I am looking for ideas on how to get Kodee to be better about letting me groom him. I started out when he was only 7 or 8 weeks old, brushing him everyday and treating him. He did fine at first, although if it weren't for the treats, he probably would have resisted. As he's gotten bigger, it's gotten worse. For a while, a stuffed Kong while I was grooming him worked, but now that doesn't work either. I've tried giving him a treat when I get out the brush, brushing him a few strokes (I have to hold his collar even to do this much), then treating him when I'm done. He just goes nuts trying to grab my hand or the brush when I start brushing him. He doesn't actually bite, but he will get very mouthy trying to prevent me from grooming him. I don't know what to do next. For one thing, I want to be able to brush him, just because that's a basic part of caring for him, plus it helps reduce shedding. For another thing, part of the test he has to pass to become a therapy dog involves letting a stranger brush him briefly. (FYI - I make sure not to brush too hard, so I don't think there is any discomfort involved, although I have combed out a few tangles in the past near his hind-end, which of course he hated).

Any suggestions on how to get him to at least tolerate basic grooming, even if he doesn't actually like it?

Hey Kori,

Too funny, Buddy does the same thing. With Buddy, I don’t think that he hates being groomed. Its more that he targets the brush, thinking it’s a new toy and he wants it. What I do if I want him to settle down, is put his leash on him and that usually is enough of a signal for him to knock it off and let me brush him.

Good Luck,

Also try to get him tired first sounds weird but I had to do that with phoenix for 6 months and she took the brushing better. I now have a command for her. It is brush time lol. But when I say that she will sit and stick her head up and make a routine. Like head to tail then paws something like that. Jewel is still very mouthy but she is learning the command also. But I start with jewels tail first. Anyway I have found that to work real well.
Good luck

How often do you groom him? I grew up with long hair dogs especially three american eskimo, an australian shepherd, and a border collie. We don't groom them everyday, but we only brush when they had a bath or when they needed to.

Right now I have short hair dog,(rottwelier mix) I love how I don't have to groom it all the time.

Thanks for the ideas. I have done the leash thing, he's always worn a leash during brushing time, and it definitely doesn't do any good, except if I really wanted to fight him, I could, I supposed, try to pin his leash down, but I don't want to do that. I will try tiring him out first, then see if that helps. That's about the only thing I haven't tried, I think. I will also try to incorporate a command, although I don't know that it will help. He already knows what I'm going to do, when he sees the brush. The stinker just gets hyped up for "combat." LOL.

I started out brushing him just a few minutes a day, almost daily, when he was really small, just to get him used to having it done (so I wouldn't end up having the problem I'm having now - ha ha). Then I got to where I would just brush him about twice a week, partly to help w/shedding (he was losing his puppy coat), and again, partly to have him used to it. If he would cooperate, I would probably brush him 1-2 times a week. I don't bathe him, he's clean, but I'd like to brush him regularly, both as part of the bonding, and partly to keep his coat nice. It's kind of funny, this is the only time he's consistently resistant to obeying me or cooperating w/me. Usually he minds pretty well for a 5 month old pup, I think.

More ideas are welcome.....

Well just to ad in some thoughts here.. you might want to try different brushes or comb types. Some dogs have more sensitive skin than others, some have thicker skin - if you press too hard it might irritate, if you brush too lightly it could tickle.

I learned the fine art of grooming from working with horses, who have a wide array of preferences when it comes to what type of brushes are best and how hard or soft to groom them and where to start. Are you using a wire pin brush? What type of grooming supplies do you use?

LOL.
I've had two long coat GSDs in a row now. The last one had places that never saw a brush or comb to the day she died! This present one is doing somewhat better at close to two years but the tail is a BIG issue. Don't know if it helps, but the only thing I've found that works is wait until they're dozing off and sneak up on them! Ah, that and persistence, sooner or later they relent...........somewhat.
If you come up with a magical solution, let me know. We got a tail here that needs some of that magic.


Randy

Jennifer-

I have a regular bristle brush (it's for dogs but is similar to human) and the bristles are fairly soft. The brush I use the most is called a pin brush (I think) - less "bristles", and they are tipped in plastic or something - sort of like a combo comb/brush thing. That's the one I try to use the most, although for a while I tried the bristle brush more, just to see if he had a preference. It doesn't seem to make a difference to him. He hates them all. I have used a furminator on him also (with great results during the time he was shedding fluffy puppy coat), and I also have a metal comb, which I don't use too much - just for the longer areas, which are gradually shedding out as his adult coat continues to grow in.

I try to be gentle, I don't think it's been painful, with the exception of getting knots out in the past where his longer fur used to be. Most of his coat is short all over now except near his ears, which is gradually shedding out now, from what I can tell.

I never even thought about whether it tickled or not, just whether it hurt. I will try again with the treats, I guess. I may try some hot dog or something rather than his regular treats. Other than that, I have no idea what else to do. Wish me luck!

Randy-If I come up with a magical solution, you can bid on it on eBay. LOL!

Hey, I gave the persistence tip!

There's a place 30 minutes from me where I take my pups when they need a bath. They have raised bathing sinks with slings attached to the ceiling. One secures their neck like a collar and the other goes around the belly, then you tighten it so the dog stays in a standing position. You can now take all the time you need to wash, shampoo, rinse and dry the pup. It also makes it impossible to jump off the grooming table or slip and fall. The high speed blower also blows out all the loose hair in the coat so no need for brushing to get the hair out, although brushing is always good for the dogs skin so you can still do it

Maybe they have these dog-wash places in the US too? Makes it very easy for the dog to get used to grooming without being ABLE to annoy you