogs need to be stripped. However, very often, without finding a proper groomer or mistakenly believing that hand stripping is a “mockery for the dog!”, the new owner decides just to cut a pet with a clipper beautifully. And indeed, why to torture the dog, if after the haircut he is so handsome!

Yes, the first month of such a Schnauzer cut there is not much different in comparison with hand stripping. It even looks more accurate. But very soon you will feel the difference. And it will be especially noticeable for Schnauzers of pepper with salt color. Your pet will turn from a beautiful, silver-grey with white dog into a dull grey dog, with soft, devoid of natural shine hair.

As for the other colors, the consequences of the haircut are less noticeable and are more reflected in the change of the coat structure. Dogs can hardly be called coarse-haired anymore, and the hair itself begins to get mattered more often, to form tangles and even to shed. But you’ve taken a dog without shedding or smelling! And even your black pet can turn into a brown or grey after a few haircuts, and a black one with silver can lose its brightness and its black back can turn into a dim grey one.

Do Schnauzers Shed?

The thing is that the process of hair renewal is slowed down for Schnauzers. The hair does not fall out on its own even after it has become dead. That’s why the dog needs help to pluck out the hair by hand. During the stripping process, you remove all the old hair, making room for new hair to grow – healthy and shiny.

In other words, there is simply nothing for new hair to grow out of. As a result, the dog is covered with a large amount of undercoat, which is much softer and duller. Of course, a single haircut of the Schnauzer will not immediately turn your friend into a poodle. But three or four, one after another – easily!

Without hand stripping dog’s coat loses a lot of quality and half of its functions. It won’t be able to fully protect the dog from the cold anymore, it won’t comb well and even falls off. Haircuts don’t allow the coat to fully update. And even regular combing will not fully compensate.

Unfortunately, many groomers do not fully understand the peculiarities of the breed and only for aesthetic reasons use the simplified technology of trimming Schnauzers. They completely pluck out the dog’s dead hairs, and then cut the undercoat with a clipper. This is, of course, better than just cutting the Schnauzer with machine, but still not the best option. Especially if you have a pepper with salt or black and silver Schnauzer.

You May Also Like: Best Brushes for Miniature Schnauzer

Schnauzer Cut

Where to Cut a Schnauzer?

The classic version – Schnauzer can be cut in separate, very limited areas. Only ears, head, cheekbones, throat (but not the whole neck!), anus, genitals and stomach are treated with the clipper. It would be nice to pluck off the hair in these areas too with a special detailing knife, but it will be very unpleasant for a dog. Although, some breeders periodically remove hair on the throat and ears by hand. But you have to do it very carefully.

In addition, cutting the Schnauzer assumes that you do it also by hand (with scissors):

•  Forming the hair on the muzzle: cut eyebrows in the form of a triangle, beard is combed and flattened from   below diagonally with the maximum length under the nose
•  Beautifully shaped front and back legs;
•  Alignment on the chest, along the line of “skirt” and the design of a smooth transition from it to the eyelids   on the hind legs;
• Cutting hair between the pads of the legs and giving them a “cat’s foot” shape

All this is done with the help of regular hairdresser’s scissors for cutting animals and can be handled by each owner of the Schnauzer.

We hope that after reading our article you will reconsider your attitude to grooming the Schnauzer and your pet will become a real beauty.

Schnauzer Grooming Chart (Map)

Schnauzer Grooming Tools

You can see on the map what grooming tools to use for each part of Miniature Schnauzer. We have tried and tested many of them and are ready to present you the best suitable for the Mini.

a) Clipper

See also: Best Clippers for Schnauzers Review 

b) Stripping Knife for Hand Stripping

c) Hairdresser’s Scissors

For better understanding of the intermediary hand stripping of a Schnauzer watch the grooming guide by Angela Caley (Pro Groomer):

Daily Care of the Schnauzer Hair

Regular daily care of the Mini is as important as stripping. The dog’s hair requires everyday DeMatting, DeShedding and Final Combing:

• Once a week use deshedding tools
• Comb him daily, reduce mats and knots

Grooming Brushes

Here is a complete guide for choosing Best Brush for Miniature Schnauzer.

Grooming Shampoos and Sprays

You should wash coat on the legs, muzzle and stomach with Shampoo for Coarse Coat Frequent Use every three days. The rest of the body – every two weeks. Then apply a Conditioner to make the coat softer and eliminate mats. Use special dog care products. After each walk, rinse off dirt and dust with running water. DeTangling Sprays work perfectly on the Schnauzer hair to make daily combing easier.

Here is a complete guide for choosing Best Shampoo for Miniature Schnauzer.

Schnauzer Grooming Tips

• Plucking the inner hairs for ears keeps them clean and makes it easier to get rid of dirt.
• Claws must be trimmed regularly if they do not wear themselves out – the right length is so that they do not hit the ground.
• Teeth can be brushed, if start playfully in puppy hood. If you provide enough chewing material for natural teeth cleaning, hard dried natural chewing articles work wonderfully just like hard cookies (of course without sugar!) e.g. from Josera the snacks.

Schnauzer Grooming – Frequently Asked Questions

Summary

Schnauzers do not shed like rest of dogs. To keep them healthy and neat a pet parent needs to spend some time and effort on a regular basis. The most complicated is hand stripping. But professional groomers can always help with that twice a year. Schnauzers are so lovely dogs that all these difficulties will be rewarded by having a devoted friend and family member!