Puppy Refuses to be Brushed

[Gillian]

Help!! We've had our pup for 2 weeks now, and she hates being brushed. We've tried massaging, giving treats, giving a Kong, and anytime she sees the brush she squirms and fights me. First, i tried to be soothing and then I decided to be more assertive and I just don't know what to do to get her to sit still! Any help is appreciated :)

[Kendra K. Rhoton]

Keep practicing... it will get better. Our doodle HATED being brushed at first... but we kept at it and now he loves it. It is his own personal love session :)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh boy, do I feel your pain. Our six month old will tolerate it now (for short periods), but at the beginning he was really frightened. He fought me like crazy. I've had better luck using a comb than a brush with him. At the beginning, I kept it very short (less than a minute), but I did it several times a day. Treats help a little, but I found it really just takes time and lots of patience.

[BG and Gavin]

Our guy really does not like the slicker brush, but does better with a pin brush and as Jane said, a comb. Use your calm energy and be matter of fact. Also wait till he is good and wore out - after a long walk or when he is already sleeping - to do your brushing. It does take time...

[Leigh & Allie]

I think that just comes with the territory. It will get better. Just keep practicing. Allie used to HATE it but she doees so much betterh now. Still doesn't love it but will tolerate it. Just keep going.

[Jessica]

My trainer had me put her up on a table...she wasn't so squirmy up there...it only took 2 times on the table till she tolerated it better on the floor...now she's pretty good but if she goes to bite the brush i have a toy ready to stick in her mouth...

[Adina P]

It's pretty normal for pups.
What kind of brush are you using?

I would start over with a new brush that looks different (I had great success with the Chris Christensen T Pin Brush (see the reviews page to see my review of it). And at first just SHOW her the brush and give her a treat she ADORES. Throughout the day...show her the brush and give her a treat...show her the brush...give her a treat...repeated through the day. Do this for a few days. Then when you see her show excitement at SEEING the brush...graduate to just touching her with it (NO brushing) and work on that for a bit. Later graduate to a quick stroke with the brush...and so on until you can brush her without too much fuss.

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

I have best results with a soft bristle brush, even human hair types that are soft worked best to get our girl to sit still for even a minute. At 2 and one half she still hates brushing but it is necessary and I do small areas at a time until grooming day and then she stays for the "whole works".

[Lynne B]

bribe her with really high value treats, something like tiny bits of chicken or dried liver. Hold them in front of her nose and when she is sniffing the treat hold the brush near her, if she still is interested in the treat, then give it to her and get another treat- do the same thing but this time hold the brush against her, then try gently brushing her, keep at it until she refuses the treat, unless she's really full- refusing the treat would mean that the brush is stressing her so much that she can't concentrate on the reward, so just back off a bit and go back to where you were when she would accept the treat. If the treat is valuable enough- you should be able to brush her as much as you want within 3 or 4 ten minute desensitization sessions. You are just trying to make being brushed a really cool thing that gets her treats, once she gets that, you can decrease the frequency at which you give her treats while being brushed, and if you choose to eventually eliminate them altogether. I have used this with puppies an adult dogs for all kinds of similar issues, don't like you to look in their mouth, hold their feet, trim their nails, etc. I have had some dogs take longer than others but it has always worked

[Carol Brand]

The puppy needs to be put on a table. This will give you more control and it will allow you to do a better grooming job. Get one of those non-skid mats that go under a throw rug. Put it on a table or kitchen counter. Let the puppy stand on it. This will give the puppy a secure place to stand while you are brushing.

Please consider getting a grooming table. Doodles are coated dogs and they have a lifetime of brushing ahead of them.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Trouble brushing has it's roots in two areas.
One the dog is uncomfortable, so squirms and complains and the other is about who's in charge.
The first issue to conquer is 'who's in charge'. This starts with basic obedience. I teach my dogs to stay on a box that is about 6 inches off the floor. This translates to a grooming table beautifully.Here is a picture of my dog sitting on her box. The schnauzer underneath was just 9 weeks at the time. The bigger dog is 9 months old there. She was teaching the little one very well.

[Sandy Aicher and Bailey]

I would give Bailey a Bully stick (chewy) when we would start to brush her. She would lay there and chew on her stick while I was brushing and she never minded it a bit!

[Gillian]

It worked!! We used chicken for the last two days as luring treats to get her used to seeing and feeling the brush.. today, my husband and I got her brushed!! It was really great to see her focus on the treat instead of the brushing.. thanks for all of your help :)