Borders are not a high maintenance breed, but they do need more grooming than some books on choosing a dog indicate. The Border is usually hand stripped twice a year, and should be brushed weekly. Hand stripping involves pulling out the dead outer coat by hand, or with the help of a stripping tool. You may choose the natural look, doing nothing to the BT's coat except brushing it. With this cocoa-mat look the Border can be mistaken for a scruffy mixed breed, and the coat may shed more as it ages. A few pet owners opt to have their pets clipped. Clipping is not a recommended method of grooming since it does not remove the dead hair, but merely shortens it, softening the texture, fading the color, and encouraging noticeable shedding. There are booklets and videos available on properly grooming your Border Terrier.