How Do You Groom a Moving Target????

[Carol and Banjo]

Up 'til now I have been the only person to "groom" Banjo and this has included only  bathing and brushing.  I'm able to brush him by putting him up on a small picnic table in the yard.  He doesn't sit still for it very well, and I have to take advantage of whatever part of his body he's letting me get at.   All in all we get the job done and I actually kind of have fun doing it and I think he sort of likes it too.   We've decided not to have him clipped until he's gone through his puppy coat change, but the hair around his eyes has become so long I'd like to trim it.   My attempts at this resulted in a rather choppy look, but at least now he can see.   I was so afraid I'd hurt him....he wouldn't hold his head still for anything....even his favorite string cheese.    I'm clueless on how to get him to be more cooperative for grooming.   I'm wondering how he'd be with a professional groomer.   Do they have some kind of "magic" moves???   I can only imagine going to pick him up after and grooming session only to be told....."Don't bring him back"......   : (         Doodle friends......please tell me the "secret"!

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Dogs often behave better for groomers because groomers give the message...hold still....thru touch. The animals pick up on who's in charge. Have you asked your boy to hold still for anything else? Grooming training starts with general training. How about teaching him that old trick of hold the biscuit on your nose until I say. There are lots of games you can play with your dog to get the behaviour you want. Clicker training is awesome for teaching tricks. Tricks turn into behaviours and you can develop behaviors that help you.

I teach my dogs stand stay on a box. They aren't show dogs, but I learned to stack them. They have to hold still for that.

I do most of my grooming with them lying down. If they get up, I lay them down again. I call this the best 2 falls out of 3. If a young dog is putting up a fuss about this, I continue until they are still for 10 to 15 secs, then I let them go. They get the message, if I am still, she will let me up. Very quickly they learn to lie still. Most of my dogs sleep while being groomed.

And finally, one thing you learn with grooming....move with your dog.

[Tammy & Gracie]

Also, they do better when tired. Gracie is fine now (up on a grooming table I just bought) but working with her her first year was a real challenge. I usually waited until she was well exercised and not energetic enough to put up a serious fight.

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

I totally agree with Barb about clicker training to get the desired behavior for grooming. When Connor was little he didn't want his ears touched and had "ticklish" feet. Going to the vet was not fun and I knew he'd never pass the CGC, so I taught him a "trick" called Ears. With treats and clicker in hand, I'd gently pick up his ear and lay it on top of his head, giving the command "ears." If he stayed still for 3-5 seconds I'd click and treat. Of course as the time expanded, I'd touch his ears, rub them, put my finger on the inside, all the time giving the "ears" command and clicking and treating whenever he'd stay still. Before you knew it, he was an angel at the vet's about getting his ears checked when I'd give him the "Ears" command. It became very easy for me to clean his ears, as well. This worked for feet, mouth, etc. I also taught him "head down" when he was lying down for grooming and he'd start to wiggle.

I'm was glad I taught Connor about "ears" because after he became a therapy dog, I found there were always at least 2 or 3 elderly ladies who were taken with his pretty doodle ears and wanted to touch them and pet them. All I had to tell him was "ears" and he was as cooperative and gentle as a little lamb. I don't have to give him the commands anymore - he just knows. :-)

Also, there is an in-charge attitude you need to have when you groom your dog. It's not loud or grumpy or pushy, just handling your dog with calm confidence and direct but gentle correction or commands. Until he gets it down pat, always give a little treat for his responding correctly. And always tell him he's a good boy when he does a good job of cooperating. :-)