Front legs
 Other than a brick to the head to induce unconsciousness that is. She is fine with brushing anywhere else just not her front legs. DH has watched the struggle and laughed   and said I need to sedate her.If I'm quick and brush out and down so the brush barely touches her skin I can keep them from being a complete matted mess but ANY attempt to fluff them up results in injury and/or retreat. Both me! I either risk getting my arm ripped off, my head knocked off or I retreat and lick my wounds (metaphorically). Her favorite treats dont work. Even the lightest touch sets her off, including touching her coat with scissors.  Currently she's lying on the grooming table sulking and keeping an eagle eye on me. She's waiting for her favorite biscuit, she knows if she doesn't get off the table herself she gets a biscuit. Its tempting to skip it tonight, little witch. |
|
|
I don't think these things really "hurt" her. They just aren't as much fun as the rest of her life. Bottomline.....she's got your number  Melody used to be that way with her allergy shot. If she saw me getting ready to give her the shot she squealed like a stuck pig if I got within 3 feet of her. She KNEW I hated needles & took full advantage of it. Anyone else could give her the shot & she'd just sit there perfectly waiting for it.I genereally brush as much of their legs with a pin brush with them laying on their side as possible. Once I get down to about a few inches above what we would call our wrist I switch to a soft slicker & brush upwards & away in very small sections. I guess mine are just used to it by now but it is always a new experience when I get a new show dog in my area. |
Mim, when you find out the cure, let me know! Asterisk is just as bad  . She'll draw all her legs into herself, it's more of a frustrated dance, than a grooming session. |
Quote: Melody used to be that way with her allergy shot. If she saw me getting ready to give her the shot she squealed like a stuck pig if I got within 3 feet of her. Mine would COME running when they knew it was shot time. They're all treat-whores.I lie mine down on their sides on grooming table... the bed is even better if the dog will relax more. Sometimes giving a dog only half of it's morning meal then grooming them maybe 6 hours later will make them hungry enough to focus more on the treats (or the rest of the AM meal) offered. Withholding all treats except at grooming time and doing one brief grooming session each day. If there is any risk of biting, I'd muzzle her until she learns it's not going to hurt and that you're not going to give in. But then you need to make her see the muzzle as a good thing too. Would it do any good to exercise her well before a grooming session or would this lower her tolerance level? Could you maybe start with a gentle but brief message of one leg... treat her periodically while doing this, maybe have someone else treat her so her focus is off you. When done, release her and ignore her for a while. Do this for a couple of weeks working up to slightly longer sessions. Then quietly introduce a short, wide, rounded tooth comb (I like the Untangler... I use it on puppies when teaching them to look forward to grooming) and continue making sure you don't give her any reason to to find discomfort. The easiest way to work a dog into any grooming regimen is when the coat is short... nothing really needs to be accomplished so they're trust building, play grooming sessions. This way you're not left fretting that you didn't get tangles out. Not an option if the dog is kept in full coat though... |
Right from the beginning, grooming was always considered part of life....even those legs.  Chewie tried to pull them back when he was younger, but realized it wasn't going anywhere for him.  Every once in awhile he tries to pull one back, but is more a token effort on his part, as nothing comes of it (from me) and the brushing continues.  Grooming is a relaxing time for us both for the most part. Chewie only got grumpy with the extended show grooming on site, when we were to the final primping stages. And all he did was do this stress panting...no overt badness besides sitting when he should stay standing - his silent protest mode.  Buck up Mim! She is playing you.....and apparently winning. Be firm and fun at the same time. Try doing short sessions with you stopping while she is still behaving - and reset her mind on the whole tone of grooming.  And once you get them all nicely smooth to the skin, she will be less likely to protest when she figures out it is not pulling and goes faster each time. I also was guilty of not keeping the front legs perfect at first - I shaped up and all was well....Chewie benefitted from nice smooth coat and quicker leg grooming, and I wasn't getting yelled at from Marnie |
got sheep wrote: I also was guilty of not keeping the front legs perfect at first - I shaped up and all was well....Chewie benefitted from nice smooth coat and quicker leg grooming, and I wasn't getting yelled at from Marnie Must be a requirement of beng a mentor I was never allowed to quit "until the legs are done & done right" |
6Girls wrote: I lie mine down on their sides on grooming table... the bed is even better if the dog will relax more. Sometimes giving a dog only half of it's morning meal then grooming them maybe 6 hours later will make them hungry enough to focus more on the treats (or the rest of the AM meal) offered. Withholding all treats except at grooming time and doing one brief grooming session each day. If there is any risk of biting, I'd muzzle her until she learns it's not going to hurt and that you're not going to give in. But then you need to make her see the muzzle as a good thing too. We dont need the muzzle, thank goodness, she doesnt try to bite just wrestles and does the Tiggy turtle. 6Girls wrote: Would it do any good to exercise her well before a grooming session or would this lower her tolerance level? Tried that, still "no go" with the front legs. 6Girls wrote: Could you maybe start with a gentle but brief message of one leg... That'll be the day! She hates her front legs to be touched by anything , Its so weird she likes having the rest of her brushed and lies quietly on her side on the grooming table and even snoozes but as soon as I get to her front legs below the elbow then its on! She flinches when I just touch the hair, I'm really wondering if she's extra ticklish because it doesnt appear to be hurting her just annoying her, kind of like someone holding your foot down and tickling it. That's why I can keep the matts at bay by brushing and barely touching her skin but I can't get her legs nice and fluffy like they should be. 6Girls wrote: maybe have someone else treat her so her focus is off you. My next post will be "does anyone know how to train their DH to occupy their dog while they're grooming" There'll be no help in that department. |
| Mim, I am with you! Both my dogs do the "turtle" with pulling their legs under their bodies when it comes time to brush that area. They are okay with the dody but the legs...its turtle" time... Lately, I do one leg and then treat. I do the other leg another night. yes, it takes a while to complete but I hoping they learn, let me brush legs. get a treat... |
| She needs a visit from her Auntie Lisa she'll fix her little red wagon |
lisaoes wrote: She needs a visit from her Auntie Lisa she'll fix her little red wagon My thought exactly  |
got sheep wrote: lisaoes wrote: She needs a visit from her Auntie Lisa she'll fix her little red wagon My thought exactly Bring it on!!!! |
| Ditto! We call it "going back to Granny's boot camp" Usually does the trick! |
Quote: We dont need the muzzle, thank goodness, she doesnt try to bite just wrestles and does the Tiggy turtle. I should have known better. Too used to brainstorming about rescues... sorry  Panda's rescue description said this... "...owned by a groomer... She loves to be groomed of course..." Ahahahahahahahahahah!  Panda is the biggest fussbudget I've got. I think it was more that she loves to be the center of attention AND treats. She doesn't like to be restrained and will fidget and squirm but usually stays on the table if told to. But she'll pop up from her side to a lying down position and I have to put her back down on her side again. I always win the game I recently started putting her hair up in a topknot... we've gotten to the point where she'll rest her head on my lap or the table while we do it... but it took some time. She'll also pull her feet away when I shave her pads or brush her legs... just touch the clipper to her foot and she'll jerk. If I massage her feet for just a brief time, it kind of desensitizes her to being handled and it's easier to do what needs to be done. Bumble is finally used to the doggy hair dryer. He still doesn't like it but he's no longer trying to hide in the closet. http://oesusa.com/index.465.jpg He's gotten to the point where he'll just lie down and let me dry him off. He will pop up and run to the other side of the room if I allow it. But last week he actually came into the room where I was drying off Emma... everyone was getting treats and he wanted some too. We're making progress! The extremely loud sound of the Blue Angels flying over this week should be fun... no, really! I guess all I'm trying to say is we all have challenges at some time. We just need to be more persistent than the dog. We need to be the one to end the session. |
6Girls wrote: Quote: We dont need the muzzle, thank goodness, she doesnt try to bite just wrestles and does the Tiggy turtle. I should have known better. Too used to brainstorming about rescues... sorry I guess all I'm trying to say is we all have challenges at some time. We just need to be more persistent than the dog. We need to be the one to end the session. I wasnt offended Jaclin. Your brainstorming post was great so I commented. I DID have to muzzle my Mom's mini poodle when I started grooming her, hence my thank goodness comment. Luckily little Miss Poodle is smart and after muzzling her twice she figured out that its a whole lot better just to be resigned to her fate, so I dont have to muzzle her anymore. If only Tiggy would go for a bit more resignation and a bit less wrestling. I will continue to be persistent, I guess I kinda figured that might be the answer. But was hoping that there might be some little thing that would result in less of a bun fight. Hopefully Tiggy's Aunty Lisa will get time off from keeping her three looking gorgeous to convince Tiggy that resignation is good. |
| Perhaps you should have asked your breeder for help (LOL)!!!! Why not bring her to Syd's next show in a fortnight and we can see what can be done or you can bring her home here and I can try for you. Lorraine |
| Hey Lorraine you're a member!! Very slack of me not to ask you It was only on the weekend at the show that Lisa showed me what a difference brushing up makes.Hopefully will catch you soon. Tiggy turtle will not be impressed. PS everyone Lorraine is Tiggys Grandma  breeder of many a champion old english |
| Welcome Lorraine!!! We all LOVE Tiggy here   ....Mim too |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|