Champdoggers I call on you for advice again please!

As some of you know, I have a beautiful Samoyed who came to live with me just over 2 months ago (gosh time flies). When Megan first came here, she was quite matted and so I tackled the grooming gradually - as Samoyeds go, they do have big thick coats but Megans 'blossomed' even more when she was spayed. Although I was very gentle with her, she did whimper a few times when I was grooming some of the nasty knots out, and now she doesn't really like being groomed, and miraculously disappears when the brush comes out !!

Question is - how can I make her enjoy the experience more?! Her thick undercoat is all out now but I am grooming her daily as her favourite spot in the garden is under a tree - which she brings in with her when she comes in. I talk to her, fuss her and give her treats when we're finished and during the grooming, but I know from her face that she still doesn't like it. I'm seeing my wonderful breed mentor tomorrow so will ask her, but I'd be grateful if anyone wants to share any tips...

Maybe you could start giving her a quick brush right before you go out... Brush her for 20 seconds in front of the door when she knows you are just about to go out.
She might not like the brushing but at least she will learn that something nice comes afterwards which might make it more tolarable :).
Assuming she likes her walks that is!
We usually brush ours when they are sleeping so maybe you could take her for a loooooong walk and then when she is tired from the walk brush her when she is sleeping so she doesn't have to think about you brushing her and might snooze off and at least find it easier to relax as she is tired...
But as she came to you as an adult she might not take to being bushed when tired, she might find it even more annoying as she wants to sleep and you are there with a brush!

When I had a breed that needed to be stripped out I would always do it either when they were tired after a long walk and before their dinner so they knew to get it they had to stand still.  I would always continue for a set length of time so if they did complain then they soon learnt that nothing they would do would stop me, always used to stand them on the same towel as well so they knew it was grooming time.  Now her coat is brushable again just keep going as you are but dont let her decide when and where she will be brushed, she will get used to it.

Emma

I would suggest investing in a grooming table or having somewhere at least where you can pu the dog off the floor and secure the dog in place.  This way the dogs has an area for being groomed.  With this area you firstly make it a good place.  (Think Crate training here.)  Give treats when on the table, fuss the dog but never grooming to begin with, just have brushes out on the same area but don't touch them. Up on table, really tatsty treat (something like liver cake) and down again.  When the dog becomes used to this area as something good (tasty treets and praise) start brushing the dog with said treat for distraction.  Bring the comb behind the dog so they don't notice you lifting it up and gently start just brushing the top coat.  This will get the dog used to the feel.

Make sure to begin with they always get lots of praise and treats and something great afterwards like a game or walk.

Gradually you should be able to call dog, get dog on table, give treet and then groom. :)  Good luck

Interested in this too as my two just hate being groomed, my bernese is a bit of a wuss when it comes to any sort of pain so the slightest tug would cause her to turn and snap, it got so bad I bought a muzzle (basket type) just for grooming her as she is not a bad tempered dog (the opposite in fact), just intolerant of tugs -this way I can comb out the worst gently without worrying about her biting me by mistake if I should tug a little accidently. At the moment my OH has to feed one end with sausages while I try to groom them, but its not a happy experience for any of us. The bernese also has an aversion to scissors near her feet which means she has feet like a camel :-) , thank goodness she was never a show dog !

I must admit I don't have time to have fun with grooming... I 'go through' my dogs coats ( the little 'uns) everyday and I have quite a few!!
How I do it is while I'm watching tv or just relaxing I have one on my lap (you could this on the floor) and go through all sensitive bits with my fingers looking for tangles. When problem areas are found I soak the area in a silicone based grooming spray amd gently tease out with wide toothed comb.
If no knots found then I still go through the same procedure with each dogs... a bit like maintenance.They all get a massage until they nod off then they slide over and make way for the next one. My little hairy conveyer belt.

In your case I would cut out any unseen mats in painfull places, it's really not fair to put the dog through misery and if you keep up the schedule all new coat will be relatively knot free. It wont be long before all your grooming sessions will be pleasurable.

Hi AliceC,
I did my 7 sammies yesterday, three babys are brushed every time they sit on my lap for a cuddle.
I have a grooming table, good price on ebay. Invest in one it will be worth it.
When mine comes out they fight to get on and push one another off. Its kinder on your back also. You can get to all the places so much easier.
What kind of comb have you got? what brush?
The single comb to remove the under coat, there has been an exceptional lose of it this year. You do a little at a time from the skin outwards, never drag it. talk to her all the time telling her what a good girl she is, when you get a knot treat it as you would your own, or a childs, hold your fingers next to the skin so it does not pull and hurt. If it will not come out use the end of the comb and split the knot. Its hard to discribe it is easier to show. Take special care On her back were her tail falls, behind her ears, under her legs. Her coat will get thiker if she has been spayed. I use a metal pin brush to finish. Give her love and kisses all the time, I use Asdas baby wipes to wipe there faces and bottoms. Unless you are showing her always cut the hair away from the bottom so nothing gets stuck on the long coat. I think they have put a good grooming page on The Samoyed Association site now. Check it will be worth reading. To keep our breed beautifull it does take a lot of work but! well worth it.
If there is anthink I can help with I will.

Denese   

could you suggest a 'siliconebased' grooming spray please

> could you suggest a 'siliconebased' grooming spray please

'The Stuff' from HUB International is just such a spray and helps the comb slide through.

I bought a spray (ReQual) which is great, but then found my dog hates the noise of the spray...I'll be looking for some other form of application next time!

Ive got two dogs, and we always come home and head for the patio table for a groom. In the beginning it was diffecult (with a young show cocker) After a visit to Crufts I did buy a couple of things to thin his coat, a matt splitter, coat king, ect  the other is a Border. Both did not like being brushed or worse combed, now we head for the box and both dogs have their paws on the table to get lifted up for a comb. It is still painful on occasions, so we let them down for a chase and a biscuit and then back again. This weekend they were really, really covered with sticky "sweethearts" and we had about 3lb weight of stuff out of their coats it was awful, but with short periods of play and a treat with a comb we got through it. Im afraid its a mixture of patience & perseverance Im not sure my two think its much fun.

Do you dampen the coat with water or any kind of grooming spray?  I never dry brush coats unless there is no undercoat left (like now! show season LOL) as it can be uncomfortable for the dog.  If the dog is already stressed or depressed about grooming you can do it bit by bit over a few sessions, spray/treat/spray/brush/treat and then repeat as necessary :)

Even if you don't have pro grooming products a fine mist of water through the coat before grooming stops stretching and breaking of the hair.  Once your on top of an unweildy coat it's easier to give them a quick flick through the softer areas (daily) which tangle more easily (back of ears, feathering, trousers, tummy and tails) and do a groom through to the skin at least once a week in dry weather and more often during wet weather or a moult.

HTH, Teri

This might not be everyone's remedy.  I have a border terrier who needs to be hand stripped at least twice a year.  I just couldn't do it.  He wouldn't stand still, tried to nip, very unhappy and I made a complete mess of it.  Solution?  Take him to the groomer.  He runs into that shop - they love him, he loves them, 2 hours later, beautiful dog again.  He hates the experience with me but seems to love it with the groomer.  OK it's £45 but hey, it's worth it :)

CG

Blimy thats dear Whistler (Show cocker) goes about 6-8 weekly and its £20 a go.

Blimey - that's cheap!!!  But we are in Edinburgh and the groomer I go to is the only one I know in the city who will do a hand strip.  And she's great and if the dog's happy as well ..............  And I do pay that for my own haircut!!  My mum does get her cocker done for £20 but blooping heck - he looks like he's been shorn!  I'd rather pay more for a decent "do" even if it is my dog :)

CG

I also don't have time to make grooming 'fun'.  It's just another job that needs to be done regularly, and if there are no knots, then the dog won't object and will learn to enjoy the massage. :)

Thank you so much everyone for your advice, it is greatly appreciated! Sorry to come back so late, but had a very busy weekend at City of Birmingham show :-)

I seem to have been doing everything right - I think it was just that initial experience of being matted that upset Megan, last night I gave her a quick brush then took her out for a walk, I had been doing this anyway to associate the grooming with something pleasurable. She does love her walks! She was fast asleep while grooming last night so I am sure she is enjoying it much more.

I havent got a proper grooming table as yet but I am going to be getting one shortly - I have just been putting a non-slip mat down on the garden table (its a very sturdy table) and doing her on there - however I dont like to leave her standing for too long on the table as she has slight arthritis in her back legs. I usually lie her on her side which she is fine with. I always give her a treat when the grooming is finished - her favourite treat in the whole world is ice cubes so she gets a small bowl of them!

Denese thanks for your help and advice :-) Yes our breed does take a lot of looking after but they look so good when the coats are kept on top of. I use several brushes on Megan, a metal comb to get the undercoat out and then a metal pin brush to finish her off. I much prefer her to have her full coat so the only bit of her that is trimmed is her belly as she has quite a big one and the fur was getting a bit dirty on walks!!

Teri - I always brush her from dry as thats what my mentor has recommended but will definitely consider the spray. Thanks for that!

Copper Girl - gosh your groomers does sound expensive (it was £40 for Megan when she went in for the day after she came to us) - but the main thing is that your dog loves going there, Megan loved her trip to our groomers and our Malamute who goes regularly adores it!!

Thanks again everyone for taking the time to reply :-) :-)