Aww I've seen that face in the first picture lots of times! Haha! Silver used to HATE being combed/brushed! She would squirm and wiggle and if you got near her face she would kick you and push herself off. Eventually we got dog detangling spray and combed her little by little and she still hates her face being done but my girlfriend sits and talks sweet to her and gives her treats when doing it and she'll sit still now at least. My advice is don't give up! Silver will be 3 this year and she is just now letting us comb her eyes without kicking us and trying to push herself off our laps.

Thanks again everyone for your help and nice comments. I made an appointment next week for the groomers and I'm really going to try to keep up with the grooming like everyone has suggested. I just think that after a few weeks when he didn't accept being combed I figured that was the way he would stay. I'll try and be more patient and then maybe he'll lose his nicknames of stink face and puss eye! My 5 teenagers call him that. My poor little puppy!

Grooming
 

First what a really cute rascal before groom and an angel afterwards? Perhaps he prefers the ragamuffin look?? I had the same issue with grooming and it was treats, treats, treats........ And a lot of patience! Not that he likes being brushed much even now, but we get through it. However the groomer never had a problem. So I guess he just knows how to 'work' me and get treats. LOL!
Good luck!

I love YT!

I used some suggestions from this thread last night when it was brush time, and wow what a difference!

I gathered up his comb, spray, towel, and a small bowl of Cheerios. I started out with the towel in my lap and laid him on his back, which he hates. I gave him a Cheerio, and then used my fingers to 'comb' his chest and belly. When he settled down, another Cheerio. I grabbed the comb and let him sniff and lick it. If he tried to bite it, I took it away. When he didn't bite, another Cheerio. Then I laid the comb sideways and ran it down his chest. No fight - Cheerio. It took about 10 minutes to go from his beard to his ribs doing this and turning the comb into the hair a little more each time. The whole time I didn't say a word to him unless he was still and then he got a "Good boy!".

I repeated with his front legs, then his back. The only time he really fought was combing his haunches. The hair is so thick, and he had some knots above his knees. He's been biting his back legs a bit since I had him groomed last week.

I wound up holding him like a football with his head tucked under my arm to comb his back legs. I don't know if I was hurting him or if he just really doesn't like the comb back there, but it was much more progress than we've had, and neither one of us was an anxious, exasperated mess at the end.

He was so good that he got an extra treat of chicken 'bacon' and a game of chase the tennis ball when we were all done. :thumbup:

Great technique there! You are turning into a Yorkie Whisperer. Just working up to it and going little by little, rewards and a fun play session to work off the tension and nerves and give that baby some fun after the grooming session will start them linking the two in their head. Before long, if you take it nice and slow, occasionally you may see a little wag of the tail when you get out the brush because your dog will be thinking of what that brush is going to lead to in the rewards department - Cheerios and a good play session with mommie!!! A dog is always wanting to know what's in it for him. With grooming, it can be treats and rough-house play afterward. A fast-wagging tail when your dog realizes he's about to do something he used to fear or hate means great success in desensitization or accommodation training! Train for the tail wag. We don't always get there but it's something to aim for.

My older boy Sasha has never really had an issue with grooming. He loves his groomer and when we brush at home the minute he sees the brush he gets crazy excited and leaps into my lap. My younger boy Simba is not nearly as fond of grooming. In the beginning he would fight and cry but like most everyone else has said you just have to take things slow and give lots of praise and treats. I don't think he's ever going to love being groomed like his older brother but he does tolerate it AND he knows he's getting a treat at the end because the minute I'm done he takes off running to the kitchen to await his treat.

Great advise everyone!! My little darling actually likes to be combed but I never thought about detangler. Will make trip to Petsmart today for sure. Because it's been so cold I've been scared to bath mine more than I have. I've had her for 6 weeks and have given her only 2 baths. She needs it weekly! I do hate seeing her shake so much tho. I do use warm water and do blow dry her but she makes me feel guilty until warm enough to stop shaking. Temp is usually around 70 in my house when she gets her bath. Do I need to turn up the heat?

I fill Oakley's Kong toy with peanut butter and hold it between my legs while sitting on the sofa with him. Oakley will lay in my lap and as long as he's getting that peanut butter, he'll let me do whatever :).

Ha ha, how funny, you sound like you were very determimed. Just want to say, you're little guy is so adorable!

Mine wont let you look inside of her mouth. Are you using a detangling spray? That may help.

I use a dematting comb when the matts are real bad

I'm not sure what a dematting comb is but it sounds interesting. How is that different from the Madden comb that I have? Does it make a big difference in getting the mats out? If so, maybe I should invest in one of those!

Hey Dana6, I tried something with my little Hannah "spaz" that made it easier for me to comb her. Usually she is very good but was ticked off at me because she got her bath. She was so full of herself that she wouldn't be still and was even taking it out on the blowdryer. I put her favorite snackie in my hand and made her work at getting it while I combed her with the other hand. Took a little talent on my part but I got the job done. She was gonna get a snack when we were done anyway so I figured it couldn't hurt. I'm gonna try not to make this a habit because I felt like she was getting rewarded for bad behavior. Wanted to tap her butt but couldn't do that either????

The dematting combs I have seen have a blade like thing that cuts through the hair and are usually used for big furry dogs with mats.
Amazon.com: Safari De-Matting Comb for Dogs: Pet... There are other versions but that is the most common.

I'm with Kandy! We use treats to hold Princess Sophie's attention. I pull out a handful on the hassock and start at her bottom. By the time I get to her head, she's so far gone into those treats (I give one at a time), I don't think she even realizes what's going on. LOL I have also applied a little coconut oil to her coat and the tangles come right out.