Terrier coat texture is Changing

I'm not a groomer, but I do have experience with terrier coats.  I show Parsons so we have to make sure their coat stays rough.  If you shave them, it will grow back in very soft.  Hand stripping is what we do.  That means we pull it out by hand.  This is a good link about it..http://handstripping.com/
However, if you are not planning on showing, then there is no reason to hand strip unless you just like it.  Shaving is acceptable if it will make the dog more comfortable.  Its not that you CAN'T shave them, but it will make them softer. 
I doubt the food is making him softer.  The harshness is caused by all the different lengths of hair.  It make make it feel thicker, but should not make it softer really.  However, if he doesn't have a true terrier type coat and was just dry so he felt rough, then it might make a difference. 
Bathing will make him feel a bit softer.  Not forever, but for the first few days after a bath, mine feel so soft.  When I'm showing, I try to not give them a bath a week before the show unless they really, really need it. 
Also, shaving him would not really be good in the summer.  I would suggest lots of good brushings and using a high velocity dryer to blow out some of that dead hair.  When you shave them, it makes their skin much more prone to sunburn.  It takes away a lot of their protection. 
Do you have any pictures?  I could maybe tell you a bit more then!

When you clipper the outer-coat (or "Guard hairs"), the insulating "Under-coat" grows-out faster, and the once rough-and-harsh coat becomes soft and wooly.  Some terrier coats grow back-in fine, and some are ruined for just about forever.  
Hand stripping is practicially unheard of around here, so I only get a little practice stripping my own dog, an Australian Terrier.  You basically inch a few hairs between your fingers (or your fingers and a stripping knife), and pull out in the direction of growth.  If you do it correctly, it will cause minimal pain to the dog.  I have only read books on the subject, and hope to pick-up some tips when I attend a trade-show in a few weeks. 

There's no reason not to shave him, Lynn. I shave Emma all the time. For pets, it's not a problem. It's people who want to keep the roughness (hunters, show people) who don't shave their terriers. 

Hey guys!
 
Sorry, but I had to laugh at Collens comment that she couldn't chance her dogs coats becoming soft.  Of course, I don't show -- so I didn't know that some dogs coats had to be wiry for good showing!  To me, a non-shower, that just suprised me so much b/c I think he is soooooo much more enjoyable to pet now.
 
So, is the change due more to 2 weekly baths and brushing, or the diet change?
 
And, I had read - on here- that it could destroy a coat forever.  Well, I didn't know what that meant.  I though it would "funk" it up and it could possibly grow back really strange and then you would be stuck with it.  So, I guess what you guys are saying is that all that might happen is that it might soften the coat, but other than that - it will still look normal?  And grow back looking normal?
 
Hey - that's not a crazy thought, my interpreting what I read to mean it could really truly mess up a coat (other than for showing) because I had odd curly hair when I was young - couldn't straighten it for anything.  Well, once they either decided to cut it all off or give me a straight perm, one of the two. Not sure which - just knew that my mom said something had to be done so whatever they wanted to do was fine.  This was back in the 70's.  It did not grow back curly at all.  Strange - but you should see the curls when I was younger.  And, of course, most everyone knows that hormones during pregancy can change hair texture - that makes sense.  But, apparetly, while highly unusual, hair texture can change just from a cut /perm - going by my hair change.   
 
So, I took literally the words indicating that a cut on certain coats could truly ruin them.  Funny, but I don't think feeling softer is ruining the hair!!   OH, if it does soften up, then does that afftect the other qualities of the coat?  So, now, the coat is like a labs - kinda waterproof.  What would happen if the coat got softer?  Just be "less" waterproof?
 
Are these really stupid questions?  If so, and you're laughing, then remember ---- it's all new to me!!  [&:]  I don't know enough about what I'm talking about to ask sane questions!

Well, the wiry texture isn't just for showing, but also makes it weather proof.  The dirt brushes off easily....they will be completely muddy one day and the next look perfect.  It also keeps burrs from sticking in it so bad.  Mine don't hunt, but I do take them hiking sometimes and that definitely makes a difference.  So, even if the dog isn't showing, if it is hunting or outside a lot, it would be good to try to keep that weatherproof texture.  I hand strip Rose even though she isn't showing because she would look terrible shaved!  Plus, she really doesn't like the clippers and the hand stripping is much less stressful for her.

Thank you guys.
 
It's a little hard to decide what to do with the chance that his coat make be funky afterwards.  But, he is sooo hot, that I might go ahead and do this.  He just naturally generate more heat - it's not just his coat, but his metabolism as well, I think. 
 
Sorry, I haven't posted a pic.  When I have time, I'm going to try and upload one for my avatar---but I haven't learned how to do it and have many other things that keep pushing that to the background (and I don't enjoy learning new computer stuff --like doing it, but not the frustrating part of trying to figure it out. LOL)
 
Thank you everyone for your replies......
 
Lynn

OK,  I've decided to try something else first.   I have one of those blades - which doesn't do a thing for him.  The best so far is the zoom groom while wet.
 
One thing that I've had in my Amazon cart for a long time is the furminator.  I am going to go ahead and order it and see about that.  Apparently ??? it's more the undercoat than the outercoat that is the biggest problem and the furminator is supposed to remove the undercoat w/o doing much harm to the outer coat.
 
So, we'll see.  I'm going to place an order today and will try it on him next week and see what changes we get.  I'm hoping this will make alot of difference -- I've certainly read enough positive things about it........

Even at their high price, we sell tons of Furminators at work.  I haven't used one, but everyone seems to give them great reviews.  If you do decide to shave him, don't get him cut too short.  Try to leave at least an inch so that he has some protection from the sun.

Thank you!

Lynn, sometimes, it does happen that a coat is truly ruined. There is the occasional double coated dog (Pomeranians, in particular) that is shaved and never grows back in properly. They'll look moth eaten, forever. The solution to that is to keep them shaved down. Not such a big deal.

On a terrier coat, I can't see that happening. Emma is shaved nearly bald, so I am careful of the sun (I actually use sunscreen on her, and Teenie, since Teenie is naturally almost hairless). Other than that, I really LOVE it. It's easy to bathe and dry. It doesn't shed. It's very, very easy to care for. She's comfortable in the cut, and it takes me all of 15 minutes, every other month, to maintain. I'm very happy with the decision to shave her.

Right now, I'm letting her stay "natural", because I want to see what pattern this new hairloss will take, and I want the vet to really *see* where she's losing hair. Otherwise, she's long overdue, LOL.

I am hesitant to take the chance of ruining his coat - especially now that it feels soft - for the first time.  Even tho he is getting two baths a week, and I get TONS of hair then, there is still plenty left over for the floor.
 
It occurs to me, after talking with you guys, that if I have seen this much change, and some of that change might be due to the diet, then maybe I should just give the diet some more time.  I am starting to add fish oils, and I really think that my guys simply were not absorbing enough nutrition from kibble.  If that is correct, then maybe given some more time, the hair won't continue to shed.  And, with the addition of the furminator, then between the two, it might make a difference.

While he is not a pom, and more like Emma, it's still a little daunting to chance it.  Plus, it would be another trip elsewhere as I am certainly not a groomer.  And that's one thing I really don't want to try on my own.  I really suspect his hair is similiar to Emma's and in all likelihood it will be ok.
 
But, I'm not hurting anything by waiting and if the Furminator does get alot more out, then maybe that will leave him cooler.  He's just such a natural "heater", that shaving was an option - but I really don't know how much that would help, anyway with him being so hot.
 
And you know, there are labs on our street that stay outside all the time.  Mine are inside dogs.  So, then when we pop outside for a walk, maybe that has a huge effect on him simply b/c he is used to cooler temps inside the house?
 
I thank everyone again for giving me feedback on everything.    I'll give the diet some more time and check out the furminator --- then go from there as needed.
 
Oh, Jennie, if you are still reading:  How long will Emma's hair get when it grows fully back in?  And how long does it take you to wash and dry when the hair is long.  Just curious about that.  It takes me 20 minutes on each dog to wet the dog down, wash, rinse really well, and dry off a tad.  I think I'm just slow...[&:]
 
Lynn

And you know, there are labs on our street that stay outside all the time. Mine are inside dogs. So, then when we pop outside for a walk, maybe that has a huge effect on him simply b/c he is used to cooler temps inside the house?

That definitely affects it! Lots of JRT breeders keep their dogs in kennels, because house dogs don't handle extremes, as well, when hunting or trialing (so they say). They also say that having a correct, hard coat helps. Hunting/show folks often don't feed their (healthy skinned, breeding quality) dogs any coat supplements, for fear of softening the coat.

Emma's hair is probably close to 5" long, at it's longest. It lies flat against her body, in most places. She piloerects easily, so she looks like a huge POOF if she's nervous, or excited, or cold. It's very amusing, to me. She weighs in at 17 pounds, and for a regular bath, it probably increases my washing/rinsing time by 5-10 minutes, and it takes her at least 30 minutes to dry. Shaved down, she takes about 5 minutes to dry. That's a BIG difference, especially when it's cold outside, and she has to pee. She gets bathed as often as your guy. It does make a difference, to me. I'm a quick bather, though, by necessity[] My bath dogs often have to be finished within an hour. At work, I have nice equipment, though. Force dryers work wonders!

i don't see any problem with shaving that breed. i've seen it done. i will say though, that bathing more than once a week is not a good idea for a dog. it creates dry skin and sometimes unhealthy hair (falling out etc).

I give my dog brewers yeast pills every day and he is silky smooth. i buy them from petedge.com really cheap. it has garlic in it so it helps prevent ticks too! olive oil or bacon grease in his food could help smooth his fur too. but terriers are known for wiry hair.

good luck!

ORIGINAL: chasza

1) I've read that you can't shave down this type of coat.  He stays hot even in winter, so is miserable in summer.  Is there anything else I can do to help his coat not be so hot?

Considering he's a mix, I'm assuming you don't show him. []  You can shave him if it will make him more comfortable, not to mention, it will make his fur feel softer.