Hi everyone,

ive got an 11 week old bichon frise puppy and just wanted some advice.  i want to get her used to being brushed while she is young but shes not too keen on it always struggling to move and climb away.  ive got a small slicker brush which is quite hard on her as shes only got puppy fur at the mo and so using a different brush at the mo.  any advice on how to get her used to it as when her coat starts matting dont wanna be stuck!! 

also, she has some tear stains and i cant even get near her eyes to wipe them!!ive tried doing it when shes asleep but she just moves when anything touches her face.  dont blame her but any advice?is there anything i can do that may improve them with out cleaning them or should i just persevere!??

thanks
Gemma

persevere definately! use a soft brush several times a day and maybe get someone to hold a treat at her nose while you wipe her eyes. she will get used to it but it will take time

Little and often is best, and be firm - she doesn't have a choice, she's a Bichon LOL  

With mine, it was 1 or 2 minutes as many times a day as I could manage, but at least 5/6 and always praise and a treat afterwards :)

You can buy slickers for puppies and cats too, and they are much smaller and softer ;)

>is there anything i can do that may improve them with out cleaning them or should i just persevere!??

I've heard great things about "eye envy",available at HUB i think. But you'll still need to clean them daily just to get the build up off.
The food you feed will also sometimes have a bearing on tear stains.

If she wriggles around, buy a cheap bath mat and put it on top of a table. You will proabably find that she will stand a lot stiller like that.
Definatly perserver. let her have a look at the brushes and equipment first to reassure her she has nothing to be afraid of. If the brush is to hard use something more gently first of all to get her used to the feeling of something rubbing along hjer fur. keep giving her lots of praise and treats as you do. Kepp sessions sort but frequent and always end on a good note.
Hope all goes well.

re the tears stains I use angel eyes, pretty expensive but stops the tear staining its the only thing i know that works.

i was going to buy angels eyes but just found out that they're not selling it in the uk at the moment and have to wait for the owner to see a health board or something.

ok thanks.  i think the best time is when shes sleepy but she so small and wriggly will have to be quick!!well managed to brush her last night as she was sound asleep laying on her back with her little paws in the air and i was stroking her in between so half success, just gotta get near them eyes!!x