You will need a grooming kit and an Irish Wolfhound. 'come back here Toby'!by Fran Smith-King
You will need a grooming kit and an Irish Wolfhound. 'come back here Toby'!
I used Toby who needs a tidy and Indi who was groomed to show you the difference.
A ten blade Mars Comb 
Pulls out dead under coat
A fine tooth 'Mikki' stripping knife for ears, elbows and hocks (all available
on the internet)
A 'Mikki' knife
a small wire brush, used carefully do not be to rough with this....without teeth marks Toby!
You don't need a huge brush and I find it is a lot easier with the small one.
A good strong comb, check the space on this one it is perfect.
Scissors....yes Toby got them!
A horse brush...Rainbow got this one! 
but it still works
a pack of baby wipes for ears and tails.
hand stripping is always best if you can manage it. Only take a little hair out
at a time so as not to hurt the dog. Wear a rubber glove it helps.
I am out of here!
Indi the night before...His neck needs stripped and his coat tidied a little.
Yes I know my hair needs attention too...but I am to busy!
I always start at the rear paws, shape them with the blue knife and comb the
legs with it gently.
This will take out dead hair and tidy the ends.
To use the stripping knife, comb the hair with the knife
catch the hair with your thumb and pull in the same direction as the hair is
growing, it will cut the hair without hurting the dog.
Hocks should be stripped back to show the shape, finish off with a hand strip
to neaten.
Use
the Mars comb on the thighs to remove dead undercoat and tidy the hair.
Long hair hides a beautiful tuck up but be very careful working with scissors.
You can see the difference here. Trim very carefully around the dogs 'bits', get
someone to hold him and keep him calm. If he is anything like ours he will stand
happily!
Tidy up straggly hair with a hand strip only take a few hairs out at a time
do both sides as evenly as possible. Don't forget to do inside the legs.
Ears should be hand stripped or use the red comb to keep them soft and velvety.
Gently wipe the inside of ears with a baby wipe. Don't dig!
Toby's tail is thick and bushy.
Push the hair back at the top of the tail and strip from there
Use the blue knife to comb the hair down making it smooth
This is how it should look. (Indi)
Remember to keep under the tail clipped short and wipe with baby wipes to keep clean
Comb the back with either the mars comb or a knife to take out all the dead
under coat.
this will make the coat stronger and rougher.
The Mars comb will take out most, but finish it of with the blue knife.
Keep the sides and front of the neck short by stripping and combing over with
the blue knife.
The
elbows should also be kept short and again comb the blue knife down the legs to
tidy the hair and then tidy any long hair around the paws.
You can see what a difference it makes.
The top of the head should be short but never touch the fringe or beard. Just
gently comb out.
The girls are more or less the same just be gentle on their tummy's ( Rainbow)
Great I am all finished!
Brush his teeth gently with dog tooth paste regularly to keep his gums healthy.
Use the horse brush after a walk to remove dust and mud from the coat.
Claws should only ever need clipped if he is down on his pasterns. (Flat Feet) tighten his feet by running him in woods, hills or on a beach.
If you have to trim claws be very careful and only take off a small bit at a time if you do clip the quick you will find the dog may not let you near to clip him again. Far better to have it done professionally.
Some Wolfhounds have wooly coats, the mars comb will help keep them tidy, use regularly to keep the coat short.
I hope this helps you, but remember practice makes perfect and only do a little at a time then step back to check.
If you spend hours on the dog he will hate it, so spend a few days getting him done, then once a week just tidy up any stray hairs.
Oh
and by the way, minutes after you have finished they will look scruffy
again!
Now I suppose it is my turn?
Yes! she doesn't have time....hugs mum
Megan before a brush
and Morgan
She got me....but don't I look such a cuddly boy.
bet you would just love to hug me.
Any questions Email me.
Thanks for your Feedback.......
I
always read about proper grooming, but I have never actually seen it done.
I see Wolfhounds once grooming is complete but never the process. Thank
you so much for including this on your site. It will help me so much.
The photos are great.
This
has inspired me to turn my hearth rugs into Wolfhounds!
Larissa Brewer Conall and Thorin
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Susan x
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