Hair Brush Wars - Update!!

[dustt]

Looking for a bit of advice here - brushing Hamish (6months old) is always a wrestling match - he continually mouths my hands, pulls away, scoots backward, basically does everything he can to A. escape B. make me stop. I eventually get the brush all the way thru him but not without a couple of 3 point pins and an occasional full Nelson. I've tried treats, waiting until he's almost asleep, after a walk - Any Suggestions on how to make the manditory semi-weekly brushing more enjoyable for both of us. I thought he'd grow out of these antics after a couple of months - I keep imagine him looking up at me adoringly while I calmly brush him out - he has had only one mat to date so I'm not pulling or tugging on his fur - just trying to get him accustomed to the brush. We regularly use a cushioned pin brush as it seems to get all the way thru his curls without getting stuck while still getting all the way down to the skin. As you can see we keep him fairly short to avoid as many tangles as possible!! - Help!!![attachment=0:n927o54j]hamish 6-2.JPG[/attachment:n927o54j]

[SykoSofie]

I'm eager to hear about that, too. Linus hates to be brushed. I have tried the two-sided cushioned pin brush/bristle brush, and a slicker brush, and he fights them both. He has a looser curled, finer coat than Hamish, doesn't get matted, and doesn't really require a lot of grooming, but he is starting to shed his puppy coat so I'd like to be able to brush him to help get all that loose fur out. We just did three rounds of brush wrestling and I got out a good three brush-fulls of fur, but he makes it such a struggle!

I don't understand why he hates it so much - I would think it be relaxing. But then I don't enjoy sniffing and eating mysterious animal poop, and he loves doing that, so I guess we have different ideas of what we like.

[anny51]

Charlie used to spend more time 'eating' the brush than I actually spent brushing him. I've been brushing him every day....not all over, but maybe just a leg or 2 or just his back etc, and, of course, forcefeeding him with treats! He's a lot better now...I can do all over (10-15 minutes) and tho he'll mouth the brush occcasionally he'll usually leave it when he's told to. I think doing it every day just made it boring and routine...sometimes he'll just lie there and ignore me, which is fine by me!

[dustt]

Theresa - way to put it in perspective - I too don't understand why they don't love it - maybe because they're boys - the idea of going to the "mom salon" isn't as appealing!!! - Ann - maybe your method of boring him to death by doing it every day will help - hopefully he won't turn me in for doodle torture!! I'll have to remember to give the groomer a better tip next time - she definitely deserves it!! - I'm wondering if my husband isn't secretly sabotaging the process - he has a mortal fear I'll turn his manly furry beast into a "gigi" dog!!! I keep reminding myself that the brushing and regular grooming are my trade offs for not having to suck up dog fur with the vacuum 37 times a month!!

[lmtoth2]

I know this isn't what you want to hear But it really took time for Dex to be good when I brush him. He would do exactly what you describe and one day when he was closer to 2 he decided to start being good when I brush him

We did have some tricks...brushing him was a 2 person job. My husband would put a treat in a Kong and hold it for Dex while I brushed him (so he was distracted by the Kong). My husband would also sometimes put a treat in his hand and Dex would sniff and lick at his hand while I brushed him. We basically overloaded him w/treats during brushing

[Linn]

Hamish sounds just like Davy (now 1 year old). He used to absolutely HATE being brushed, no matter what I tried. I tried lots of different brushes and combs, but I couldn't really rub any object over his back without him completely flipping out, scooting away, biting at the brush (or other object). Like you, I tried treats and sleepy times and praise, but nothing seemed to work. Eventually we got to the point where Davy needed to be groomed professionally. The first groomer we tried gave up after a few minutes, so we rescheduled with another groomer who has a "firmer hand". I actually stayed with Davy throughout the grooming, as he tried to bite the clippers, the scissors, the brush, and even attempted to throw himself off the grooming table. I was pretty freaked out, but as I watched the groomer work with him, I realized that I had always given up when he started to act out during brushing, and basically he had learned that he could get out of it by being a little feisty. Anyways, long story short, now I am very firm when it is brushing time. I use a calm, soothing voice, but if Davy tries to snap at the brush or wriggle away I give him a firm "No" and don't let him move away. It can also help to put a leash on him and tie him to a fence, etc. so he realizes he's not going to escape. With my new, "no-nonsense" approach, I am able to brush Davy all over with almost no resistance. He still doesn't love it the way Chance does, and he won't let me brush his head without a battle, but we've come a looooong way. As with any training, consistency is key. Good luck!

ps I guess the kind of brush we use is called a slicker brush? The one with little pin bristles? I can't think of the brand at the moment, but it's red and white and has 2 little flea comb attachments. I really like it...

[mtd885]

I use the 'take it' command so Abby takes the brush out of my hand then tell her to drop it. Once she figured out that the brush was no threat she got better. I found that letting her lie down use the command 'settle' while I brush her works best. When she does well clik n treat taking longer between rewards until you can brush the whole dog without the treat. THEN reward after brushing so the dog learns after brushing comes a REALLY GOOD TREAT. The fastest way to train a dog is slowly! 5 minutes brushing or so every day for a month should do it for most dogs.

[anny51]

Seem to remember a suggestion about smearing something like peanut butter on a vertical surface so that they can lick it off while you brush (the theory being that they won't notice what you're doing! ho-ho-ho!) haven't tried it with Charlie, but have just done a 'solo' bathtime (assistant son wasn't available) and after mopping up me and the bathroom I might try it next time on the bath

[blueteal]

Denver puts up with it and not that he really needs it but I have always done it anyway
Ryder eats the brush...silly pupple

[dustt]

keep those cards & letters coming!! - I really appreciate all the suggestions and the stories to let me know Hamish isn't the only doodle in the world who hates his brushing!! - I'm gonna start with trying to do a bit each night with lots of treats - the peanur butter smear is an interesting concept - and I won't fell bad for continuing to be firm!! - maybe I'll try to be bit more firm!! Bath time still requires a staff of 2!! - so maybe it will be easier to try to enlist some brush help as well!!!

[CharlieBear's Mom]

Charlie use to hate it too....thought it was something to play with and would try to bite it etc....very aggravating....we started only trying to brush him when he was sleeping -- of course then it was a problem to switch sides...sigh........when he was suffering from one of his skin conditions, I bought a human brush with really soft bristles and started brushing him in the bathtub so I could really work the medicated shampoo all the way down to the skin -- he loved it!! He would stand perfectly still -- it was great. Now he doesn't mind the brush at all even out of the tub -- he's very busy, so I don't know that he looks forward to it....but if I catch him at a worn out, exhausted, sleepy moment, he is very cooperative.....good luck!!

[2kidsNadog]

Cody HATES to have his legs brushed. He isn't real thrilled with the rest of it either, but the legs are a definite issue. Cody is 21 months old. We finally found something that works. Cody is fine with being brushed at the groomer, so we just adopted the groomer's version of dealing with him. At the groomers he's in a neck harness thing that keeps him from moving.

So we decided to put his pinch collar and leash on him, then we hold the leash in one hand straight up from Cody's neck and use the other hand to brush. He doesn't move.

Works well.

[MaxandMe]

Ok i must be the oddball here as i have yet to have a dog of mine and/or foster dogs that haven't LOVED being brushed.

NOW some did present challenges as stated above (biting, chewing, squirming etc) what i do is be persistent but nonchalant
every day i take out the brush BUT i wait till night time when they're more relaxed/tired.

i sit on floor initially, try giving massage first get 'em a bit relaxed and then start brushing slowly
or keep rubbing their head/ears to relax them more.
praise them in soft voice telling them how good they are. NOW if they go to bite, i just say NO and push their mouth away
and keep brushing. AT first it may only last say 5min and work up to much longer periods.

NOW for some dogs it can take up to 3 weeks to get used to this regardless if a puppy or older foster dog.

Max, Peanut and at one time BEAU all lined up wanting to be brushed FIRST and got jealous at times of each other
that was a challenge hahaaaaaaaaaaaa keeping other two away while brushing one.

now finally Max and Peanut wait their turn.....and i find i love brushing them as well
it's a time i can sit, relax, it's quiet, and either late afternoon or evening is when i prefer to brush them.
THOUGH now they would let me brush them mornning, noon and night.

NOW this MIGHT NOT work for others........it's just what works for me.
many times i've been able to brush other peoples dogs and cats they say hate it.

maybe it's i don't take NO for an answer easily but i also talk soft voice to them sometimes i have DAVE or son sit by me at times
and we discuss something while i brush my dogs or friends but telling the dog HOW GOOD they are even bending down to give
a hug or kiss while brushing them. OH they're usually lying half on me or inbetween my legs intially
then i work to the "stand" command as they get older and more used to being groomed.

dont' know if this helps. but persistence and patience does pay off eventually

[dustt]

After reading everyone's suggestions last night - they really have given me hope and determination - here's what i noticed as I attempted to brush Hamish again last night - Of course they are all silly Mom mistakes - I take responsibility for my lack of grooming skills - too many years with labs and boxers!!!
1. I always seem to start with his legs - MISTAKE!! - he doesn't like the legs, plus it's easy to pull your legs away and bite the brush!!!
2. My next inclination was to do his head and ears - again MISTAKE - because he's already wound up from the leg pulling and again he can still bite the brush!!

So.... I regrouped and started on his belly with the soft side of the brush - he liked that!! then I rolled him over and brushed his back slowly - for only a couple minutes - didn't hate that and didn't try to bite the brush - then I stopped!! - SO tonite I'm thinking just his tail after a quick belly brush - wish me luck!!! I'll get the hang of this eventually!

I also need to remind myself that grrooming time is always better than vacuum time!!! I get to sit on the floor and love on my dog!!!

[mtd885]

I think she's got it Kool, this is just like My Fair Lady! I know I've learned a lot here too! This community was very helpful in my being able to deal with having had a bad breeder experience, grooming issues, training issues and confirmations on Doodle behavior. Great Community!