Getting A Lab Used To A Brush

[rooster78]

Hi

I bought a brush on the suggestion that most animals like it as it is like a massage - it is a wire bristled brush in a rectangular shape. I think it is called a slicker brush - the wire bristles have the ends bent at a 45 degree angle.

I've tried it on Bronson but he wont tolerate it for a second.

I then tried a comb - which happens to be a human comb - just to see and at first he arked up but eventually he laid down to rest and let me comb him but not for very long.

He has started shedding a lot more hair and I just want to give him a good brush / comb to get rid of the loose hair.

Any suggestions on how to get dogs used to being brushed? or the type of brush to use?

Thanks

Jodie

[laffi]

Hi

I bought a brush on the suggestion that most animals like it as it is like a massage - it is a wire bristled brush in a rectangular shape. I think it is called a slicker brush - the wire bristles have the ends bent at a 45 degree angle.

I've tried it on Bronson but he wont tolerate it for a second.

I then tried a comb - which happens to be a human comb - just to see and at first he arked up but eventually he laid down to rest and let me comb him but not for very long.

He has started shedding a lot more hair and I just want to give him a good brush / comb to get rid of the loose hair.

Any suggestions on how to get dogs used to being brushed? or the type of brush to use?

Thanks

Jodie

I started with Laffi when she was little. Just few strokes and a treat. Never allowed her to chew or grab the brush when brushing. Now she loves it. She lies on one side and rolls over to the other side

I think small steps and positive reinforcement is a way to go. :p Just be patient and don't let him play with the brush.

I have heard that a lot of dogs hate slicker brushes though. I started with a kong massage brush (zoom groom) that Laffi and my other dog Midge just love. Since then I got four different brushed (pin brush, furminator, slicker brush, bristle brush) and they love them all

Edited June 20, 2007 by laffi

[sandgrubber]

My labs (nine at the moment) like the curry-comb style "brushes". Rubber nibbly things rather than bristles. If they're at all itchy, they love getting combed and scratched. And they like it otherwise. Maybe you just need to be patient. Some puppies don't like to stand still for anything.

[Poodle wrangler]

Like one of these?

Some can be much too harsh/ scratchy. I found this out the hard way by buying a cheaper supermarket one . Dog hated it, but no wonder.

They need to be labelled "soft" or "extra soft". What does it feel like if you use it on your arm? Shouldn't be at all painful, even with firm pressure.

I use one on my sister's short-haired dog Ridgeback X Staffy. He really likes it and there's always lots of hair left on the brush. I use them on both poodles, also.

Edited June 20, 2007 by Poodle wrangler

[ShesaLikeableBiBear]

Suggest you look at a Zoom Groom, here is a link:

http://www.mollycoddledpets.com.au/catalog...category46/p577

Unlike the slicker which you can only use with the lie of the coat, the zoom groom can be used backwards and forwards and in a circular motion.

[BC]

I dont use slickers on labs. They're too hard and I find they dont get any hair out.

I would go with a fine toothed metal comb. This gets rights down to the skin and really pulls those dead hairs out. Also a zoom groom, which has rubber bristles and the dead hair sticks to it, or a Furminator, which is very expensive, but well worth it for a lab.

I find the comb does a great job though.

Grooming takes patience and persistance on your part, and do not get angry, it will make it a bad experience for your dog. If you find yourself getting frustrated, leave it and go back later for another try.

Good luck

Edited June 20, 2007 by BC

[colliemad]

for all my young puppies i used a human baby brush , so they get used to my hand going over them , then used a hand mitt with a rubber nobbly palm , try grooming him in his sleep , use very gentle strokes. and i hate slicker brushes too, a natural bristle brush is the best. (if you have long hair dogs).

[ShellyBeggs]

Ahhhh I would get a grooming mit/glove. My lab hated brushes until he was about 4 or 5 and I always just used one of these.

Less offensive as you are not approaching him with something new, it doesn't hurt and surprisingly gets a lot of hair out. Its your hand still rubbing and patting him and as well as a brush you can give a bit of a massage at the same time. They really do work and all my dogs love it.

It may be the wire he doesn't like, maybe try getting a human baby hair brush that has super soft soft bristles that won't tug or pull or hurt and is quite small. Again a few strokes and treat......when he lets you do all over with the soft brush gradually move up to harder and harder bristles until you are using the black bristles (if you have a 2 sided brush wire one side/bristles on the other)...

But the grooming glove works great for me.