topknot and nail question?

[Mee-sha]

So i've been massaging meeshas head and brushing it since she was a baby so when her hair was long enough for topknots it wouldn't be as difficult.
Well her hair is long enough now and i've been attempting topknots for over a month!!, i was only able to get 1 in successfully!.
Once in her hair she dosen't mind it at all and forgets she has it, i use little lightweight elastics, thinner and as small as the ones you get from the orthadentisit....
However when i go to put it in her hair she acts as if i'm trying to murder her, she squirms, runs hides her head, and the worst she screams and cries as if i am murdering actually going to kill her. IA try to make it fun by talking to her calmly, toys, treats, distractions, but shes just not having it!
Same as the nails, i've been massaging her feet and touching her nails since i first got her at 10 weeks, however if i go to clip her nails she acts like i'm murdering her..it took 3 vets to hold her down at the vet office just to get her nails clipped, they said she is one of the most difficult cases they've ever had when it comes to nails..she stresses herself out so much she's panting for a good hr afterwards...same as the hair she'll start stressing and panting after screaming and crying, so i just let her be, her hair is starting to flop in her face

...i don't know what else to to do i've been touching her feet and head since she was a baby and i've been attempting topknots for a month..with only 1 success. i don't even care if its lopsided or what, just as long as she has it in to get her use to getting it put in...

so my question is how long will it take her to get use to the topknot being put in? any suggestions on how to get one in again?..also, will i ever be able to trim her nails myself or is it always going to take 3 people to hold her down lol!...its so stressful on not only her but me too..so i'd appreciate any suggestions on how to get this done without her thinking i'm trying to kill her, thanks

attached is pics of her only elastic topknot ever lol and yes thats a stick she dragged in the housei took it from her right after the photo,n please ignore her dirtyness she was playing outside because all the snow finally melted

[Joyce Adams]

I really don't know about her ever liking the topknot or nail trimming but I just wanted to say that she is a gorgeous girl...maybe keep her in a puppy cut for her face. Sheesh, that has to be so hard for you and her.

[Donnainohio63]

Sadie still fights me to put top knots in and she only leaves them in until Daddy gets home from work. I always tell her you have to leave it in till Daddy gets home and she always does but as soon as he gets home she runs to him so he can tell her how pretty it is and then she rips it out.

[Maximo]

Meesha is darling with her little topknot. Very nice job. Keep working with her. Be calm and confident and don't let her sense that you are anxious, otherwise she will mirror your feelings or think there is something to fear.

Work on topknots and nails when she is tired out, not when she is full of energy. Always follow up grooming with a favorite activity or massage, in addition to a little treat reward. (I tied topknots to going for a walk and this convinced Max it was a good thing ).

Train her to go "down" and rest her chin on a little pillow for topknots. Give her plenty of petting/massage/calm praise. Be persistent. It does get better with age and maturity.

Originally Posted by Donnainohio63

Sadie still fights me to put top knots in and she only leaves them in until Daddy gets home from work. I always tell her you have to leave it in till Daddy gets home and she always does but as soon as he gets home she runs to him so he can tell her how pretty it is and then she rips it out.

LOL, Sadie is too smart! Very funny.

[Teresa Ford]

Ultra Sensitive and Over Reactive
I really feel for you and your Yorkie too. Working with rescues and fosters I have some experience with this. I try to desensitze them, by doing what you have been doing, touching in a comforting way. But this doesn't always work.
I am surprized that your Vet did not give her a mild med to calm her down and make her groggy. People are not the only beings that suffer panic attacks. This may still be an option for nail trimming because it only has to be done about every 4 weeks. I would try some of these ideas first.
Nails: 1. try a different tool. If she hates the electric pedi-paws, try a toenail clipper. Or switch to a diamond nail file or emeryboard. You can also wrap a strip of very fine sand paper around your index finger and use it for a nail file.
2. Reduce the time it takes. Do 2 nails and stop and praise and treat. Wait a few hours or a day and do two more. Just be sure you know where you stopped.
3. Use two people, one to hold her and one to trim (again don't prolong a stressful situation. Stop after one foot if you need to.)
4. Some dogs just hate to have their feet restrained and will try to pull away. With these little ones, I have my helper hold them in a standing position to do the front paws. It is good to do this on a counter or on top the washer. Put a bath towel down for them to stand on. You can have your helper hold the dog up and cradle their butt. (nothing is touching the counter)
Top Knot tips. At first just just brush and twist the little ponytail and put a tiny clip on it. 10 seconds done. Do this for a few weeks at least, then go to the band. Be careful not to do the band too tight and don't be picky about getting it perfect at first. It is important to always put the band about 1/4 to 1/2 inch above the scalp. If it is too tight your baby can get a head ache just like we do when our hat is too tight. I hope these hints help.

[Joyce Adams]

Always great advice Teresa.

[navillusc]

Absolutely excellent suggestions have been offered already. I just wanted to let you know that I fiddled with the same things getting Brody and Mia into top knots.

With Brody, he'd never had a top knot so I'd just stick a little clip in (Dollar Store is a great place to get them)...carried them in a pocket...and he'd shake it out in a few minutes. I stayed with him until the top knot fell down again and picked up the clip. Eventually, after he got tired of his hair hanging in his eyes after him getting the clip out, I switched to bands, but I was also always talking him about how much better he could see with his hair up and how cute he was when I could see his darling little eyes, and eventually he just quit bothering with the top knot. He always got a top knot to go out in, even if I had to re-do it in the truck in the driveway before we left. Now, he gets upset if Mia gets her top knot and clothes first before we go out, so I think he understood, plus he was probably completely convinced by then that he was super adorable looking and so gorgeous in a top knot! He's even brought me a scrunchie and jumped on my lap to have me put it in!

Yorkies are very smart and clever, they "think"and they understand a huge amount of stuff, as Sadie also demonstrates...she knows how long she has to wear her top knot, but not one bit longer than that...and that is just so cute!

Mia was easier for me because I became well practiced on Brody and our pseudo-pup Shih Tzu who we puppysit and who is in full coat and gets 2 top knots twice a day or more! Mia's previous mommy said she "won't wear a top knot" and she is pretty hyperactive, but she gets top knots every day. Now, after doing top knots for almost a year, I can whip 'em up with the heads a-spinnin' and while riding in an empty ("bouncy") 2-ton pickup truck just a-hoppin' over rough RR tracks!

You will get better at it, and faster, but you have to train your 'brain and finger' muscles too. You can practice making top knots elsewhere on her body...use a scrunchie so you can just pull it out and do-over. When I put flea 'spot on' treatments on mine, to keep the oily goo from just running down their sides on top of their silky hair, I pull all the hair around the 'spot' up into a wad and put a scrunchie right near the ends of the hair as high over their backs as possible so it is not in the goo. It seems to work pretty well...and the spot on seems to work better and longer too...but you get extra practice too.

Your darling Mee-sha is so precious in her top knot and matching stick. I have 'stick' photos, too, and understand completely...

Brody is not keen on having me clip his nails, either. I sometimes clip them while he is still in kitchen sink after a bath 'cuz he stands on his hind legs with front paws on the edge of the sink. He's a bit more demure by then. His hair is wet and it is easy to see the nails...at least the front paws. I cannot offer more suggestions 'cuz I'm still working this issue myself with Brody, but someone posted link in a different thread and that lady pushed her Papillions' nails through a nylon stocking/knee high, etc., which holds back the hair...and I thought that was such a great idea, and plan to try it myself.

Hang in there.

[happy bunny]

I have no suggestions, as I can barely get Luck to stay still for top-knots, but your baby is a cutie-pie! Sounds like she is a little devil too! What a sweetie!!

[southernbelle04]

I am still practicing the top knot with Katie Scarlett. I've been putting one in every day for almost as long as we have had her. Mine are crooked most days, but it's getting better. She accepts them pretty well. But I have noticed that she is getting a thin spot on the top of her head. I cut the bands out and go slowly so I don't cut her hair. I tried to use clips, but I am terrified of her getting them out and eating one.

You have such a little cutie!!!!

[Mee-sha]

thanks so much for the helpful tips everyone!I never realised dogs can have anxiety attacks like humans, that is exactly what it looks like when anyone trims or trys to trim meeshas nails, and she's breathing so heavy and panting so long afterwards.As for the topknot..I actually got a 2nd topknot in yesterday!!!yayy maybe i won't have to cut my babys hair. I started off by twisting the hair as if i was going to put it up, while holding her and telling her what a good girl she was and praised her while i held her in my arms she started to fall asleep even lol, i did that the first day a few i times, then i did it again with an elastic around my finger so i'd be ready to get that elastic around 3 times and be done!
well she felt the elastic going around and freaked out like crazy!..she got away, but i kept almost getting it in as i held her and praised her the last few days.. until yesterday i finally got it around 3 times!!! it was crooked like a side pony because she started running away and crying while i did it but i got it in. She has no problem wearing it and seemed to like having her hair out of her face, i just wish she'd get use to the elastic..but i think i will just keep doing this. I think i will try in the morning when she wakes up and is a little more sleepy too.

I also need to practice getting an elastic around it quicker..today she caught on alot quicker and pushed me away with her paws,and freaked like worse then usual as soon as she heard the elastic and cried and ran off,but we will keep working on it!


And thanks for the nail suggestions, the vet is going to trim them when shes under for her spay in a month or so LOL..and perhaps the next time they try they can give her some kind of meds because the way she reacts to her hails being cut is soo much worse than the topknot, and her reaction to the topknots pretty bad..haha..or maybe try a different kind of tool to clip them..thanks for all the suggestions and helpful tops everyone!!.

[kjc]

Maybe try the topknot and nails after a very long walk... and try some of those tiny, soft, colorful, covered bands they sell at Walmart for little girls... maybe the bands you are using make some kind of noise that is making her afraid.... also try showing her the band and let her investigate it.... let her see you put one in your hair...

[Mee-sha]

Originally Posted by kjc

Maybe try the topknot and nails after a very long walk... and try some of those tiny, soft, colorful, covered bands they sell at Walmart for little girls... maybe the bands you are using make some kind of noise that is making her afraid.... also try showing her the band and let her investigate it.... let her see you put one in your hair...

thanks i'll give that a try

[sbgooljar]

Hi, I too have been growing Romeo's hair because I want to put a top knot. I use small clips not bands since they are easier to go on and come off. Like Meesha he too used to run and hide and won't let me anywhere near his head. What seems to work -- and has been working for weeks -- I tell him it's time to go for a ride and he has to look handsome. He'll sit quietly while I brush his hair, and put a clip in for a top knot. I do follow through with the ride in the car even if it's around the corner and back home. By the time we get home he's forgotten he has a top knot and all is well with Mr. Romeo!

Good luck and don't give up

[Mee-sha]

Originally Posted by sbgooljar

Hi, I too have been growing Romeo's hair because I want to put a top knot. I use small clips not bands since they are easier to go on and come off. Like Meesha he too used to run and hide and won't let me anywhere near his head. What seems to work -- and has been working for weeks -- I tell him it's time to go for a ride and he has to look handsome. He'll sit quietly while I brush his hair, and put a clip in for a top knot. I do follow through with the ride in the car even if it's around the corner and back home. By the time we get home he's forgotten he has a top knot and all is well with Mr. Romeo!

Good luck and don't give up

thanks, i wish meesha liked the car. she shakes the whole time, same as walks she hates them but i make her go anyways lol..she won't even stay still for any type of her favourite treat or food..your so lucky you found something that worked for you though, hopefully that will happen with meesha one day

[gracielove]

How is she about grooming? Does she let you comb her daily? Sometimes it is being restrained that the dog is objecting to more than what is being done it.

If she lets you comb her then try spending a little extra time combing the top and gradually add more time and combing of the head. If you cannot comb and brush her without a scrap then you have an issue going on there

My Shih Tzu hated having his nails done. Three of us would try to hold him while someone cut his nails. And he was a little dog! We took him to the groomer. I couldn't watch but waited in the next room stressing out like crazy. The little guy stood on that grooming table and never moved while the groomer clipped his nails. I could hardly believe it. Try letting a groomer or the vet tech do it with you no where in sight and see how it goes. There are a lot of different nail grinders on the market now. IF she won't let you clip then grinding is an option.

Gracie hated having the bands put in her topknot at first but I would do it as quick as possible and distract her once it was in. I also got her a topknot pillow. It's a special pillow made for putting in topknots. The dog rests it's neck in the kind of U shaped pillow. If you just let her rest her head in the pillow and comb her head it can be relaxing. Once she is accustomed to that you might start trying to put a band in a small amount of hair. It's really important to do the grooming daily.

I just bought a couple more of the pillows from a YT member. If you scroll down on this link you will see one. I think she makes them in a few different colors.
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...beds-more.html