grooming is NOT playtime!

[Jessica]

I really like to keep Marley's coat long and would enjoy brushing her out daily...problem is she thinks grooming means playtime!  She could be calm as can be and when I start brushing her she starts biting and nipping (playfully) at the brush and comb...She is better with her head, neck and top of the body but when I try her legs, feet, or underbelly she gets all fired up...wants to play, brings me balls to fetch, etc...Now I think the brunt of my problem is where I brush her...I love to brush her at night after the kids have gone to bed while watching TV...I think she'd be better up on a table but i have these sweet visions of a relaxing brush every night while hanging out with hubby watching TV...can I get there?

[Cheri & Bonny]

I had the same vision, but I could never get there....  Now I groom her on a table on our front porch -- easy reach for me, she gets to watch the world go by, and I get the grooming done.  She'll stand up there for over an hour while I get all the snarls and mats out.  Good luck!

[Kate C Pappas]

Yindi - 18 months, with the grooming arm/noose set up.

A TABLE ABSOLUTELY. You must be her boss and be ABOVE her physically. She has to learn to respect you. Biting and nipping is always a big no no for my girls. Yarra is a therapy dog so she was trained about NO teeth on skin, EVER...since she was 9 weeks old. Yindi is 18 months and was trained the same way.

You can develop a game with Marley with lets say, the ball. When you are ready to stop playing, give her a signal and verbal command that we're "all done" I do it by putting both my hands out to my side, palms raised, shrug my shoulders and say "all done". They might try and find something to play with again, but I ignor.

Now back to the table, you can use any table or surface and if your budget allows, they can be purchased for under $100.00. With Marley, I would recommend a grooming arm and noose with a BREAK-AWAY device on the noose. Absolutely important.

Start out with the table low and just let her get on it, sniff it, lay a trail of treats or rub peanut butter on it. If you clicker train, all the better. Watch her and if she even LOOKS at the table, click/treat....sniffs the table, click/treat etc. At first she might not like being on the table so make it only for 30 seconds, click/treat and then build up the time. 

You didn't mention how old she is but of course the younger you start the better but it's never too late. Eventually you might get that luxury of sitting on the floor grooming her. I do that a lot with my girls and the older one, Yarra, won't budge from a stay (she has a 2 hour down stay) but the little one will escape if she has the chance so I'm working on her but she is the most stubborn little girl. LOL.

In the end, I would say you must start with a visual and actual separation of the task of grooming to differentiate it from play and be firm. My verbal sound for not being happy with something the girls do is "uh uh" or "oh oh" and they stop what they're doing.

Make sure the time spent on the grooming table is upbeat, happy and fun. NEVER raise your voice of show frustration. Suck on Altoids to mask your breath as they can pick up stress of our breath. When you master that, your sweet visions of sitting on the floor, will come true. Trust me.

Good luck and please update us on your progress! :)

 

PS...I also carry a grooming kit in my car at all times so if I'm away, I can groom in different surroundings. Dogs are very contextual and it's good to expose them to the same experiences in different environments. But save that for when you've mastered the 'at home' grooming.

Yarra - 4 1/2 - I don't use an arm/noose on her any longer.

[Jessica]

Marley is 13 months...good to know we may get there someday...you hit the nail on the head though...the floor is where we fetch, tug, and cuddle ...she probably thinks this grooming stuff is just another game...she doesn't seem to hate grooming because when I call her over she comes and lays right down in front of me...I never have to chase her down or coax her to come...until...I touch her legs or underbelly...then it's "Game On!"  ...what is a break away noose??

I've got my supplies earmarked in my pet edge catalog...just waiting for the budget to pull the trigger...

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

I groom all my dogs while they are lying down. They actually sleep some of the time they are being brushed. I do this on the table, but sometimes they are on my lap.

What you need to do is teach your dog to lie flat on a table while you are brushing and you will get to your goal.

To teach them to lie flat, start on the ground with something like clicker training for a trick like 'playdead'. After they have accomplished that, you can start that on the table. For young dogs, when they start to wiggle I constrain them and soothe them at the same time. As soon as they relax, I brush one or two strokes then let them down. They quickly learn that holding still will get the job done sooner. I stretch out the 'still' time on the table a bit at a time.

[Jodi and Stella]

Maybe she is a little ticklish on her belly and legs. Stella gets riled up when I am working on her legs. I, like Barb, brush her while laying on her side, when she starts to wriggle I gently but firmly put her back to lying flat and say "hold still" then praise her when she does. I will alternate from legs back to an area she enjoys (she loves her head brushed) just to give her a break. I will give her a break every now and then, always ending on a positive note. Make it an enjoyable experience but stay firm and assertive.