Grooming A Playful Puppy.... tips?
Barkley hardly needs any brushing but I've been brushing him a little every day so he gets used to it. He won't lie still though! He thinks it's a game or something and keeps trying to chew on the comb. Any tips on how to get him to lie still? Most of the time I just try to keep his mouth distracted with a toy. I'm not too concerned about it (most of the time I'm trying not to laugh), but as he gets bigger and really requires the brushing I will need him to lie still. |
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| I used to have the good brush and the "chew" brush. I'd brush with the good one and let him chew on the other. It seemed to make him happy-- like he could still stick it to me for brushing him by chewing on any brush! |
| Are you using a grooming table? That can make all the difference in the world. |
| Try exercising the puppy well before grooming so he's too tired to play. Working on a grooming table is a great way for him to become accustomed to being examined as well as being a real backsaver. |
| Thanks everyone. I had planned on using a grooming table (well... dining room table with a towel over it) when he got bigger, but I think I'll start now. That will hopefully teach him that floor is playtime and table is grooming time.
Thankfully, he doesn't mind being touched all over (never did) and I can even comb the fur between his foot pads... when he isn't nibbling on my hands. Speaking of which - should I start trimming his feet now? His fur between his pads is long enough that it sticks out past his pads, but it isn't tangly at all and I have no trouble combing it. |
Just keep his mouth busy while grooming(Pippin has destroyed a lot of good brushes... I'd suggest getting him used to chewing on a toy or bone instead, it is probably cheaper  ), at that age, he won't be still for you. Just be patient, and be consistent, and evetually it'll become part of the routine. Try brushing when he is sleepy, that should help some too, especially on the sensitive areas. |
Bingley gets put on the grooming table once a day and my biggest piece of advice to you if he's new to the table: don't let him jump off it!!!!!!!!!!! Bingley hasn't done this, but I am pretty sure he would if given half a chance. I keep him occupied on the table with a long-lasting treat. He gets this treat once he lays down and he gets to keep it as long as we're grooming. He does get distracted pretty easy when the treat doesn't last long so I guess that will be the next step. When he's focused on the treat he doesn't pay me the slightest bit of attention!!  |
| Great advice Emily, thanks.
I don't think I need to worry about Barkley jumping off the table yet... he won't even go down the 2 steps (steep) out the sliding doors to the backyard. What kind of long-lasting treats? Stuffed Kong? We aren't giving him rawhide or bones of any kind so I can't really think of anything long-lasting. I have found that the few times he is distracted (with chewing on a toy) I can get some good brushing in. I'm sure treats would keep him even better distracted! |
| We also aren't giving Bingley regular rawhide or bones, but there is a breakable rawhide treat called a "munchy stick" that is thinner and breaks apart when chewed on. This prevents it from getting lodged in the throat like other rawhides might. Our breeder recommended it to us as an alternative to reg rawhide treats. It lasts Bingley a LONG time now, but it won't when he's a few weeks older . . . |
PLEASE be careful giving your puppies ANY sort of degradable chewy treat, greenies, rawhides etc. MAKE SURE they are passing ok... We had a member whose puppy had to have surgery to remove an "edible" chew treat... the pieces became gummed up in his digestive track! It was very traumatic. I just don't give my dog these sort of treats... I use instead hollow beef bones stuffed with paste, or marrow bones. The bones don't degrade and the paste won't mess up the digestive system. Plus it makes for licking and chewing fun for DAYS at a time 
By the way, I love my kongs... pip's favorite is a cheese, peanut butter kibble combo! Mmm, mmm good |
| Steph,
Some time ago I posted about getting your Bobtail to like, or at the very least accept, grooming sessions as part of their life. It was post #13 at http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?t=2364 Somewhat more recently there was a similar discussion at http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?t=61 ... c&start=15 My post is at the bottom of page 2 in that thread. I hope there is something of assistance to you in both my posts and the trheads in general. Thanks and Cheers Carl |
Sheepie Heaven wrote: Does anyone have advice on how to get a playful puppy to lie still for grooming?
Any tips on how to get him to lie still? Most of the time I just try to keep his mouth distracted with a toy. Preparing puppies for grooming sessions is my specialty! Geee....any chance of getting together and I can give a demonstration? My place or yours? 
Seriously, though, if you feel like a little 1/2 hour road trip bring your fellow over and I can even show you my homemade grooming table! |
| Bosley's Mom:
That sounds fantastic! We'd love to! August is insanely busy (weddings every weekend) but maybe sometime in September. Barkley would looove some playtime with some other OESDs.
Thanks! |
| I know this was ages ago but I am happy to report that Barkley has been wonderful at grooming. We started using a table and treats for awhile and now he'll simply lie still for praise and kisses.
For a table we've been using a plain tabletop, with a cheap carpet/mat that has rubber backing on it ontop of the table for comfort and to prevent slipping. His grooming table is in a quiet spare room upstairs that he only goes in for grooming. Now that Barkley's hair is getting longer and his grey is coming in quite a bit, it takes us about 45 minutes to brush him out. I'm very proud to report that Barkley will now fall asleep on the grooming table. He even dreams and makes funny noises on the table. We then have to wake him up to turn him over. What a darling. |
| Fabulous!!!!!!!!!! |
| Same thing here. Chewie falls asleep. We feel bad having to wake him up and turn him over. He never sleeps as much on the 2nd side, for some reason. |
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