Henri won't let me cut his hair!
 

I cut Henri's hair myself and I don't usually have a problem, but recently he started fighting back. He will let me cut his back and belly without struggle, in fact he likes it when I cut those places, but if I try to cut the hair on his face or paws he will fight me like crazy. He will nip at the scissors and try to push my hand away with his paws. I have never had a problem cutting the hair on his face before, and nothing happened to make him act this way, I'm so confused :( I have tried everything I can think of to make him behave: positive reinforcement, treats, distraction, someone holding him while I cut, someone else cutting the hair while I hold him, I even tried holding him by his scruff (not proud of that). I'm unsure about taking him to a groomer because of the horror stories I have heard online, and I don't really know anyone near me that I can ask about the groomers in the area. I don't know what to do, his hair has reached the point where he can't even see unless I brush it down (which doesn't last long).
Anyone have any advice or tips that could help?:confused:

Btw, I already posted this in the grooming section but got no responses.

That is so strange! I groom Taycie myself as well. I really don't know:( I know there are horrible groomer stories, and there will always continue to be. I think the main thing to remember is there are still alot of great groomers out there too!

The only thing I can think of would be call around and research groomers in your area. Talk to them about it and see what they say. I take Taycie in to the groomers only to have her feet done. She is awful and has always been when it comes to her feet. I have tried since she was a puppy to do it myself and it ends up turning into World War 3. So I just take her in.

SO... I googled, asked around, and read reviews and found a girl I trust and really like. She is very gentle and patient with Taycie even when she is on one.

I hope you find your answer! Good luck!

I think I will do some research, maybe pop in a few grooming places near me, Thanks! :)

mines like that about brushing suddenly, i can brush everywhere but if i go near her paws and face she suddenly starts fighting back biting the comb and pushing me away with her paws and getting mad at me

Your welcome! That's what I did:)

Henri was like that with the brush when he was little, but as he got older and I brushed him more he started to like it. He really likes it when I brush his neck, chin, and belly :)
Now he suddenly just won't let me cut his hair in certain areas, stubborn dog :rolleyes:

Do you have a grooming table with a loop for grooming? that can make all the difference. Sometimes they fight just because they can. Then they realize that if they fight, you eventually give up and they win. If you get a small grooming table with an arm and loop he may just stop fighting because he's lost some of his control over the situation. Petedge has some cheap portable tables. I have the small round rotating one and its great for my dog because she's small (5lb) and doesn't move for grooming.

Huh, I never thought of him fighting just to fight, but it would make sense because he can be very stubborn.
I didn't even consider getting a grooming table before, mostly because every where I saw them they were expensive, but now I will look into it. Thanks :)

Wow!!! Do cut him in a fancy peofessional groomer-like style? I would never cut Miles myself as I am afraid I would mess up his pretty little coat.

I just give him a puppy cut, nothing fancy. One of the good things about a yorkie is that even if you give them a bad haircut the hair will grow back, but I think I give a pretty good haircuts :)

Ziggy does this. what has helped us is that i start with his "sensitive" areas. and i have given that a command, and i treat about every third of the way. i think Ziggy likes to know whats being done to him. this is how i got him to accept his topknot. we're still working on the cutting beard and paws and clipping nails. but im being patient and he's responding well. hope that helps

Usually a reaction like that only happens when something has happened to hurt the dog. If he allows you to trim certain parts and not others then he is showing fear. I'm sure you never hurt him on purpose but something is stressing him. Maybe try taking him to a groomer to just have his feet and face trimmed and see how he does.
My Shih Tzu used to be terrible about letting us trim his nails. Three of my kids would try to hold him while I tried to trim his nails and he would fight like crazy and try to bite me. We finally took him to a nice groomer who agreed to try to trim his nails. I was a nervous wreck. I waited out in another room and my daughter went in the grooming room with him. That little stinker stood like a pro on that grooming table and let that groomer trim his nails with no problem. My daughter came and got me and told me to watch. I could hardly believe my eyes!:eek: The next time I took him they did not even use the noose on him!:rolleyes:
Gracie hates having her face trimmed. I only do a small area just in the inner corner of her eyes. I hold the fur on her chin firmly so she cannot turn her head either way as I trim. I use the round tipped scissors as they are much safer to use near the eyes.:)
Sometimes we just don't know what is going on in the brains of these little dogs but I am convinced that pets do not have the vindictive attributes that some humans try to accuse them of. The are very smart but do not have the complexity of thought it takes to be evil or vindictive.