Estimated Pricing

Starting rates only — final price may vary depending on coat condition, behaviour, and time taken.

From $2 per minute + bath and nails

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What you're basically paying for..

RSI, boredom, blisters, and the very specific groomer challenge of staying committed while both you and the dog start wondering why this is taking forever.

What we actually do

When your dog comes in for hand stripping or carding, we begin by giving them a chance to settle in. If it's their first visit with us, arriving around 10 minutes early can help allow a little extra settling time before we begin.

Before starting, we assess the coat to make sure hand stripping or carding is the right option for your dog. This matters because not every coat is suitable, and previous grooming history can affect what is realistic to achieve. If the coat has been clipped repeatedly in the past, the texture and growth pattern may have changed, which can limit what this service can do.

Hand stripping is used to remove dead outer coat by hand in a controlled and careful way. This helps maintain the harsher texture and more natural finish that certain coats are meant to have.

Carding is used to remove excess soft, dead undercoat from within the coat so the jacket can sit better and the overall finish stays cleaner and more balanced. In some dogs, hand stripping and carding may be used together depending on the coat and the result we are aiming for.

Depending on the dog, the coat, and the amount of work needed, this may be done in shorter sections or across more than one visit. Some dogs cope well with longer sessions, while others do better when the process is broken up into smaller appointments.

A bath, blow dry, nails, and hygiene tidy are available as additional add-ons and can be discussed at booking or on arrival. Before pick-up, we make sure your dog is comfortable and the coat has been worked through as far as is appropriate for that visit.

Why we do what we do

Hand stripping and carding are used to maintain the proper texture, balance, and function of certain coats. For the right dogs, these techniques help preserve a more natural look and feel than clipping alone.

This service is not just about appearance. It is also about keeping the coat working the way it was designed to, which can make a real difference to comfort, coat health, and long-term maintenance.

Who is this for?

This service is for dogs with wire or broken coats that are suitable for hand stripping or carding, and owners who want to maintain the coat's natural texture and finish rather than clipping it down.

Recommended breeds

Hand stripping and carding are most commonly used for wire-coated breeds such as Border Terriers, Wire Fox Terriers, Airedales, Schnauzers, Irish Terriers, and other terrier and working breeds with a naturally harsh outer coat.

Good to know

This service is charged by time rather than a flat rate, so the final cost will depend on how much work the coat needs and how long the appointment takes. We will always give you an honest assessment before we begin.