Getting puppy used to brushing
She also hates being bathed and the hair dryer. She's a tiny tom-boy who prefers to be filthy (currently he paws and tummy are green from frolicking in the recently mowed grass) than the pretty little girlie-girl I'm aiming for. And from a practical perspective, she just needs to get used to it. Any helpful hints? |
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| Hey Erin, She had lots of bath and blow dryer experiences here, so she is being a stinker. Keep on it.....she will get used to it. Start with brushing her in a relaxed situation. For example, when you are watching TV, sit on the floor with her and run the brush through her in a very relaxed way. Then eventually have her lay down and run the brush through her. Try to do this at least once a day right now to get her used to it. At this point calm, positive grooming experiences are essential. Give lots of praise and loving when you are doing this. I'm on my way to a 4 day show but will check back to see how you are making out. |
| Thanks Amber! I think I may have been using the wrong brush as well...I bought a mini slicker, which I think was a little rough for her. I've tried a hair brush and she tolerates that a little better. I'm off to the pet store after work to look for a more suitable brush and will be brushing her during TV time tonight! Blueshire wrote: she is being a stinker. With regard to being a stinker...she is one cagey little animal. She has figured out that giving Steve 'puppy dog eyes' will get her pretty much anything she wants. |
| You should be using a pin brush, not a slicker right now. Look at my Rens List of Grooming tools I sent you and it is listed there. I am not sure if a pet store where you live will carry the proper pin brush (the ones with little nobs on the end of the pin are no good) I know here the only place to get one is either a dog show, Rens or Pet Supply House. You might need to order one and have it shipped. Tell Steve not to let those puppy dog eyes get to him  |
Blueshire wrote: You should be using a pin brush, not a slicker right now. Thanks! I know all the pin brushes we saw here had little knobs on the ends of the pins. I'll order one online! |
One thing that I learned with Mady (and something that was reinforced to me by Amber) is that Mady can play me and can be a bit of a drama queen with grooming. We spent a day with Amber recently, getting a grooming lesson, and Amber was able to show me how to be more calm and matter of fact when I was grooming her. I was speaking to Mady in too much of an 'oh poor Mady, there, there my darling' kind of way when I groomed her, or even when David groomed her. It was funny to watch Mady when it was Amber brushing her out. Mady had this kind of 'oh, I can't pretend to be pathetic in front of THIS upright, she won't fall for it' face on her. I am learning more and more that with grooming and training, I have to be very calm and relaxed, but also firm and consistent. I need more training. Maybe we should take Amber with us to St. John's next summer and she can whip us all into shape!  |
God knows, I need an Amber bootcamo!  |
| Try little and often, ok its going to be hard but fot a week or two forget the actual brushing. Do you groom on a table? If not try a bath mat on a worktop, take them out of their comfort zone. First put her where your going to groom them, then give treats, remember putting them on the floor = playtime. When in grooming place give treats, let them down in a few minutes at your choice not because they want to, if they get their way they win When she accepts the grooming spot, however many days then put the brush ob the table and give treats then let down when your ready. Next lightly go over with a brush, ok. By now you may have a few knots :'( Dont worry, by the sounds of it you may end up clipping. Or may even convert her. Try your brush on your arm, would you like it? Some brushes can be really harsh. When she accepts where she is going to be brushed, and recognises the brush, do 5 minutes. then make a big fuss let her down, next day 10 minutes, brush if you can if not just make it a nice time. Move yiur time up a bit every few days, praise like hell If at any time they move away from grooming place say no put them back as soon as they relax then praise Just be patient do things slowley, Good luck and remember calm brings calm |
| What kind of pin brush do you recommend? This is my first OES and she's 8 weeks old and I have no clue what I should be using right now. THANKS in advance! |
sllamey wrote: What kind of pin brush do you recommend? ! I bought one similar to this... http://www.renspets.com/groomers/brushe ... brush.html My breeder recommended one without the little "balls" at the end of the pins. I've been using it on my puppy since I made this post and she seems to like it! |
| Since Amber is watching this thread I will ask my question here instead of privately...I have been using the pin brush to brush Libby but since her hair has been cut shorter (approx 1-1.5" long) I am wondering if I should be using a different type of brush. Line brushing seemed to be easier because you knew where you were, as far as what was brushed and what wasn't, now I seem to jump around I may be missing areas. Any thoughts on this? Is the pin brush still the best thing to use? Do I need a brush with shorter pins? PS I think Amber purposely breeds the "wrap my Dad around my little paw" characteristic into her pups because Libby should has that look down pat too. |
| Hi Nancy, You can use a slicker brush, however it would be the same process of line brushing to make sure you get through everything. Just be careful with the slicker that you do not scratch her skin. Any new photos of Miss Libby? |
Nanc wrote: PS I think Amber purposely breeds the "wrap my Dad around my little paw" characteristic into her pups because Libby should has that look down pat too.  |
Quote: I bought one similar to this... http://www.renspets.com/groomers/brushe ... brush.html My breeder recommended one without the little "balls" at the end of the pins. I've been using it on my puppy since I made this post and she seems to like it! Thank you!!!  |
emanning123 wrote: So, Harriet hates being brushed. Hates. It. She also hates being bathed and the hair dryer. She's a tiny tom-boy who prefers to be filthy (currently he paws and tummy are green from frolicking in the recently mowed grass) than the pretty little girlie-girl I'm aiming for. And from a practical perspective, she just needs to get used to it. Any helpful hints? Erin, Here is a thread that we had on this exact topic a few years back. Hopefully you will find a few points to help you along. viewtopic.php?t=2364 Thanks and Cheeers Carl |
| I'm just getting my Alfie into the grooming routine. He's almost 11 weeks old. A couple of weeks ago, when I got him, he hated being brushed, hated having his feet touched, hated me cleaning his ears, and especially hated me clipping his nails. He would squirm and squirm, and whine, and I couldn't get anything done. So I started just getting him down on the floor and putting him in a real relaxed state by petting and caressing him, and giving him treats. After a good while, he would fall asleep, and as soon as he did that, I realized I could pretty much do anything to him - even trim his nails, which he hates most of all. It's definitely a bit awkward trying to brush out a sleeping puppy, but it's worth it at the beginning in order to get him used to the process. So far, I've been taking about 1/2 hr every day to do some sort of grooming - whether it's brushing, ear cleaning, nail trimming, you name it. Just to get him used to the process. And today, for the first time, he just relaxed in my arms completely and let me brush him, even though he was awake. I felt like the heavens opened up and angles were singing. For me, the key is to just keep doing it very often and to create a very calm, relaxed atmosphere. |
| Hi All! Thanks for all the amazing advice. I'm happy to report that Harriet is doing much, much, much better with being groomed. She now sits through it contentedly...or, well...she sits through it and she has started to quite like bath time. She's still not a huge fan of the hair dryer, but its amazing what she'll endure for a small piece of cheese! (Bribery, ftw!)I do have a new challenge on my hands though. Her coat is beginning to transition. We're seeing lots of grey on her back and her legs and during our regular grooming it seems like there's puppy coat shedding away in handfuls! Other than brushing, what should I be doing to make sure that her transition goes smoothly! I don't want any mattes if I can avoid them! Also, as a point of curiosity, is 16 weeks a 'normal' age for a coat to start changing? Every time I see a new patch of grey, I get a little sad, because my little girl is growing up too fast! |
| Hi Erin, Her hair should not be falling out in handfulls......did you mean this literally? And yes, my guys do go through coat change early, especially since introducing the European lines to my program, so that part is completely normal. Let me know abou the hair falling out. |
Quote: Her hair should not be falling out in handfulls......did you mean this literally? No! No! Not literally! She's just shedding more than she ever has before! When I started brushing her, very little hair every came off. Now, its just more. The shedding is normal, right? |
| If you just mean hair is in the brush when you brush her, then yes, that is normal. If you mean when you are petting her hair is flying around everywhere or clumps are coming out then no, that is not normal. You could also be noticing more hair in the brush or when you comb her if you are removing undercoat, which of course she would now have more of. |
Quote: If you just mean hair is in the brush when you brush her, then yes, that is normal. Ok! Phew! I was a little concerned there for a moment. I was referring to hair in her brushes. |
| You had me worried too......phew is right! Hair in the brush is a-ok....so no worries. Any new photos? |
Quote: Any new photos? A friend of mine took some lovely ones the other day. I'll post them as soon as she emails them to me Sadly, Steve and I aren't good about picture taking!So, with regard to her coat, other than brush, brush, brush, is there anything else I should be doing to get her through the transition smoothly? |
| What my breeder advised to me was to lightly spritz emu oil while line brushing. Lightly is the key word.I overdid it, so I know.Can leave the coat feeling a little too oily,so lightly and yes the emu oil did help.I found it at a feed store and have seen it online also. Robin |
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