Help! Our groomer fired us!

[busterbrown1]

We have a 2.9 lb yorkie. He is 5 months old. He has been going to the groomers for awhile now at his vets. I thought it would be a safe place to go since it was located in his vets office on certain days of the week. Well, she told us today that he tries to bite her and she had to have two other people hold him to try to get him trimmed and combed. I have the same problem at home he HATES to be brushed! I have tried spray in conditioner etc...Does anyone have any advice. I have to find someone new to groom him now. She even went as far to say that he has a discipline problem! I need some good advice to try to keep his tangles to a minimum.

[kalina82]

you really need to work on this problem at home. He is not allowed to win. Have someone help you if necessary. I purchased a small grooming table from Petedge that comes with a arm and loop to keep them on the table. You need to groom him for his health and he needs to learn that he has no choice but to comply. Put him on a table so he can't get a way. make him stand up. Then just maybe run the back of the brush all over him so he gets used to the brush being on him but not yet pulling on his hair. use a conditioning spray like Chris Christensen Ice on Ice on the coat to help the brush glide threw the hair. If your brushing him and find a tangle, place your fingers in between the tangle and the body so you can hold it while you brush ensuring that you are not pulling his hair too hard.

If he puts up a fight and tries to bite you, you cannot let him win. if you stop, he wins. You need to discipline him, tell him no, and keep brushing. If your brushing his body and he swings his head about to bite, push it out of the way, tell him no, and continue. I'm not saying you need to be rough with him but you need to be firm.

[chachi]

Any good groomer should be experienced enough to handle that. My advice is to brush and groom him often so he gets used to it and give him treats so he associates something pleasant with grooming

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by chachi

Any good groomer should be experienced enough to handle that. My advice is to brush and groom him often so he gets used to it and give him treats so he associates something pleasant with grooming

i agree, a good groomer should be able to handle a puppy. Granted i'm sure he was very frustrating to groom and probably drove her crazy. It needs to get done properly so he learns he cannot behave this way.

[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!!!

[Juliealfies mum]

Keep trying with it and dont give up, he will except it eventually , try and make it a fun time with treats and lots of breaks for playing a do a little at a time.

[kalina82]

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!!!

sedating a puppy because he doesn't know better is extreme. Do NOT take him back there if he's going to do that.

[busterbrown1]

Thank you! That is what I thought! We will find someone else! It is just frustrating because I want to get him used to one person doing this. Maybe I can find a mobile groomer to come to our home and that might make him feel more comfortable.

[chachi]

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!!!

Very extreme! Can you imagine her with a bigger dog that doesnt like to be groomed. You have to be very careful with groomers. The first groomer I took Chachi to said he was a little rough and we didnt have any problems brushing his hair or anything. Anyway Chachi acted funny after that grooming and we dont know if maybe she did something to him. We never took them back there and found a new wonderful groomer who has never had any problems grooming him

[busterbrown1]

Thank you! I don't like the fact that she would even suggest doing that. I mean, he is sooo tiny. I don't think it would even be safe! I will start my search for a new groomer!

[Lolapup]

Originally Posted by busterbrown1

Thank you! I don't like the fact that she would even suggest doing that. I mean, he is sooo tiny. I don't think it would even be safe! I will start my search for a new groomer!

That groomer needs to find another line of work!! Good grief! He's only 5 months old! Definitely find another groomer.

[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.

[QuickSilver]

I actually think it will be good for him to get comfortable to with different people grooming him. It sounds like she probably made him hate getting brushed even more, so it's good you'll be finding another groomer.

I think basic desensitization is the way to go here. Start when he is relaxed. As someone else suggested, you can just rub the smooth side of the brush on him so he gets used to it. I would not force him to deal with it. Do it until he gets uncomfortable or for a few minutes, whichever comes first. Give him a treat afterwards and praise him. Stay very calm. Do this every day until he is calm around the brush. Then start actually brushing him, again just for a few minutes at a time. If you do this every day for a month or two, I would bet money you will have a big brushing fan on your hands!

I can't find Chris Christensen products where I live, so I just started using Bobbi Painter's 'Snarly Dog' detangling spray. I'm pretty happy with it.

Good luck.
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Chattiesmom and I posted at the same time, I agree with her suggestion.

[chattiesmom]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

I actually think it will be good for him to get comfortable to with different people grooming him. It sounds like she probably made him hate getting brushed even more, so it's good you'll be finding another groomer.

I think basic desensitization is the way to go here. Start when he is relaxed. As someone else suggested, you can just rub the smooth side of the brush on him so he gets used to it. I would not force him to deal with it. Do it until he gets uncomfortable or for a few minutes, whichever comes first. Give him a treat afterwards and praise him. Stay very calm. Do this every day until he is calm around the brush. Then start actually brushing him, again just for a few minutes at a time. If you do this every day for a month or two, I would bet money you will have a big brushing fan on your hands!

I can't find Chris Christensen products where I live, so I just started using Bobbi Painter's 'Snarly Dog' detangling spray. I'm pretty happy with it.

Good luck.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Chattiesmom and I posted at the same time, I agree with her suggestion.

-- great minds think alike.

[QuickSilver]

And then there's you and I!

<<Sorry, I couldn't resist.>>