Grooming Table For Difficult Cocker Spaniel

[jnh]

Hi all, I've had a look around on ebay for grooming tables, there is quite a selection, and of unknown quality.

So I'm looking for suggestions re: an appropriate table for a highly sensitive cocker spaniel. He needs to be restrained well otherwise he will nip wherever we try to groom.

I thought a table with a bar going overhead and two separate restraints would be best so he can't turn, any ideas?

Also, we need to get the best shaver (with attachments) for a cocker, could someone give me a link? Cheers!!

Please note, he's always been like this, it's not a medical condition (according to the vet) other than neurotic behaviour, and he is very well loved. At the moment he's running around collecting all sorts of twigs because his fur has grown too long - and this just adds to the irritation...

Here are some tables I was looking at - how is their reputation? http://stores.ebay.com.au/OZ-Grooming-World/_i.html?_nkw=table&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

[jnh]

Also I would prefer collapsible, just for space.

[Pjrt]

Any sturdy grooming table with a sturdy grooming arm plus a Groomers Helper starter kit is my suggestion.

some where like THIS LINK has every thing you need and can advise you re clippers and blades as well. google groomers helper and watch the videos. As a professional groomer its a godsend. It is exactly what you need for your Cocker to help settle and control him.

[Leah82]

How old is your cocker? Personally I think you would be better off learning to make grooming an enjoyable experience rather than trying to restrain him for a simple brush out.

While I realise he's not anywhere near as bad, my 6 year old cocker is a big whinger when it comes to being brushed, but after plying him with treats during brushing a few times he's now trying to climb up onto the grooming table himself.

My advice would be to find a professional groomer who can help you work through these issues, the longer you leave the brushing the worse his experience will be, he needs to learn what it's like to be brushed when he has no knots. Find someone that can hold your dog and distract him with treats while you brush him a little bit at a time giving him lots of breaks. Also when you're patting him run your fingers through his hair and see if you can remove some knots and twigs that way, often when a dog knows he's about to be groomed the stress levels go up so make it part of your cuddle time.

Learning to clip dogs yourself is hard enough on a well behaved dog, having to learn on a difficult dog is only going to increase the chance of something going wrong, ending up at the vets and further traumatising your dog

Edited August 4, 2014 by Leah82

[persephone]

remember how you described the dog ?

highly sensitive

..don't forget muzzles can be useful , and not as stressful as tight leashes/slippery tables/nervous handlers.. A nice basket or jafco one which allows him to puff out his anxiety but not bite :)

Are you doing him at home because he has been scared/aggressive at a groomers ?

I think the more restrictions- the more fearful and snappy he will become, poor thing

perhaps sedation/clipping at a groomer/vet would help - then, at home , lying on your lap/couch... as a treat filled, SHORT duration experience, repeated often , he could be played with /brushed easily on the short un tangled coat ......teaching you BOTH that it can be a relaxing thing ..... and as coat grows- hopefully confidence and acceptance grow with it.

sniff brush= treat

allow brush to travel over back once = treat

allow brush over back twice =treat

etc etc ....

Edited August 4, 2014 by persephone

[The Spotted Devil]

I had a short haired dog (recently adopted from a shelter) in one of my classes that was absolutely terrified of being brushed. We worked on shaping a positive response to being groomed in a similar manner to what persephone described. I also changed the brush to a very, very soft Zoom Groom to start with so we could start afresh. I sat on the floor with this dog for an hour and by the end of the session the dog was happily being groomed by both her elderly owners. It was a very special moment for them and they reported that the dog continued to enjoy daily grooming after our session.

[Salukifan]

If your intention is to immobilise this dog so that he cannot move to nip you, you stand the chance of him really having a go. A dog that cannot move to express discomfort may feel the need to fight.

This does not sound like an ideal candidate for an amateur owner to groom. You stand a real risk of nicking him with clippers and a heavy coat needs an expert hands.

Take him to a professional, let them use a muzzle and get him shaved down to something you can brush. Once he tolerates brushing without issue, then you might think about grooming him.

A decent grooming table and clippers will set you back upwards of $500. That's quite a few trips to the groomer.

[jnh]

perhaps sedation/clipping at a groomer/vet would help - then, at home , lying on your lap/couch... as a treat filled, SHORT duration experience, repeated often , he could be played with /brushed easily on the short un tangled coat ......teaching you BOTH that it can be a relaxing thing ..... and as coat grows- hopefully confidence and acceptance grow with it.

He is currently groomed at home with no muzzle, totally spoiled with lots of love. It seems that is the problem. He has been groomed back at the breeders on occasion and she uses a grooming table with an arm. No problem, because she doesn't tolerate the tantrums. Honestly, he will get angry at a tiny little twig that gets stuck in his fur, he's just really, really precious.

As it is currently, we have to have two people (extremely loving) groom him because he twitches, wriggles and does little circle dances.

I'm familiar with grooming and shaving. I did it for years with my old spaniel, who had no problem. A muzzle was my next option, but at the moment some kind of stability - i.e. table will at least be a step up from no table and he will be more accessible than on the floor. Not to mention the cost of grooming around here - $80 for long hair, and we have two dogs. The other dog isn't a problem at all but again, even if it is just for one dog, the setup will pay for itself. I'm looking at the $200 tables. And I wouldn't go straight to clipping, just brushing.

Any sturdy grooming table with a sturdy grooming arm plus a Groomers Helper starter kit is my suggestion.

Thanks for not judging. I'm not into terrifying the dog, in my view it makes sense to get at least one dog used to home grooming properly.