MASTERCLASS
Australian Terrier
GYPSIE
The Australian Terrier is a bright little dog. Often lively and self-assured. Being a terrier, they are quick to chase and dig. Often known for their long torsos and distinct furnishings around the neck. This dog is a great dog to compete with in the grooming ring. Chuckie Lund and Gypsie take you through the Australian Terrier show groom. Hand stripping a dog not only keeps the colour but also the texture of the coat.
PART 1 The Body
PART 2 Hand stripping the jacket, back and front legs
PART 3 Hand stripping the head and ears. Chuckie uses a variety of knives and blocks to create the perfect Aussie show face.
Breed Standard at Dogs Australia
Study Notes | Key Concepts
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Bathe a few days to a week prior to hand stripping using a coarse coat shampoo.
Allows the coat to loosen for easier removal and better coat texture.
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Weekly maintenance promotes even regrowth and texture.
Use grooming blocks for gentle stripping without removing too much undercoat.
Avoid sharp stripping knives for beginners—they can cut the coat and damage texture.
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Pull coat upward, not downward, to maintain level topline.
Shoulder transition is curved, not straight, to enhance natural outline.
Undercoat removal underneath thick areas can help outer coat sit flatter.
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Expose hind muscle subtly for correct angulation.
Rear coat should taper, enhancing a longer neck and stronger hindquarters.
Tail should be tight and scissoring is discouraged for purist show prep.
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Rear legs: Short coat behind the hock, line drawn from back of foot upward.
Front legs: Keep short without appearing spindly. Pull hair on sides as well.
Feet must be tidy with no coat extending past pads or hocks.
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Strip ears carefully to avoid sensitivity, using stones instead of knives.
From the corner of the eye upward, maintain definition without removing ruff.
Muzzle is short but not snipy, leave slight leathering on the nose.
Ruff is shaped by removing a palm-width under neck, blending gently into sides.
Top of head is combed forward, trimmed side to side, leaving a finger width in front of ear.
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Use fingers to control hair removal in sensitive areas.
Apply minimal texturising product like “Amp It Up” to lift and shape coat.
Evaluate the dog’s unique features and adjust trim accordingly.
Want to learn hand stripping properly?
The Essential Guide to Hand Stripping takes you beyond the introduction, with detailed learning on coat and hair, tools, terminology, technique, rolling and staging coats, breed standards, handling considerations and more.
Some of the breed demonstrations included in the course are already available to you here on igroomhub, so Members receive 50% off the full course.
Use code CHUX at checkout
