Help! Our groomer fired us!

[cheeselover8481]

We had a problem with brushing Rosie when she was a puppy. Me and my sister would corner her in the room and every time we barely touched her with the brush she screamed liked we were hurting her. I thought our neighbors would call animal control on us. Talking about a big drama queen.

I agree with others about addressing the issue at home. What we did was after ever brush stroke we gave her a treat, then after every other stroke she got a treat, etc. She finally associated brushing with something good and now enjoys it as long as her hair doesn't pull. Good Luck and hopefully you'll find a groomer again.

[mscat]

I would take your puppy back to that groomer ! It is wrong to sedate a little pup Allow your pup to see the brush before even using it on him. Be gentle brushing him. He may have been traumatised going to the groomers. Use reward treats. He has to get use to all people in the home brushing him, not just one person.
He needs to accept the brush and understand that he is not boss of the brush. Make it a fun, pleasant experience. Talk to him when you brush him. Use the conditioning spray as well.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

I am sure that my ideas will be a bit different than most. A groomer's job is to groom -- not to train a dog to be groomed. Training a dog to accept grooming is the owner's responsibility. Your little guy should be trained to accept all grooming politely before he goes to his new groomer.

You can easily teach him to accept grooming politely by taking it in teeny tiny baby steps. At first work with him when he's tired and sleepy. The first step is to get to a point where you can "finger comb" him without complaint. Run your fingers down his side quickly, once and praise the heck out of him, give a small treat. The object is to "groom him" withot him realizing that you are grooming him. He will get the idea that "finger combing" is a good thing filled with lots of rewards and treats. Progress fromt here to using a comb just ONE quick stroke, and a treat and STOP. It is very important that they learn that their is an END to activities that they are unsure about.

Proceed in this manner until you can brush him thoroughly -- have several lessons each day and make each one short.

You will be surprised at how quickly your little grooming terror will be a grooming lover.

I have to agree with this 100%. When Pebbles was 5 months old she was rehomed to me from a friend and had never been brush, combed or to a groomer. Not knowing any better I took her over to Petsmart for her first grooming which didn't work out so well. I was called back to the store by the groomer who then proceeded to show me what a horrible puppy that I had and that she needed a dog psychiatrist and would not be allowed back. I left there in tears thinking that I made the worst mistake of my life taking Pebbles into my home. I knew that being a Yorkie she needed to be groomed on a regular basis so I started working with her. Several times a day I would pick up up and place her in a bath towel on top of the washer in my laundry room. With treats in my pocket I first just touched her all over her body. I rubbed her ears, between her toes, up and down the sides of her body. All the while doing the praising and treats. At first I would only do this for about a minute each time. At 5 months they are young and have a very short attention span so you don't want to push it too much. Then after a few days I started to use the comb on her. Very gently and praising all the while. If I came to a knot I would use my fingers to untangle if I was able to . After a few more days I then started with a brush working my way up with the amount of time I worked with her. During this few weeks I found a NEW groomer who had experience with grooming and breeding Yorkies. I told her about my experience at Petsmart and she was shocked a the treatment that they had given to my baby. I also assured her that I had been working with her giving weekly baths and even blow drying her hair. I made an appointment and she hand scissored her the first time and I told her that I didn't expect miracles with her first few groomings. Each time I took her she was better and better. Now she will jump on my lap and I can brush her for hours. She loved to be brushed and combed and even falls asleep now. The groomer always tells me that she is one of her best customers and the most well behaved. So as you can see it is entirely possible to get from were you are now to having a super star at the groomers. Just take your time and go slowly. Do not try to brush or comb her on the couch. You need to set a place were she know that she needs to behave a certain way because she is being groomed.

I would also suggest putting together a little basket of grooming supplies. Brushes, combs, rubberbands, bows, any sprays all in one little caddy so that you have everything together. I promise that if you work with her she will come around too. NEVER LET A GROOMER DRUG YOUR DOG! Ugh!!!!! Make my head want to explode

[mscat]

Oops an written error I ment to say WOULD NOT take puppy back !

[busterbrown1]

Thank you all for your advice. We will try gradually getting him used to being brushed and we'll offer treats. I also picked up Bruizer since my last post and the cut is AWFUL!!! I almost cried!! They shaved his back and left the rest long!! It is horrible!! AND most importantly he hates it too!! He is pouting as I type!!

[RoxyLuv]

Originally Posted by busterbrown1

Thank you! I must say that he never acts this way at any other time except when we're trying to brush him. He lets my 11 year old daughter brush him longer than anyone else in the house including myself. He tries to bite the brush not really the people doing the brushing. He also barks and growls when I'm brushing my own hair or one of the girls brush their hair? I will try the Ice on Ice conditioner too. I really don't think that he is doing this because he has a disipline problem. I think it is because sometimes it just hurts and it scares him. The gromer also told my husband that if we bring him back she wants us to consider sedating him!! Does anyone think that is a little extreme considering he isn't even 3 lbs!!!

Roxy went through a stage similar to this at about the same age. She had been fine with brushing/combing, then not at all. In spite of allowing her to get familiar with both, she suddenly just wanted to bite either one, but not me. Not sure what to do, I let her just go ahead & bite them, then go ahead & comb the best I could. We went through this for awhile, then she gradually is getting over it & being OK with it. Keep trying. Think I need to follow someone else's advice & put her up on something instead of on my lap.

[Britster]

Here's a Dog whisperer episode with a dog who didnt like to be groomed

Hulu - Dog Whisperer: Stanley, Shoven and Leo - Watch the full episode now.

[FlDebra]

You have already gotten some great advice -- I just want to throw my vote in to NOT sedate a puppy for grooming! That is only done as a very last resort for a dog that is having severe anxiety himself -- in other words it is only considered for the health of a dog and NEVER for the convenience of the groomer!

My Ben did not like grooming either. I keep his brush on the table beside the chaise we share in the evenings. He likes to curl up with me at the end of the day. So, he gets a little brushing here and there. He doesn't mat much any more but when he was a puppy, that fine downy hair on his inner legs would mat. I would rub a little Cowboy Magic in them and then gently pull apart the mat with my fingers then brush through. If he gets a tangle now, I do as suggested already, hold the hair firmly between the tangle and the skin, then work the tangle out without pulling the skin.

Another big help was getting a proper brush. I ordered a Madan pin brush from Mimimomo (http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...shes-sale.html) and WOW what a difference! It is so gentle to use on our Yorkies! Ben does not seem to mind being brushed at all now. I think he has finally found out how good it can feel. Believe me -- it really does make that much difference.