stripping is when they pluck the hairs rather then cut or shave, all show dog terriers with a wire coat are stripped as its the only way to keep there hair coarse, when its shaved it gets soft and for a showdog that is bad. we have to strip our JRT, while she mostly has a smooth coat, she has a part on he back that is wire, and brushing does nothing to remove all her loose hair, so we have to pluck.