need advice please - Page 2

gordy100 · #11 20-10-10, 02:11 AM

Are you maybe being hesitant or tense when you're grooming her because you know she has a habit of nipping? I read someplace that if you are hesitant about doing something with your dog, it can make the dog act more dominantly (is this a word?) towards you. Try taking a few deep breaths and relaxing before you try grooming her, also if you do it after a long walk, when she's more likely to be tired and (hopefully) relaxed, it may help. My dog doesn't mind being groomed, but hates having the really fluffy stuff on his back legs groomed and tends to pull away. Discovered that if my daughter distracts him with treats and cuddles i can get that bit done without much bother.

LOVEGSD · #12 20-10-10, 11:05 AM

Diesel wasn't too keen on being groomed when we first got him but I made it a great treat for him and found that if I had him stood with his front paws on something near the window he could have a nosey outside whilst I was grooming him.....I then just did little and often sessions so he didn't get too bored and then treated him with a really high value reward. Now if I say to him 'shall we groom him' he'll run to the spot and get in position...lol

I would keep is short and sweet with lots of praise and build it up from there. Maybe ask your hubby to treat and distract whilst you groom??

hippychickuk · #13 20-10-10, 05:17 PM

theres some really good advice here..thanks everyone.i gonna take him for a walk and give him groom after.wish me luck..if it doesnt work i will work through the list of advice till i find one that works for me and pappy

kita · #14 20-10-10, 05:53 PM

You could always try grooming him whilst on a walk.

I used to do that, sit down for a while and let him watch the world go by and whilst he is distracted quietly groom him.

In spring the birds love the clumps of dog hair as nesting material.

Also if he goes to nip you be careful you are not making it into a game by pulling away and telling him 'no' whilst shaking the brush at him - it is easy to do without realising. Before you know it he will see the brush as a toy and will try and get hold of it even more.

Sue

hippychickuk · #15 20-10-10, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kita

You could always try grooming him whilst on a walk.

I used to do that, sit down for a while and let him watch the world go by and whilst he is distracted quietly groom him.

In spring the birds love the clumps of dog hair as nesting material.

Also if he goes to nip you be careful you are not making it into a game by pulling away and telling him 'no' whilst shaking the brush at him - it is easy to do without realising. Before you know it he will see the brush as a toy and will try and get hold of it even more.

Sue

kita,i do do that.i pull away and tell him no,while im holding the brush.and he does do it more when i do that.

kita · #16 20-10-10, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hippychickuk

kita,i do do that.i pull away and tell him no,while im holding the brush.and he does do it more when i do that.

Try just freezing, don't move your hand (or the brush) away. I would usually say 'Yes?' or 'what?' at the same time. If he is hurting you then possibly wear a glove and a long sleeve so that you don't have to pull away.

The dog usually feels pretty stupid when he finds you are not reacting to the nip and will realise that the 'game' doesn't start.

Most dogs will stop repeating a behaviour if they don't get any reaction/attention (even negative attention is still attention). A bit like young children really. If he has no other distractions whilst you are grooming him then he is probably getting bored and looking for a game. That is why I used to groom my dogs on a walk - they had other things to think about!

It is quite possible that you have unknowingly turned grooming into a game of him trying to 'chase' and 'kill' the brush.

Sue