Our new family member isn't perfect

**mommy4ever** · 11-21-2007, 07:09 PM

And I had no expectations she would be.

Any tips on getting her to cooperate with grooming? I tried again today, and the instant I touched the brush to her...didn't even stroke, she started growling.

She has curly hair, she needs to be groomed or she'll mat horribly.

This is new, I grew up with pomeranians, and they all loved to be groomed.

**FrugalMomof3** · 11-21-2007, 07:42 PM

The only thing I can suggest is when she's laying down with the kids and quite relaxed try just showing her the brush and see how she reacts OR just start brushing her lightly and she will know that you aren't trying to hurt her.

My dog Murphy isn't to keen on being brushed so I let him see it and smell it before I brush him, after a while he loves it... guess it feels like a doggie massage

**Sari** · 11-21-2007, 11:37 PM

I'd get her hair cut really short so it won't mat up and gradually work to get her comfortable with the brush. Make sure it's not too rough on her skin. Give her lots of treats and praise whenever she behaves appropriately.

**mommy4ever** · 11-22-2007, 12:15 AM

I have her booked tomorrow to get har hair cut. I need to do it now before there are much for mats, i know there are some on her legs, but the rest isn't terrible. I can't even touch her with the brush she growls. Some one suggested she's been hurt by a brush, so that's why. I don't know what her life was the last 2 years. I do know that she was nicked at the groomers a couple of times that infected, so that might be part of it. So today I tried something a little different. I threw away the brush, it was scratchy, sharp. I found a comb, wide spaces. In my hand I held a treat and let her lick at it, while I used the comb. This work well for most of her body, but she wouldn't let me do her tail. She even let me do her legs gently. This comb isn't doing anything really for mats, it's much too wide, but it'll help with the idea of grooming, and lots of praise.

After she gets shave, i'll find s nice soft tipped brush that won't scratch her.

Thanks! I don'tlike hearing her growling and snapping, but she does need to be groomed, and that means we find a way.

**baxjul** · 11-22-2007, 11:59 AM

My cocker used to hate to be brushed, I would have to trick her with treats.

**mommy4ever** · 11-22-2007, 06:37 PM

Ok, so I brought her to be groomed to day. The lady was aware she was snarling and snapping at me. so she muzzled her initially, there was only 1 growl.

Then she removed the muzzle, and the only time there was a growl after removing the muzzle was near her bum(she says she looks irritated.).

So when I get there, she sits on the floor and says do it this way. Grabs her brushes her, brushes her legs, her ears, her chin, her chest. Hands me the brush and says you do it. The moment I touch the brush to her she's growling. So she takes her and does it again, no problem, Lexi lets her brush. Sits her with me, hands the brush, and Lexi growls.

Not sure what this is about. So we get home. if I have a treat in my hands, she'll let me with my comb only while she's trying to get the treat. Sure it works until she gets so excited, she stops licking and starts using teeth. I can use my brush, but she gets impatient faster. If I have no treat, she's snarling.

The groomer said take control. Hold her collar(I was), and just get it done. I did that, she snarled and tried to bite. I told her no, continued, she fought some more and snapped again, so i sent her to bed. I kept the upper hand. But this isn't good.

I was thinking it was me, so when dh got home, I asked him to groom her. WELL, she did the same thing, so he sent her to bed. She knows it's wrong.

I don't understand, I WATCHED the groomer comb her out, Lexi tolerated it with no fuss, did try to scoot away and she just pulled her back. I try that, and she's snappy and snarling.

Why?

**Cricket1** · 11-22-2007, 08:53 PM

Can you hold her mouth shut while you're brushing her?

**TamaraC** · 11-22-2007, 09:44 PM

I bet her previous owner hit her with a brush. Have you considered trying a grooming mitten? I found a listing when I searched, but I'm sure there are others. unfortunately, I can't post a link because I'm new.

We had a dog adopted at 14 weeks who was terrified of men who smoked. She had been beaten, and associated the smell. She never did get over that.

Tamara

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 11-23-2007, 03:21 AM

She is picking up on your nervousness. She realizes you are leery of doing this and she knows that if she acts in such a manner, she can get what she wants.

I often work with dogs who are brats with their owners and are fine with me. A lot of it is your attitude. If this were me, I would start as you have (with the comb) and work up to something heavier that will keep the mats out of her coat. i would comb her every day, whether she likes it of not. You can either muzzle her or give her a gentle sedative. If you keep this up, she WILL get used to it. FWIW, YOU need to be in charge in the household, not HER.

**mommy4ever** · 11-23-2007, 09:22 AM

We figure she now realizes here to stay, and now trying to establish dominance. Yesterday it was bed time(I had to go out to pick up kids), and I told her it was time to go to bed. She'd not been permitting on the couch(unless invited), and she sulked away from me and jumped on the couch. I scooted her off, and she was growling and she sulked and jumped on to the next couch. I approached her and she growls, so I just grabbed the leashed her and she passively came down.

When came home, she was whining wanting out, but I made her wait. We'd only been gone a short time, so there was no issues. When I was ready, after putting kids to bed, I put her out and let her play. WHen I told her it was bed time, she went this time on her own, and was quiet all night. She didn't whine when I got up this morning. When she jumped up on the couch this morning, I told her down, and she went down on her own. Of course, she was up again shortly, but i firmly said no, and she was down.

I will be getting a muzzle for her. I was thinking about it. It seems so mean though, but it's better than her biting us, and the situation getting worse. She is challenging us right now, as a child testing their boundries. We know her disposition is sweet overall, and I'm hoping that she isn't really stubborn and we get past this stage quickly.