Archived Message

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
by Susan Daddio

Yes, I'm going crazy here with discussions...but I have never found so many people with the same breed of dog and what I believe to be one of the, if not the smartest breed of dog that there is. My question is....does any of your dogs absolutely HATE being brushed or is it just my Maffie? I generally groom him myself and I think that I do a pretty good job of it considering that I am letting his hair grow to it's fullest extent...but he hates it with a passion even when he has no mats whatsoever.

DISCUSSION:

Sorry, all six of mine love to have their hair brushed. They enjoy everything except the ear cleaning.
-Marsha A.

I had the same problem with my Coco (now deceased). She absolutely hated to be brushed! She seemed to especially tender on the lower part of her legs. However, she did allow (and seemed to enjoy) being brushed under her chin. I found that the best way to deal with the problem was to include it in our bedtime ritual. After crawling in bed, I would give her a treat, she would tend to it while I brushed her, beginning at her back (which she did not mind too much). If she had been very active before bed time, she would usually finally relax and let me brush her. Hope this helps!
-Jackie Smith

I have been brushing (or should say trying to brush) Lucy since the minute she came to live with me. She's now close to 2 yr old and still tries to eat the brush and wiggles like a little worm. I don't know if you've ever sent your Maffie to the groomer, but the only way I've ever gotten Luce to be still is to put a collar and leash on her before I start to groom her (though now that she's noticed, this sometimes involves a few laps around the house before the leash is on!). I think that they leash them at the groomers when they are brushing and so Lucy stays still as a statue when the leash is on for brushing. Another recent event that has helped is that I inherited my mom's cat. It loves to be brushed and gets up on the bed every night to be brushed. The jealous only child Lucy then wants to be brushed as well...though not for long. I try to do the best I can with her and count on the groomer to do the job right.
-cathy brown

Susan, glad to hear it. My spike growls and snarls like a vicious animal (hence his name) for only two reasons. Whenever he sees another animal or the hair brush. He hates it. But...when he falls asleep I can do anything to him and he does not wake up. I can completely brush him, clip his nails, pluck his ears, trim his little toe hairs and wash his face. Never wakes up. its the funniest thing. I do try to get him used to being awake because I would like him to cooperate and enjoy it. He does cooperate more when I have a bag of treats and keep calling him a good boy as I try to brush. It will just take time I guess.
-mtm

I do brush my dogs at bet time as that is when they are the calmest, as well as right after their baths. I use a soft bristle brush first and then follow up with the pin brush and then the comb. Maybe the type of brush is the problem. I tried many before I found the ones that pull the least. I tried them on my hair first to see how they felt. I also found that the combination worked well. If I find a matt, I remove it before I get to the pin brush, so that it will not pull. By the time i get to the comb, there are no tangles at all. Might try some Pet silk prior to brushing, as it makes the brush slide through and removes any tangles that are just trying to form.
-Marsha A.

My Spike is 5 months old. His hair is just starting to get longer so that it can be parted in the middle. I have had a groomer trim his between the eyes and nose so that he can see better and so he won't get any eye infections, but what about the rest of the hair? do you just keep letting it grow till it reaches the floor? and what about the tops of his feet and legs? Does the longer cut require much of a hair cut?
-mtm

I have brushed Touquet almost every day since I got him two years ago. I have him lie in my lap as I brush and comb his hair. He loves the attention, and sleeps as I groom him. I can put him in almost any position, and he will lie there like a rag doll until I signal him to move. It's really funny -- he is so relaxed he is actually floppy! To do his topknot, I have him lie with his chin on my leg. I must admit though, that when Touquet was a puppy I couldn't get him to be still at all, and I had to do the grooming when he was already sleeping.
-Barbara

You guys have given me a great idea! I never thought to try grooming Lucy while she sleeps, but I see you all are doing this and quite successfully. Wait 'til that little girl falls asleep tonight...is she in for a surprise!
-cathy brown

I am so fortunate with Lily. She's a groomers dream. I can lie her on her back on her side or on her tummy. When I trim the hair near her eyes she lies on her back on my lap, closes her eyes and doesn't move a muscle. People are amazed when they see how cooperative she is. I think it has alot to do with doing this since she was 8 weeks old. She actually falls asleep every time I brush her, I'm sure it's out of boredom though. Sometimes I tickle her belly to relax her, she absolutely loves that.
-Cindy

Cindy, My male is like this. Anything I want to do to him he just sits there. I can even clean his ears and no problem. He loves attention of any kind. He's my love bug.
-Marsha A.

Emma HATES being groomed. I have to put her muzzle on, because she tries to bite the comb and me! I also have to have someone hold her in the air so I can her legs, otherwise she will just not let me at them. I hope she calms down with age, because I hate to see her so upset and to have grooming to be so difficult for both of us!
-Jessica

My Fluffy doesn't hold still for me unless I stand him on a table. If he's in my lap, it's a game. On a table, he's a statue.
-Lisa A

My Fluffy doesn't hold still for me unless I stand him on a table. If he's in my lap, it's a game. On a table, he's a statue.
-Lisa A

My little Calcio is 10 months old and my first Maltese. He hates to be brushed. I really feel bad about hurting him but I am pursited on it. I put him on top of his crate and he seems to let me brush him. But lately he seems to be getting a lot more mats then before. Do maltese have puppy hair that they shed? and could this be why he may be matting more??? I will also try and brush him when he is sleeping. But usally he jumps when he feels someone coming by him. We love our Calcio and wish we could keep him looking great all week long.
-Joanne Maltese