BITING THE BRUSH
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| I can relate. Mopsy tried to play with it when she was a puppy - then she just hated it. Both her and my sheepie growing up would hide when you brought out the grooming tools. Harry tries to get up on the grooming table himself and is generally well behaved unless I have waited too long between brushings. The key with him is he was probably being groomed by the breeder - we got him a little older.
Here are two suggestions but make sure not to let her play with it so she doesn't think of it as a toy. 1) Walk her first and wear her out and then she won't have as much energy to bite the brush. 2) Distract her with a treat in one hand while you brush with the other. I learned this in obedience class. You hold a small bite size treat or pellet between your thumb and your first finger and put it near her mouth but don't let go right away. She will be so busy trying to get the treat out that she will not notice you grooming her. You can use her dog food - I once hand fed Harry his whole breakfast while I worked on his paws. I would also try to do more frequent but shorter intervals so that it is always a positive experience. Even if you are not doing much progress she will get used to the experience.  This is the first time I have been able to offer a suggestion to anyone - I hope it helps.
Good luck with her. |
| Lucy used to be bad about biting the brush also. What I did was I gave her a brush to chew on while I used another one to brush her. I also used treats once it was completely over. But I took the attitude that it is something that has to be done and she needs to learn to allow me to groom her. Just like she needed to learn to sit, come down, go...They are too big of a dog for me to wrestle with.
Good Luck, Alison |
SheepieMommy wrote: This is the first time I have been able to offer a suggestion to anyone - I hope it helps.
And such great advice, too! You've been holding out on us 
I do the exact same thing. The treat is given "while" the groomig is being done. If I wait until afterwards mine tend to get fidgitty and impatient, waiting for the sessions to be over. So I give them something every few minutes while being groomed. Dixie LOVES the grooming table, and wants up there all the time for brushing
When they are off the table no more treats. |
| Thanks Nicole. Could you tell I was excited? I am practically busting my buttons on your compliment. |
| I can totally relate to the struggle to groom a playful puppy.
See this post: http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?t=9544 A nice long walk or playtime to tire Barkley out beforehand works well. We use treats while grooming. A soft treat (we use summer sausage) is good because if you grip it hard with your fingers while he nibbles away at it, the treat lasts longer and I am able to keep his head focused away from the brushing where I want it to be. For the first few weeks it's helpful to have an assistant. One person in charge of treating and distracting the head-end and a second person to do the brushing. Keep it happy, gentle and soothing and try to stay calm and not get frustrated (harder said than done). Consistency is the key. We've been doing this with Barkley about 3 times a week and he's gotten much better. |
| Note: I do not show my dogs, so I won't pretend that I keep my dogs' coats in anything like show condition. With that in mind, this is what I do:
My puppy (and big puppy) strategy for brushing is to do it at the end of the day--while watching the evening news (before it was too horrible to watch) or re-runs of something. Something not too heavy, that I don't have to pay much attention to, but keeps me relaxed. It has been a night time ritual, a chance to unwind, a chance to check over dogs for any bits and pieces that got caught in the fur during the day, any bumps or lumps, etc. The dogs are usually sleepy/winding down. Yes, I have treats around for after they are finished. Yes, my older dog will do his best to slink off if he gets even a tiny inkling I have a brush. What I've been doing with the puppies is, first brush Archie (who is 7 --my adult dog). He takes the most time and energy and effort and his coat requires the most attention. The puppies are 5 1/2 months old, so they're not much to brush yet. Sherman is usually dozing near by and I pull him to me and brush him. It's fairly quick and light, concentrating on his body, and his ears and his legs, because I know later those will be trouble spots. It's relaxed and fun--a bonding time. Sophie, ever the attention hound, will notice that someone else is getting attention and actually fling herself into my lap (thank heavens I think she's going to be smaller than my other dogs!), and loves being brushed. Yes, I know it's weird, but she's a weird OES. Sweet, yes, but weird. Obviously, this is not the same kind of brushing they'd get at a groomers or if I had them on a grooming table (which I don't own). But it's enough to keep them neat and mat free, if not show ready. |
| One thing I'd do was wait until they "were" asleep. Then sit down with them. Being in the middle of a good nap, they enjoyed it and went back to sleep.
NEVER cut nails when there's a possibility of someone coming in the door unexpectedly. One of mine was excellant with grooming, until dad came home early. I had a nail in the clipper, pushed to cut just as the door opened, and he lunged away to go meet dad. Needless to say, it hurt him. After that the nail clippers were totallly of limits with me, but he'd let the vet do it with no problems.  |
mouthypf wrote: One thing I'd do was wait until they "were" asleep. Then sit down with them. Being in the middle of a good nap, they enjoyed it and went back to sleep.
I find that this works the best with Fozzie too! |
well i tried the advice on the treat and running her first, the treat worked...but olive has funny idea about long walks/runs on both she will just not want to go any more and just sit down and stop. i don't mean sit for a miniute, but sit and then lay down wherever we are. a few days ago i went to far from home and she stoped and the man who lived in the house we were by had to get hi wheelbarrell to carry her home in. she is not fat and i have checked with the vet she is healthy...just one stuborn dog!  can you believe it she just rode home in style and in my view was ACTING all tired. as soon as we were home she jumped right out and sterted to run after the ball. my neighbor was just laughing. anyway i am going to keep enticing her and now i am going to carry treats with me so i will not need A darn wheelbarrell EVER again  thanks for the advice. she also likes the one when i give her a brush to chew too. |
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