Maltese grooming problems

Can anyone tell me how to hold a very small (2 lbs.) dog down while brushing at the same time. I do not seem to have enough hands.
ChrisL

• Chris -- from your note it sounds like you are referring to holding the dog while you brush and try to hold the hair dryer at the same time. I this is your problem I suggest that you get one of the pet supply catalogs (by thursday pm I'm going to have a listing of all these at my web page - http://www.batnet.com/bhejei) and look for something called a "Ducky" dryer. It's a small stand dryer that is blue in color and kind of looks like a duck. They sell for around $45 - $50. You can set this on a table to blow on your dog while you brush with one hand and hold the dog with the other. Works very well!!

  Keep working with grooming --the more your dog gets used to it the more he/she will enjoy grooming. Make sure that you do this frequently so that mats do not develop -- these can hurt to pull out and naturally make you dog stuggle some.
  Bobbie Linden Bhe - Jei Maltese

• You don't have to wait for Thursday to get those pet catalog listings. Jay has them already on this website. Just go to the main directory and look for it, you'll see a link to a million different 800#'s etc on how to order the free catalogs. I called on about 20 of them already and there starting to come in now. its great!!
  Reba

• My groomer told me the reason Lucy got mats when I did her grooming was because you should not brush their coats while their hair is still wet. Is that incorrect? Or is there some part that I missed. I do know that when I tried using my hairdryer on Lucy and brushing her (as it said in the book I got on Maltese) she did get mats. Is it the technique or is my goormer on to something? Or was she just trying to get a new baby to groom?
  Cathy Brown

• Cathy -- I really question what this groomer is telling you. When your dog is wet (as example after a bath) they should be brushed while you blow them dry. But . . . its most important that you do it correctly. You need a good quality pin brush (I like the #1 All Systems brushes the best) and make sure that you brush and dry all the way down to the skin. If you just do the top coat you may get mats underneath as the coat dries. Also an important thing to remeber is that before you bathe your Maltese they should be well brushed out (no mats) before the bath. Water does have the tendency to "set in" any existing mats tighter.
  Bobbie Linden Bhe - Jei Maltese

• I am having problems just holding Sassie still for her regular daily brushing. She hates it. The groomer even told me that she has never seen a dog act likes she does. I am very gentle when I brush her, but she still acts like you are trying to kill her. I have tried to use four different brushes. Nothing helps. She is just a big baby.
  ChrisL

• I agree with Bobbie. After you bathe your dog, squeeze any excess watet out with a towel, don't "towel dry" ie rub the towel all over, just gently squeeze the coat with the towel, then dry the underside of the dog first. Do this by laying a dry towel in your lap, and turn the dog with their back laying on the towel. It may be difficult at first but as time goes on your dog will get comfortable with this position. Pat the dog's tummy and praise your dog often. By getting the underside dry first, it will eliminate any mats from forming underneath, while you are drying the top hair. When the underside and the feet are dry, turn the dog over and starting at the rear dry in sections all the way up to the face. I leave the face for last because this is where the hair is straighter, and the dog can sit down while I'm working on the head and then as soon as the head is dry I can put the hair up in a topknot, and I'm done. In addition to the #1 All Systems brush, that is excell! ent by the way, I would purchase a Greyhound brand metal comb. A metal comb works better at combing out mats and doesn't conduct electricity as much as a plastic comb. Hope this helps!
  Taram

• Chris - What you should try is making grooming time a constant. When you're ready to have "grooming time" give her a special treat that she likes, everytime and only when you groom her. Play with her while trying to groom her, this will take longer, but eventually (hopefully) she will like grooming time! Also, try not to get intense about it yourself, dogs can really sense when your mood changes, and sometimes this will cause them to react in strange ways. She probably had a bad experience somewhere along the way and now you have to make up for it by making it fun. Just going to a grooming shop may be terrifiying for her with all of the other dogs? Do you take her in early and pick her up after work? There are different things you can do to make it a happy experience when she goes there too. Take her favorite toy or blanket, so she has some security while staying there and if you do have to leave her all day try to arrange that she is groomed first before any other d! ogs (this way she won't hear other dogs being bad before her groom time) and try to arrange to pick her up at lunch, so she doesn't have to sit there very long. You should try to find a groomer that will work with you. In college I groomed dogs as one of my jobs, and we offered to pick up and drop off dogs in special situations so they wouldn't have to sit in a cage all day. I hope this helps, and good luck!
  Taram

• Bobbie, I sent you a note to thank you for you help, but it doesn't look like it got posted. From reading your note, I suspect I am the "matt-causing culprit," not the hair dryer! Thanks for the advice. I take Lucy to the groomer once a month, but in the summer when it is so hot (and spring when it is so muddy!) would like to bathe her myself without causing her to sit through the dissection of matts. So thanks again.
  Cathy Brown