Grooming Battles...

[purplepup]

I have a 1 year old Australian Silky terrier. From the time she was a pup, she has HATED being brushed. I have tried to make it fun, give treats etc and be gentle with her but as soon as she sees the brush coming she automatically gets into a wicked mood and will snap and bite. I try to have one short session each day as its the only way to keep her knot free but it is such a battle. When she does go to the groomers to trim around her face etc I feel I should be giving them danger money :-) Other than this she is generally well behaved and fairly obedient but still a typical terrier!

Has anyone experienced something similar?

thanks

[Rascalmyshadow]

She is a terrier and is behaving like one, start being firm and treat it like it's job that needs to be done. Stop the fun and don't give a reward until you are completely finished, it should not be a game or power struggle.

Check you are using the right brush so that it doesn't hurt.

Where do you put her when she is being groomed?

[frufru]

Also perhaps step up her obedience for a while and reassess you pack order - are you the boss or is she?

[WreckitWhippet]

You can always clamp her top jaw to her bottom jaw, by running your fingers donw the side of her face through her hair, catch the hair between your fingers and use your thumb to hold the hair from the bottom jaw, hang on tight and do whatever you need to, be it scissoring around her eyes, nose etc.

It means that she can't snap or bite, she may scream her head off and protest but she can't get away from you and you can just get on with the grooming job.

She'll soon learn that you are the boss and grooming does not hurt her, I've expereinced many like that and after clamping their jaws shut a couple of times, they stand still on the table and accept whatever you are doing to them. Of course you would expect a dog to react if you are hurting them by using the wrong brush or combing out matts incorrectly.

[Ashka]

Grooming is so much easier if you get the dog up out of it's normal play zone.

Bench, table even the ironing board for a smallish one gets the dog to your waist height. The dog is then slightly apprehensive and more likely to listen and stay still.

[purplepup]

Appreciate the advice; I have been grooming her on the kitchen floor and getting down to her level! - Will have to rethink that one. Will take your advice Warley on how to hold her, and see how we go. Thanks all!

[WreckitWhippet]

Appreciate the advice; I have been grooming her on the kitchen floor and getting down to her level! - Will have to rethink that one. Will take your advice Warley on how to hold her, and see how we go. Thanks all!

Just try holding her like that up on the table and just stroking her head to begin with. Do that a few times and reward her, so she gets used to having her jaws clamped together like that. Then introduce the brush the comb the scissors.

She'll most likely scream at you but just ignore it, she can't bite and can't do any damage while you have her like that. Just don;t let go or she'll run off the table backwards.

It will reduce the amount of battle time

[Rascalmyshadow]

Good advice from everyone, most of your problems are because you are on the floor. Get her up onto a table but make sure the surface is non slip.

[sas]

I'm sorry but I have a differring opinion. I certainly don't see it as being a dominance issue. If a puppy has not taken to gooming it can be a really scary thing for them.

What everyone has suggested to me seems quite negative/stressful & really not that neccessary?

At puppy school, we were taught a trick for getting puppies used to grooming. Dante used to bite at the brush etc and I couldn't brush him from the time I got him for about 2 months.

So we started teaching them 'FEET' which you have a plastic box or another sturdy object for the dog to put only it's 2 front feet on.

In your left hand you have a brush, is your right hand you have a treat, feed the dog with your right hand, you can keep the big treat in it and let the dog nibble at it, the leash should be loose, it takes a few goes to get the co-ordination. You can have the brush in your pocket if you want then you can pull it out and start tring to brush the dogs back for starters.

I also would only be grooming on a surface which was non-slip.

Warley, I understand what you're saying from a Groomers point of view, however the owner has the time unlike a groomer to make a positive association not a fearful one, yeah?

Worth a go?

Edited August 24, 2007 by sas

[WreckitWhippet]

Sas it has nothing to do with fear and nothing to do with being in a hurry , or not having the time. This is a technique for holding an already bitey little dog that has been known to snap.

It's about getting on with the job of being able to groom the dog and this works. You may have to hold the dog a couple of times like that, as explained previously but after their initial carry on, most settle down very quickly, they can no longer bite and no longer take control of the situation.

It doesn't hurt the dog.

[BenjiMom]

I agree with Warley, Benji just hated to be brushed also He always tried to get the brush etc, and was just so hard to do him, but I held his jaws shut and now he lets me brush him.

Edited to add:-

He still loves us...doesnt hurt him

Edited August 25, 2007 by Bloss

[Mushu]

My pup is wacky too if not on a table, now the only problem with mine is that he just lay straight on the table, making it impossible to brush his tummy. So beside holding him in a standing position on 2 legs, would anyone have a good trick for me please ? Thanks

[Ashka]

Mushu, I always get my dogs used to laying on their side so it's easy to comb under arms and tummy etc.

Stand the dog, use one hand and hold low down on back leg furthest away, use the other hand low down on furthest away front leg. Pull gently towards you and dog will on it's side... Praise and rub tummy which most love. Roll over to comb other side.

Worked well for my big dogs including a couple of chows and still works well for the doglet. He goes to sleep

Edited August 25, 2007 by Ashka

[Rascalmyshadow]

Mushu to keep a dog standing put your open left hand under their tummy with your elbow resting on the table, your pointer finger should sit in front of one leg and your thumb in front of the other. Use your right hand to brush.

hope that makes sense.

[BC]

I always hold the dogs muzzel (hand around the dogs entire snout), or hair on the side of their mouth or chin to groom faces, even if the dog is well behaved. It gives me more control and I would hate for them to move suddenly and for me to then cut them.

It is not cruel, and is a very common hold for groomers to use.

Puppies can take a bit longer but I just persevere. I might try and hold a puppies muzzel 30 times, before they settle down, but they generally do settle, and you will find certain dog react better to different holds. Some are more comfortable with you holding the hair on the side of the mouth, or the hair under their chin, and others prefer you to hold the entire muzzel.

I also do Warley said, hold the hair on the face if I need to. It is about control and being able to move the dog into the position you need, and once the dog is knows it is not going to hurt them, they settle down and will allow you to manouver them with ease.

I will only actually put a muzzell on a dog if it is just down right aggressive. Nipping etc, I dont care, I will just hold the dogs mouth shut, but actual aggression requires more restraint around the mouth.

And NicoleL is right with holding them in the stand. After you have held it for a few minutes, you will feel the dog relax and stand in the position itself.

Also, from a groomers point of view, dont teach your dog to lie down. It is very frustrating trying to groom a dog who continuously lies down. Try and teach your dog to stand, even if it at least to do its back end, then they can sit while you're doing the front.

You can do all brushing while the dog is standing. To brush armpits, just lift the dogs front legs out front and then slightly to the side, groin, lift your dogs back legs up like they're cocking their leg, and tummy, lift dog up by 2 front paws.

Edited August 26, 2007 by BC

[Rascalmyshadow]

BC I was going to post the same thing about teaching the dogs to lie down but I thought I'd get flamed.

My standard boy lies down on the job constantly he's like a rag doll, it drives me insane and at 30kg he's not easy to stand up every 5 minutes although it does make it easy to face, feet and tail.

[BC]

BC I was going to post the same thing about teaching the dogs to lie down but I thought I'd get flamed.

My standard boy lies down on the job constantly he's like a rag doll, it drives me insane and at 30kg he's not easy to stand up every 5 minutes although it does make it easy to face, feet and tail.

I could possibly get flamed, but it is true. Its hard work with a lying down dog

I dont envy you trying to stand a 30kg every 5 even more funny cos it's your dog !!!!! oh well, at least he is comfortable.

[Dogsfevr]

Personally i would buy a soft muzzle.When the dog is snappy the owners tend to tread with caution,dog nows this & rules the roost.No one wants to get bitten.

Once the dog has the muzzle on you have 2 free hands to work with without worrying about being bitten.I can safely say as a groomer if theres any chance of being bitten we will muzzle & the dogs actually become little charmers & the area tha needs brushing is done so easily & quicker that the time spentt hanging onto its face & using one hand.

You most certainly need to brush on a table & you MUST have a non slip matt.Grooming shouldnt be a bribery match & generally speaking most dogs arent frieghtened they have just one the battle from an early age or the owners are using the wrong tools or brushing on the ground

"At puppy school, we were taught a trick for getting puppies used to grooming. Dante used to bite at the brush etc and I couldn't brush him from the time I got him for about 2 months.'

You could brush him he just set the rules & won the battle.Dogs react to what the humans do,most with pups brush them so the dog tries to mouth/bite & all hell breaks lose.Dog sets the rules & the humans become very unconfidient,dog nows this & walks all over them.

Grooming should be enjoyable but it isnt a bribery game its something that must be done.

It isnt about time as a groomer that is never an issue but its a case of clipping etc can be very dangerous when dogs have no manners or perform over the top .There is a chance of injury to the dog & injury to the groomer whether it be attempted bitting or damage on the joints

[sas]

Sas it has nothing to do with fear and nothing to do with being in a hurry , or not having the time. This is a technique for holding an already bitey little dog that has been known to snap.

It's about getting on with the job of being able to groom the dog and this works. You may have to hold the dog a couple of times like that, as explained previously but after their initial carry on, most settle down very quickly, they can no longer bite and no longer take control of the situation.

It doesn't hurt the dog.

I beg to differ that about the fear portion. It can be common for dogs that are young and never have accepted grooming that it could be based out of fear especially when owners take the heavy hand approach. It may not be fear but considering anyone giving suggestions here doesn't know the dog personaly then careful thought needs to be given in my opinion.

I still see absolutely no negatives to the owner re-conditioning the dog with the method I mentioned, what's the harm?

Edited August 26, 2007 by sas

[sas]

Personally i would buy a soft muzzle.When the dog is snappy the owners tend to tread with caution,dog nows this & rules the roost.No one wants to get bitten.

Once the dog has the muzzle on you have 2 free hands to work with without worrying about being bitten.I can safely say as a groomer if theres any chance of being bitten we will muzzle & the dogs actually become little charmers & the area tha needs brushing is done so easily & quicker that the time spentt hanging onto its face & using one hand.

You most certainly need to brush on a table & you MUST have a non slip matt.Grooming shouldnt be a bribery match & generally speaking most dogs arent frieghtened they have just one the battle from an early age or the owners are using the wrong tools or brushing on the ground

"At puppy school, we were taught a trick for getting puppies used to grooming. Dante used to bite at the brush etc and I couldn't brush him from the time I got him for about 2 months.'

You could brush him he just set the rules & won the battle.Dogs react to what the humans do,most with pups brush them so the dog tries to mouth/bite & all hell breaks lose.Dog sets the rules & the humans become very unconfidient,dog nows this & walks all over them.

Grooming should be enjoyable but it isnt a bribery game its something that must be done.

It isnt about time as a groomer that is never an issue but its a case of clipping etc can be very dangerous when dogs have no manners or perform over the top .There is a chance of injury to the dog & injury to the groomer whether it be attempted bitting or damage on the joints

OK, here we have aother groomer dissing a more slow and more positive path....isn't that interesting.

One thing you seem to be both forgetting is that this dog has already won numerous battles with its' owners and it knows their weaknesses, this isn't a case of just muzzling the dog and getting to work. YES I understand that a Groomer needs to get on with their work BUT the owner has time to re-condition much more slowly and more positively and I don't see what the problem is.