Help! Sweet Yorkie is Aggressive when Groomed Our 7 month old baby, Tyla, has always been super sensitive to having her limbs moved when getting dressed, being washed, etc. She starts growling, thrashing and biting. This is the only time she behaves aggressively with us. Tyla has long hair and doesn’t enjoy being brushed, although we do brush her. We decided to have her hair clipped since she doesn't want to be brushed. Yesterday was Tyla’s 2nd visit to the groomer and things did not go well – at least not when it came time to clipping. The groomer called me and said they had brushed, dematted and bathed her but they could not clip her because she became so aggressive, biting (breaking skin) and thrashing. I am at a loss as to what to do…hubby says we need to talk to vet for advice. Groomer says she may do better if she had calming treats or a sedative. I’ve thought about just grooming her myself but I know she will be aggressive and it will be an upsetting experience for all of us. Please help – if you have any advice, I would so appreciate it! |
If this was my dog, I’d start out with petting sessions on the couch, with a bowl of Cheerios for treats. Try to have a few different types of brushes, metal pin, hard rubber/plastic pin, small wire slicker brush, small boar bristle brush, and a few combs. Use a grooming spray to help the tools glide smoothly through the coat. Round tipped scissors are good to have on hand. Leave a brush or two in her view. Use treats as a reward for positive responses to grooming and as a distraction. Most pups react poorly to having their hair pulled, so avoid pulling hair. Start brushing/combing at the tips of the hair, not at the skin, slowly working your way up to the skin with each section of hair. Hold the hair between the skin and the brush to avoid pulling it if you snag any knots. Brush and comb slowly, and be very light handed and gentle while brushing, especially when using the slicker brush. Try different brushes on her, she may tolerate one better than the other. No pulling or tugging on the legs. You can use a bath towel draped over her shoulders or an e-collar to block her from biting. Overall, stay calm, be patient with her talk to her calmly and tell her ‘good girl’ a lot through the grooming sessions. Start with short sessions and gradually extend the time as she tolerates getting worked on. I might aim for a leg or a half leg each time. In a week she’ll be done! Eventually as the trust between you builds, it will advance to the point you will have her done in an hour or less, but it may take some time to get to that point. Always end sessions on a good note, with praise and treats and even a playtime. |
Our previous yorkie had a bad experience with a groomer and was scared after that...she became very aggressive whenever we tried to have her groomed. I tried doing it myself but it wasn't working out and the groomer we switched to suggested we take her to the vet to be put under and clipped. I couldn't see doing that myself every time she needed to be groomed. So I contacted a groomer who also does boarding and day care. I explained the situation and she suggested bringing her in a couple of days a week for her to get used to her and she could try to ease her into it. This worked like a miracle for us! After just a couple of days of getting familiar with her and baby steps of grooming her a little at a time as she could tolerate it in that environment she was able to completely groom her. It was an enormous relief for us! She built up trust with her because she was simply terrified. We didn't have any more grooming issues after that. I hope you can find someone like this that will nurture and build that trust...I think that was key for us. Good Luck! |
You might try essential oil like lavender on her nose area......or benadryl. |
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Thanks ;) |
Great advice! Quote:
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Grooming You have to be so gentle. Some groomers I dont trust. They hit the dogs and are mean. I have a home groomer. I have to be there to watch. My Tuffy I know was hit. He became so scared. That's when I started home groomer only. |
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