Help How do I brush out the bottom of my fur babies?
 

Hi all,

Well I've read lots of material online about grooming yorkies, and they all tell you what to do to groom the Yorkie, but they do not tell you how to do it, not really- I mean how to actually hold your fur baby so they don't squirm, but more specifically, how to do the belly, chest, legs, and essentially the whole underneath. This is a nightmare for me and my babies. The more I put off dealing with it because I am afraid of hurting them and I don't know how to get to the underneath and hold them so I can deal with the snarls and tangles, the more knotted they become and then when I take them to the groomer it is that much harder on them, and I don't want it to be. I would really like not to shave them underneath if I don't have to. But their comfort means more to me than anything, so if there is no way to do this so they will be okay with it, then I guess I will have no choice but to shave them.

I pretty much can brush Muffin's and Cassie's coat on top- no problem-including the face head, fall, etc. The worst worst part is doing UNDERNEATH. First of all, Muffin was the victim of Vaccinosis, and so I could not groom her for awhile until she started recovering and now her chest and belly hair are all knotted and matted even though i cut a lot of the mats out. But both my girls will not let me do their belly and chest and legs. Cassie cannot even go completely on her back because of a congenital problem, so how do I hold them or brush them out underneath and on their legs without them wiggling and struggling to get away, and how to I keep from hurting them when all that delicate fine hair gets tangled and matted and they will not hold still for me, even for a moment. This is the reason their hair is knotted in the first place, because they would not hold still for me or let me do their chest and bellies and legs, and I myself was afraid of hurting them. But now they are really tangled underneath and I really want to know how to brush out and groom the underneath part so I can avoid tangles and mats from now on. How do I get them to hold still and get to the bottom half? How do I hold them to get to it? How do i avoid hurting them when they have such thin baby fine hair underneath.? Any secrets, or suggestions? They are really good for me when I brush the top part of their coats. They love it. But they hate the bottom. So I avoid it, but that is no answer unless I am going to shave them underneath-but if there is a way for me to do it and not shave them and not hurt them, then I'd like to try it.

It must be able to be done, it has to be, as groomers and show dog breeders do it all the time. I'm sure they don't hurt their babies. There must be some way to hold them and get them to hold still for you and brush or comb out the bottom half without hurting them. Looking for any advice about brushing out the chest belly and legs. If there is no choice, I guess I will have to shave them underneath, but hoping there is a way to do it. TIA Shellie :-)

I brush/comb Max's "undercarriage" a number of ways:

1. Laying on his back on my legs -- if your babies can't go flat on their backs, try sitting with your legs bent so that the dog is somewhat upright

2. Laying on his side in his bed, one side at a time, picking up his legs to get into the armpits or groin

3. Standing and sitting on the counter; crouch down and pull the hair out from underneath; when he sits, I can get most of his chest and stomach

Keeping the dog still: I worked with Max from the time he was 13 weeks old; I try to comb when he is tired and mellow or right before his walk -- he knows that he can't go out until he is presentable :); I praise him endlessly in a sweet voice or act silly to make a game out of grooming; I also give kibble or lamb roll rewards.

Max would rather play with toys, but he has come to accept grooming as another form of attention.

Hang in there!

Hold their front legs with one hand and gently lift them off the ground with their back legs still on ground. Brush with the other hand. Most dogs I've had tolerate this. You can also try a closer sanitary cut to help.