Wire-Haired Coats

The most common breeds with wire-haired coats are Airedales, Wire Hair Fox Terriers, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and Wirehaired Dachshund. This coat is rough and bristly and this coat was originally bred to protect working dogs that worked in outside and rough conditions.

The wire coat does not shed. Instead, if not brushed out, the dead hairs can remain in the coat and become tangled with new hairs growing in which causes future matting problems. Using a comb or slicker brush you can brush the old coat from the skin out. You need to make sure you don't just brush over the top and make sure you get the old hair out of the skin otherwise the hair closest to the skin will become a large mat. 

Wire-Haired dogs who are shown in dog shows have their coat hand stripped to maintain it in show condition. Hand stripping a wire coat is a very specific technique that requires instruction and a great deal of practice.