2 questions - How do you get them used to being brushed? How do you keep their beard cleaned?

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Gracie jumps around like a horse and I thank my lucky stars she doesn't have the curly coat because I would never be able to brush her! I usually have to do it on my own so that means she gets brushed a little here and a little there.

Between grooming her beard gets kind of gross, so how do you keep that clean on a daily basis?

[Butch and Michele]

I can't wait to hear some suggestions!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I find that my boys will only behave if they are up on a higher surface and I am at eye level with them.  I don't have a grooming table so I use a rubber mat on a kitchen counter and then do a huge clean down afterwards.  As for the beards I always have baby wipes to hand and find that if I use them frequently that works quite well.

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

I'm assuming Gracie is still pretty young? I used lots of treats when I first started brushing Winnie. (And by "treats" I mean kibble- she loves her kibble and I really didn't want to load her up with real treats.)  If she sat still and let me brush her, she got a treat. The moment she started resisting, I said "eh eh." Once she relaxed, I treated her and started brushing her again. Eventually she learned that resisting gets her no where! Rope toys work, too- keeps them occupied.

The other thing is that I always put her up on a table- it helps her know that I mean business, and gives me better control. When she was little, I used the bathroom counter so that she couldn't squirm off. Now, a card table works well. Winnie used to be a little maniac when she was young, but now she loves the brushing (except for her legs and rear!). She even jumps up on to the card table. 

I comb her beard every day, and I've never had trouble with it getting dirty. But, I do keep it shorter. I've heard others say that they use baby wipes to clean up.

[Laura and Angus]

Same! One of us would hold a treat and the other would brush. Be gentle because the wire brushes can be uncomfortable for them if you brush too hard. Brush often! We brushed Angus a few times a week when he was smaller and now we wait until he's relaxed and resting and he seems to enjoy it. Don't even try if Gracie isn't calm....

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Good tips. Thanks! I don't know what table I would use though and how I would get her up there. Lol but, I'm not sure how they do it at the groomers. However, they said she does really well!
She is 7 months.

[Debbie and Bentley]

I can never get Bentley below his "elbows".  I will have to put him on some kind of raised platform.  That is a good idea.  His beard gets gross, too.  I'll try the baby wipes. Good thread, Lyndy.