I am having real difficulty grooming my puppy. She has quite long hair now as she hasn't yet had a full clip. I have a small puppy sized brush with lots of tiny metal teeth. I can manage to do her body, but touch her ears or legs and she snaps away at the brush. Can someone take me back to basics and explain how I can get her to enjoy the experience and even better, stand still ? I have tried just gently touching her without actually brushing and then working up to a brush but haven't had any luck. How do people showing get the dog  to stand still so well when being groomed?

Hi bedruthen, sorry, can't remember what breed your puppy is but I don't imagine it makes much difference when using *puppy sized brush with lots of tiny metal teeth* on areas like ears, legs, underbelly, tail etc :)  It's probably very uncomfortable for her regardless of how gentle you're being.

Do you dampen her coat with a water or grooming spray before brushing?  It helps to get through the coat without tugging and breaking the hair.

I always use a brush of nylon and natural bristle mix for sensitive and feathered areas followed by combing through gently afterwards to ensure no tangles result.

Have a treat in one hand which is mostly out of her reach so that she can only lick it through your fingers - when she's suitably engrossed with that brush her gently for only a couple of minutes at a time then give her a break or game.  Puppies have a low boredome threshhold so best to groom little and often in a relaxed manner until she is completely accepting of your endeavours.

HTH, regards Teri :)

Thanks Teri. I think that you are right, the brush I am using must be too harsh. I have got a lovely detangler that I spray on when I bath her, but should I be using something every time I groom? ( I try to groom a little every day). Its a poodle coat that I am trying to get to grips with, but it must be 2- 3"" long now, as the breeder advised not to clip until she is around 6 months old, to allow her curls to develop?

Yikes a poodle You need Val :D

I always just use a water spray to dampen the coat for any grooming - but no curls on my lot so certainly easier to manage.  I should imagine a wide tooth comb may be easier on her but hopefully a professional groomer or poodle owner will be along soon to advise on the best tools.

regards, Teri

Hi ,
I have bearded collies ..when they are v young I give them a chew bone and lie them on the sofa with it while I groom once they become a little engrossed with the chew I then atttempt around the face and ears as Teri said a grooming spray or even just to wet the coat makes it a lot easier to do and should be used at all times .#Not sure but think thier maybe special grooming brushes etc for poodles take a look on the internet.

As soon as the grooming is over I take the chew away and give a little treat ...the chew is given only at grooming times as a pacifier to get the job done plus they become more excited about the chew than apprehensive about the grooming!!!!

Of course beardies are groomed on thier side but poodles are groomed standing I think.. at least trying it this way she will become used to the brush and you wont find it a problem when the full -on grooming schedule begins!
HTH

Roni

I haven't groomed a show poodle but as with all dogs that come into the parlour, they get a lot of fuss on arrival (and when finished) but once they're on the table then it's work and I just use my voice to tell them if they are standing still or fidgeting and I press on until I'm finished! :)
Many owners bring in a puppy and say that they can't groom them.  After their first appointment, once they know what's expected of them, then they stand for both the owners and me with no problem.  I understand that a softly, softly approach is preferred by some, but I have always found that I get a better result, over many years, from just being firm but fair. ;)

What a load of rubbish saying not to cut the coat to allow the curls to develop!  Your puppy needs to be having its face feet and tail shaved every 4 weeks, so that it gets used to the clippers and to the groomer if you're not doing it yourself. 

Are you going to show your poodle?  If so you can have it cut into puppy pants, or if its a pet, then the puppy's coat will benefit from being scissored down, and this will be much easier for you to groom.

Be patient and firm, and daily grooming will soon pay off.  Its better if you can put the pup up on a table with a non slip mat and get someone to hold it. 

Jen, just to let you know she is having her face, tail and paws done every 4 weeks as you suggest, thats what I meant to imply by saying she hasn't had a full clip yet. I have been sorely tempted to scissor her myself, a throwback to the days when as a child I used to cut the long hair off my dolls. The only thing that has held me back is the thought of going to puppy training with a rat-on-a-rope lookalike.

Val, thanks for the advice in the PM, I am off shopping today