Hates to be brushed

[Rick, Susan & Kaiser]

Kaiser hates to be brushed. What are suggestions to help. Even the pro groomer says he is almost to difficult and she is afraid he will hurt himself trying to dodge the brush/comb.

He is perfect for bathing.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I would have said try up on a table but if the groomer has worked on him and he still hates it, maybe try different brushes.  Our Sophie hated it until we bought the Les Pooches brush.  After that she was fine.  However, come at her with a comb and she wasn't happy!

[Stephanie and Ragley]

I had a similar experience with Ragley. She did NOT like being brushed. I switched brushes and she was like a new puppy. Could be that the current brushes being used are hurting his skin. I'm probably not the only one to have drawn blood on herself when using a slicker brush...

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Amen.  Some of those brushes are torture. Horrible.  And if not used easy, I think would be just painful

I notice too, the tools I use make all the difference.  Of course, each dog might need a different tool. Whatever works

[Sally S Miles]

How old is he?   Have you brushed him yourself?  

My girl was merely ok with a brush at first, the breeder had been brushing her, sitting on a table,  with a very nice brush and I saw her sitting calmly still for it.  At home she would get squirrely and because of my personal limitations I started having 'lap time' in the floor with a brush in hand, she was ok, then we both got better, now I cannot get the brush out unless I give her a stroke or more.  Always after play, heading into nap time works here, make sure she was ready to 'get her chill on', and I would get out all the grooming stuff and sit down in the floor.   Little by little we developed a routine, (not perfect) but mostly I use a comb. I have nine brushes and four combs - the cheapest one is our favorite :)

A small consolation for you - my girl got a great big fat F at her first grooming appointment and I was stimied, things were going so well - I also more than a little bruised in the ego because that groomer was not at all nice about it.    Fast forward  later she went to different groomer, got an A+, next trip was an A++ and so it goes,  they all love her! 

My little guy  prefers a comb to a brush also, he's a real wiggle worm, and he would hang himself for sure!

[Rick, Susan & Kaiser]

Kaiser is almost 2 1/2 years old.

[Pam Thomas]

What is the best way to start a new puppy with grooming?

[Brittney & Cally]

From the day Cally came home I brushed her every evening for fifteen minutes while she had a frozen banana. Now we do frozen Kongs and I brush her, sometimes I will clean her ears (once a week), brush her teeth (3-4 times a week), trim her nails (once a week and I only cut a little each week). It is our nightly routine and she knows after I am done to take her Kong to my bed where she can finish it (on a towel) and we watch some TV. Make grooming a habit and not an exception, they will learn that it is not bad if good things come of it!

[Rick, Susan & Kaiser]

Yes, the only way we can sorta brush him is I will hold him and gives treats while my wife does some brushing.  He is always trying to escape and wiggles and struggles to move away from the brush.  We try and brush very lightly so as not to hurt or increase any sensitivity.

He still avoids it as much as he can.  Luckliy he is a miniature Golden Doodle. 

[Brittney & Cally]

I am probably not the best at giving advice on this topic of what brushes to use, but I cannot stand the slicker brush, I would not use it on myself so therefore I do not use it on Cally. I personally use a petco grooming rake and a petco undercoat comb and Cally is wonderful. I am very meticulous when brushing her coat and get every spot brushed even the inside of her ear flap and under her arms and belly. I am sure it is not the right stuff to use but it works for Cally and I know it is not hurting her. Then I actually have an old hair brush of mine that I will sometimes use just to fluff her up and make her look brushed if we are going somewhere and she looks crazy with hair sticking in all different directions!

[Stephanie and Ragley]

That is just a beyond wonderful idea to do the frozen banana and frozen kong, Brittney. For 13 weeks I've been trying to solve the mystery of how to hold a puppy, brush her, AND give her treats all at the same time. You are brilliant. Must be because you shop on chewy.com ;)

[Brittney & Cally]

Is there a like button for your comment! :) I literally laughed out loud! It must be! I actually have a couple Kongs, a small and a large one that way one is always in the freezer ready to go if I need to occupy her! I am even tempted to buy another one!

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Poor deprived Ragley doesn't have a Kong. She has a Tux from west paw though which is a similar concept. Maybe I'll break down and add a Kong to my next autoship...They are super cheap on chewy so I can probably splurge. I'm pretty excited cause I got a Happy Dog Box (similar to Barkbox) for 50% off this week so I guess I can use that extra money to buy another toy. A girl can never have too many...