Brushing a VERY Resistant Puppy! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

havenhall · 11-06-2009, 05:24 PM

My Phoebe is now 4 months old, this is my first Yorkie... I have had Cavaliers for the last 10+ years (still have my 4 1/2 year old girl I bred). Anyway, Phoebe HATES to be brushed and to have her nails clipped!! I've not experienced this before and when I took her to the groomers yesterday, they had to shave some areas due to matting.

I felt so bad and was also embarrassed, as I consider myself a dog person! The groomer explained to me that I can't bathe her until all mats have been brushed out (which I didn't know, so I made the problem worse); but Phoebe has a melt down when I brush her. I'm normally very good at being the Head Bitch, but am having a hard time restraining this tiny dog... any suggestions would be very much appreciated!!

MommaTED · 11-06-2009, 05:28 PM

Just keep trying...
Tucket hated it too so I would hold his head so he couldn't turn around and bite at the brush while talking very calmly to him. He's gone from hating it to tolerating it. Also, wear her out before you try. She will be less resistant if she's tired

Good luck!

bj1 · 11-06-2009, 05:43 PM

My lil ann hates and i mean hates to be brushed. she will try everything there is to do to not be brushed. I have had a real problem with her. but all i can say is just keep doing it. no matter how much she protest about it, i just keep on brushing her until i am done and there are no knots or anything in her hair

Armani Alexis · 11-06-2009, 05:52 PM

Will she allow you to comb her out?

bj1 · 11-06-2009, 06:02 PM

she hates it

she will fight me, she will twist and turn and try and jump out of my arms but I just don't let her win. I try to talk to her and to calm her usually though she doesn't care.lol. but i just do it until i am done. i dont' hurt her or anything at all, i just don't let her win. i have to brush out her hair or there will be tons of matts in her hair. she is almost 6 months now and she doesn't fight as bad as she used too at all, but she still doesn't like it, but she does sit still alot better now than before cause she knows mommy isn't gonna stop until her hair is comb out.lol. so i would just say keep doing it, try talking with her to soothe her or give her a treat while your brushing her, that may help. but i do believe they do get used to it like mine has done.

katy-yorkie · 11-06-2009, 09:13 PM

Buster hates to be brushed. I keep him cut short all of the time. Just tonite when I was trying to brush him, he was biting at the brush. OMG, he just hates to brushed. He hates for me to get his eye boogers. I would love to see what he looks like with longer hair. He will be two next month and I started brushing him almost as soon as I brought him home. He goes to the groomer pretty regular but he still needs to be brushed regularly.

maddiepie · 11-07-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bj1

she hates it

she will fight me, she will twist and turn and try and jump out of my arms but I just don't let her win. I try to talk to her and to calm her usually though she doesn't care.lol. but i just do it until i am done. i dont' hurt her or anything at all, i just don't let her win. i have to brush out her hair or there will be tons of matts in her hair. she is almost 6 months now and she doesn't fight as bad as she used too at all, but she still doesn't like it, but she does sit still alot better now than before cause she knows mommy isn't gonna stop until her hair is comb out.lol. so i would just say keep doing it, try talking with her to soothe her or give her a treat while your brushing her, that may help. but i do believe they do get used to it like mine has done.

That is what I had to do too. When she was younger and put up a fight I would try and do it when she was sleepy. After about a month without giving up, she finally realized, 'if I sit still it won't hurt and will be done quicker' Don't give up! Maddie will still sometimes put up a fight but the mojority of the time she knows she just needs to sit still.

mimimomo · 11-07-2009, 10:38 AM

What kind of brush are you using? The Madan pin brushes (blue or green one, link on my siggy

) do not hurt & even the most resilient of puppies will sit still when brushing them w/this. I know, bc a couple of mine will attack the brush! If I find a mat, I just cut it out if I can't work it out w/a comb or brush. That way, they don't associate grooming time ='s ouch time. A yummy treat at the end of the special bonding session also helps.

TAStetherainbow · 11-07-2009, 10:48 AM

Some things I have read say to desensitize the pup to the comb. My other dog didnt enjoy comes so every time I would bring the comb out i would give him a treat so then he started to get exciting like every time I picked it up. Then I would let him sniff it and lick it then brush a little part on his arm or something and if he allowed me to brush it I would praise him like crazy and get him some treats after a couple days of that HE LOVED THE COMB! then he started to notice it actually was an enjoyable thing cuz it got all his itchys to go away. So I would try that with your pup. I use that same method on my dogs for all sorts of things like getting them to like baths and stuff.. Anways I hope I could help you =)
Good luck!!!

rtsmichele · 11-07-2009, 11:21 AM

My 3 pound Abbi and 10 pound Oliver HATE, HATE, HATE to be brushed . . . that is until I got my Mandan Pin brushes. They were still resistant at first, but now sit quite nicely to be brushed.

My other two dogs that liked to be brushed now beg for it every night.

You really should try them. I was sceptical when I ordered mine, but am so very glad that I have them.

Michele :-)

PenelopePup · 11-07-2009, 11:23 AM

I've had toy poodles for years and never had this problem till I got my first yorkie less than a year ago. My solution was to keep the brush next to me on the end table and every night I would hold Penny down till she held still and kept brushing her. She actually bit me a few times, but now I can brush her without a problem. I think this is a terrier thing? Jolene was the same way, now they just lay on my lap like limp noodles and I can brush anywhere. They are sensitive on thier faces, so I use a soft comb.

havenhall · 11-07-2009, 11:48 AM

Thank you to everyone for your thoughtful replies!

I will definitely hang in there and have Phoebe's brush (Chris Christenson) on the coffee table so that I will brush her every evening. I take it from the many similar stories that this must be a terrier thing... my Cavaliers love to be brushed and go to sleep when I'm trimming their nails!! I'll take a look at the brush that was recommended also. We are loving our Phoebe and cannot believe how very smart she is... nothing gets by her and she has my Rosie playing again.
Thanks again for the helpful suggestions

11-06-2009, 05:24 PM	#1
havenhall Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Denver Posts: 22	Brushing a VERY Resistant Puppy! My Phoebe is now 4 months old, this is my first Yorkie... I have had Cavaliers for the last 10+ years (still have my 4 1/2 year old girl I bred). Anyway, Phoebe HATES to be brushed and to have her nails clipped!! I've not experienced this before and when I took her to the groomers yesterday, they had to shave some areas due to matting. I felt so bad and was also embarrassed, as I consider myself a dog person! The groomer explained to me that I can't bathe her until all mats have been brushed out (which I didn't know, so I made the problem worse); but Phoebe has a melt down when I brush her. I'm normally very good at being the Head Bitch, but am having a hard time restraining this tiny dog... any suggestions would be very much appreciated!! __________________ Diane A. Denver, Colorado

11-06-2009, 05:52 PM	#4
Armani Alexis My Sweet Cupcake Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New York Posts: 4,390	Will she allow you to comb her out? __________________ pam & armani the more you celebrate your life ~ the more there is in life to celebrate until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened

11-06-2009, 06:02 PM	#5
bj1 Owned By BJ and Lil Ann Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA Posts: 990	she hates itshe will fight me, she will twist and turn and try and jump out of my arms but I just don't let her win. I try to talk to her and to calm her usually though she doesn't care.lol. but i just do it until i am done. i dont' hurt her or anything at all, i just don't let her win. i have to brush out her hair or there will be tons of matts in her hair. she is almost 6 months now and she doesn't fight as bad as she used too at all, but she still doesn't like it, but she does sit still alot better now than before cause she knows mommy isn't gonna stop until her hair is comb out.lol. so i would just say keep doing it, try talking with her to soothe her or give her a treat while your brushing her, that may help. but i do believe they do get used to it like mine has done.

11-06-2009, 09:13 PM	#6
katy-yorkie Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Katy, Texas USA Posts: 1,458	Buster hates to be brushed. I keep him cut short all of the time. Just tonite when I was trying to brush him, he was biting at the brush. OMG, he just hates to brushed. He hates for me to get his eye boogers. I would love to see what he looks like with longer hair. He will be two next month and I started brushing him almost as soon as I brought him home. He goes to the groomer pretty regular but he still needs to be brushed regularly. __________________ Jeanie, mom to Buster and Maggie

11-07-2009, 10:38 AM	#8
mimimomo Don't Litter Spay&Neuter Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 9,874	What kind of brush are you using? The Madan pin brushes (blue or green one, link on my siggy) do not hurt & even the most resilient of puppies will sit still when brushing them w/this. I know, bc a couple of mine will attack the brush! If I find a mat, I just cut it out if I can't work it out w/a comb or brush. That way, they don't associate grooming time ='s ouch time. A yummy treat at the end of the special bonding session also helps. __________________ Jenny Mimi Momo Princess Turbo Madan Pin Brush: www.toplinepet.com

11-06-2009, 05:28 PM	#2
MommaTED Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 173	Just keep trying... Tucket hated it too so I would hold his head so he couldn't turn around and bite at the brush while talking very calmly to him. He's gone from hating it to tolerating it. Also, wear her out before you try. She will be less resistant if she's tired Good luck!

11-06-2009, 05:43 PM	#3
bj1 Owned By BJ and Lil Ann Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA Posts: 990	My lil ann hates and i mean hates to be brushed. she will try everything there is to do to not be brushed. I have had a real problem with her. but all i can say is just keep doing it. no matter how much she protest about it, i just keep on brushing her until i am done and there are no knots or anything in her hair

11-07-2009, 10:48 AM	#9
TAStetherainbow Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sunny So Cal \(^_^)/ Posts: 75	Some things I have read say to desensitize the pup to the comb. My other dog didnt enjoy comes so every time I would bring the comb out i would give him a treat so then he started to get exciting like every time I picked it up. Then I would let him sniff it and lick it then brush a little part on his arm or something and if he allowed me to brush it I would praise him like crazy and get him some treats after a couple days of that HE LOVED THE COMB! then he started to notice it actually was an enjoyable thing cuz it got all his itchys to go away. So I would try that with your pup. I use that same method on my dogs for all sorts of things like getting them to like baths and stuff.. Anways I hope I could help you =) Good luck!!!

11-07-2009, 11:21 AM	#10
rtsmichele YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 289	My 3 pound Abbi and 10 pound Oliver HATE, HATE, HATE to be brushed . . . that is until I got my Mandan Pin brushes. They were still resistant at first, but now sit quite nicely to be brushed. My other two dogs that liked to be brushed now beg for it every night. You really should try them. I was sceptical when I ordered mine, but am so very glad that I have them. Michele :-)

11-07-2009, 11:23 AM	#11
PenelopePup YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Emmett, MI. US Posts: 270	I've had toy poodles for years and never had this problem till I got my first yorkie less than a year ago. My solution was to keep the brush next to me on the end table and every night I would hold Penny down till she held still and kept brushing her. She actually bit me a few times, but now I can brush her without a problem. I think this is a terrier thing? Jolene was the same way, now they just lay on my lap like limp noodles and I can brush anywhere. They are sensitive on thier faces, so I use a soft comb. __________________ I have the right to remain silent, but not the ability!

11-07-2009, 11:48 AM	#12
havenhall Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Denver Posts: 22	Thank you! Thank you to everyone for your thoughtful replies! I will definitely hang in there and have Phoebe's brush (Chris Christenson) on the coffee table so that I will brush her every evening. I take it from the many similar stories that this must be a terrier thing... my Cavaliers love to be brushed and go to sleep when I'm trimming their nails!! I'll take a look at the brush that was recommended also. We are loving our Phoebe and cannot believe how very smart she is... nothing gets by her and she has my Rosie playing again. Thanks again for the helpful suggestions __________________ Diane A. Denver, Colorado