How do you get your sheepie to stop attacking the brush?
Any input would be greatly appreciated, I've tried treats but that only goes so far. |
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| I've never had a problem-- not that you wanted to hear that. Clyde's really good as long as he's comfortable. Like when he's worn out from the dog park and all stretched out on the floor or after eating and he's in the food coma! He just lets me flip him over when I finish one side. Can you just take him in for weekly brush outs to the groomer-- no bath or trimming? |
| skiwitch I have the exact same problem. Bentley is going to drive me crazy with this issue. He's still only 1-2" long, so it's not a major problem yet, but if he doesn't change his attitude, he's going to be back where he was when I got him and Jill had to cut out the mats in the van!
I've been trying a little bit every day. Everytime he tries to chaw on me or the brush I shove a toy in his mouth. That helps, but not much. Even if he's tired, the sight of the brush or comb just gets him going all over again. Hmmm . . . since Jill doesn't have a problem with Clyde, maybe I should hire HER to brush Bentley!!! |
| For me, I rarely comb Yuki while she's just sitting down. She has too much freedom to move ......though sometimes she stays.
I feel dominant and in control if I lay her on her side and put BOTH of my legs over her. ...one leg lays over her shoulder area and the other around her back legs. So when she tries to fight it (which is only the first few seconds or if I spend too much time on a matt, she'll ATTEMPT to move/let me know), ........she can't move. After a few times or weeks of doing this, they learn they can't go anywhere. Is your OES a puppy? If so, that is very normal and forcing your dog to stay put and accept what they think at the time is this horrible thing touching them... will become more and more easy as long as you're the boss (in control by not letting them get up). Of course sessions should be short at first. |
| i have the same problem with maizie she keeps going for the brush too. |
| Patience, a lot of treats, and a little brushing every day. You should see a difference.
I am also a believer in making sure they know you are the boss. Being firm with them and letting them know that it is not acceptable to be squirming on the table/floor or attacking the brush while you groom them. It does take some time. That is why getting them use to the brushing early on is so important. |
Kobe is almost 2 so he's still technically a puppy. He got a bath last night, and I was able to brush him for maybe 15 minutes. I held a treat out of his reach and told him to sit and stay;  I'm excited about those 15 minutes. I think I'll just keep working at it, but I was very frustrated yesterday. I don't want him to matt up like he was when we rescued him, it was horrible.
Thanks everyone for responding, I just want him to be healthy and happy. |
floofdog wrote: Hmmm . . . since Jill doesn't have a problem with Clyde, maybe I should hire HER to brush Bentley!!!
Lol. Well we know it worked once! Maybe I should just quit my job and offer a service to brush problem groomer dogs! Jill |
| Oh, another thought-- those big edible nylabones. I gave Clyde one yesterday and he was happy for over an hour while i brushed. He sat happy even when i brought out the dematting comb, which he doesn't care for, though I can't really blame him! |
| It's worth a shot - I gotta get him some food tonight anyway.
If it doesn't work, better get out your brush & clippers!  |
| They're cheapest at Target, Jil, if you're in an area where one is available. I buy so many treats I try to stake out the best deals. |
| If you can get someone to help you, have the other person hold his head feed him little treats and whispers sweet nothings while you brush. You need to brush EVERY day for short periods til he gets the hang of it. Good Luck. |
| Yeah, that's what Jill & I did when we were shaving him down. Unfortunately, it's just me here unless I can rope unsuspecting visitors into helping out for a few minutes, which is what I do.
Actually, holding just his head probably won't do the trick. He's quite the quirmy, bouncy, pouncy fellow. I bought a plethora of chewing articles the other day. I'm going to try later today. |
| This is the only time Sam gets a rawhide bone. I usually get about 20 minutes of dematting time with it. She is so funny, when I give her the rawhide (this is the pencil size ones, no the huge ones), she go to the rug in the living room and lays down. It is the only place I comb her out.
I love the Bamboo dematter...but I am looking for a small one to get under the leg pits...any suggestions? She hates having her belly or pits combed. Thanks. |
| I think that Bamboo one is pretty harsh-- at least the one I have. It's the dematting rake with the dematter on the other side. I couldn't even imagine trying the rake part on Clyde, it would never make it. He's just got too much hair and I'd lose the whole tool somewhere in the undercoat. I do use it Lucy and it helps with her shedding too. I have a small, shorter dematter I got at PetSmart that works well on the hard to reach, tight areas. However, if you're left handed, it's not the tool for you because the thumb press on it will only work for a righty!
Do you only comb her or do you use a brush too? |
| I use the dematting part only, not the rake. Sam doesn't mind it as long as I don't use it on her front underlegs or belly. She runs to the rug when I bring it out, so I guess she doesn't mind it! Since we live in Florida, she has a short coat (like in the avatar). The rake isn't necessary. I also use a pin brush on her, but if she is really short, it doesn't do a whole lot. |
| Clyde hates to have his armpits and legs yanked on too. Have you ever seen this blue detangling spray called Fresh and Clean? It's pretty cheap-- about $8 at PetSmart? Coupled with the smaller dematter, I've had pretty good luck. I have Cowboy Magic and other grooming sprays and conditioners but as far as loosening mats, I like this stuff better.
Someone recommended Statzko's spray for grooming a few weeks ago and, I have to admit, I went to the Web site and the guy on it was super cheesy looking with a sort of 80s mullet and the product immediately lost credibility with me just from the appearance of that guy's hair! But, it was on closeout at JB Pet and it's quite good, at least on Clyde! It leaves a really nice shine without anygrasiness, takes all the static out of grooming, smells pretty nice and makes brushing really easy. I stand corrected, the mullet decived me! Jill |
| I think I do have the blue stuff...but where do you find the small dematter? |
| At our PetSmart, it's right in the same section with the other grooming tools. The sideways orientation makes it easier to use than the Bamboo one for senstive areas.
This is similar to the one we have: Dematting Comb |
| I ordered my small dematter from amazon.com. I also got a good metal professional quality comb and love it. The one I got from Petsmart bent the teeth if it hit a snag. I like this one better. As for the dematting spray, before you invest $6-8 for a bottle in the pet store, just buy some suave branded detangler spray at the grocery store. It works for me and you get a huge bottle for just a couple bucks. It's made for kids so I guess it is gentle enough for my Csonka. It smells nice too. I had very long hair growing up and there was a johnson and johnson product called No More Tears spray that I loved. I think they still make that. But Suave is cheap. Really soak the matt, go on to to work some other area and come back to it after it has soaked for a while. really makes a difference.
Does anyone have any advice on rough paw pads? He mostly scratches me with his pads. The nails are nice and trim but the pads are like sand paper. I've tried that hoof stuff you use on horses but Csonka likes the way it tastes so he immediately licks it all off. |
| Well, I put Kayli in another room last night, gave Bentley a Booda bone and managed to get 1/2 of him brushed! Yay! I'll try for the front legs/paws and undercarriage tonight.
He couldn't care less that I was working on him, it was pretty amusing. I was even able to take the bone away several times, until he decided he didn't want it anymore and then I couldn't take it away. Men.  |
| Congrats, Jil!
I've gotta start on Genevieve tonight, too. I've already decided not to stress about it and just work on her for 1 - 2 hours per night until we get back into shape. Her legs are a mess after being at the beach.  But, she sure did have fun!! |
I got Pepsi after his bath today... 
Of course he too enjoys nipping at me and biting the brush. Also I groomed Peanut today... I decided to save my hands I will do his legs with the scissors from now on. His coat is changing  Didn't know that could happen... He's 5 years old and now he is getting these clumps of darker hair that grows faster then the rest... Crazy Poodle! |
| As far as attacking the brush, first I would make sure the brush is not scratching the skin and hurting. Then, if all is well, if you want to keep your oes in coat, I would simply put your foot down and be firm. Hold the dog still for five minute sessions at a time if necessary. Once they are still, they may even learn to enjoy the feeling of being brushed. My dogs love it, they get so excited when they see the brushes and jump right up to the grooming table. They will actually push each other out of the way wanting to be first. LOL |
| Food, food and food.LOL. I get my dogs to lay down and start the brushing by getting them interested in some kibble, or treats or rawhide...whatever works..(of cource the dog must not be a food resource guarder.) I brush away while they chow down, or gnaw away or whatever. This was started when they were young, but an adult dog can learn to relate brushing with yummy treats if it is all done slowly and positively. The trick is to start the brushing AND THEN give the rewards while they are good. If they start to wiggle etc. the food is removed..no punishment, no scolding, no forcing., and I remove my hands completely. At first they try to figure out how to get teh food back, and you also need to be very gentle at first, so that the food is of higher value than the escape of any fur pulling. The problem that I have seen is that some folks give a treat when the dog wiggles, to distract the dog, when actually it works the opposite..Dog thinks "Hmmm, when I wiggle I get treats". They need to think "Hmmm. When I am quiet as a mouse I get treats". Bosley had 1 cup of kibble during a 1/2 hour brushing yesterday. When I take out the brush he is very happy: ). I used to give them a treat AFTER the grooming, but that only wanted them to end the chore faster. So now they gets treats DURING the session, and when it is over, too bad..No more treats. As they get better and better at it the treats become fewer and fewer between, but hey, even if it was a whole meal it is far better than a huge fight each time. For me, anyway. I don't have the strength or the patience to struggle with a dog over a brushing. |
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