Libbie absolutely hates being brushed. She bites at the brush. I've tried the rake type as well as the thinner wire brush. I'm very careful not to push to hard . I think she thinks it's a game. She bites at it. Anyone else have this problem?

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Liberty - 10 months




Kim - Mommy to fur-baby Liberty and 2 human daughters 12 and 14 years old

Yes, we have this problem with Murdock. We have tried de-senitizing him to the brush itself, but that did nothing. Anytime you go to brush it over him, he is all over it.

So, we are looking for solutions/ideas as well.

BTW, having lots of trouble with touching his feet and using the nailclippers as well.

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Yeah, Libbie doesn't like the nail clipper too much either, but I started showing her that and touching nails when she was really young. She is sort of okay with having them trimmed, but she doesn't love it

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Liberty - 10 months




Kim - Mommy to fur-baby Liberty and 2 human daughters 12 and 14 years old

Work at creating a positive association with brushing and desensitizing her to it. Some dogs have sensitive skin, so brushing could be uncomfortable, ticklish, or just a new odd sensation. Try smearing a little peanut butter on the fridge, let her lick at it while you brush gently, maybe only a couple strokes to start with. Stop brushing before she finishes the peanut butter. Try again later.
Show her the brush, feed her a treat, repeat a few times. Work up to touching her all over her body with the back of the brush and while you continue to pair it with treats. Work in short sessions. When she is comfortable with the back of the brush touching her, switch to the bristle side and start over, one stroke at a time. Continue to pair with treats.
My girl used to hate brushing, biting at the brush, wouldn't stay still, even for a couple of minutes. I worked her through it with this method, keeping it calm and low key. Now when she sees the brush, (I sit on the floor to groom her), she comes running over and lays down for it.

Riley hates it too. I try to catch him when he's napping. He wakes up but tolerates it for a little while. Eventually I believe he will calm down with it. When we got jinger she was 10 months old. She'd fight us with the brush and at about 14 months she decided that she liked it except for her tail. Wait until you try to clean Libbies ears!

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It's a really common issue. I use the method Charliethree describes when I want to acclimate dogs to brushing. Some, you can skip to the last step and simply cheat with peanut butter. Some dogs are more nervous, and you need to break it down to baby steps (this is a brush, it's not scary, see? here's a treat; touch with the back of the brush, treat, work over several sessions, etc.)

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Both of mine think its a game too, I end up putting them on the grooming table. Nails are a nightmare too! Don't they know if they don't jerk their foot then there won't be any too close accidents???!! My older girl I don't have to cut as much but the puppy has to be cut every week to keep them nice and short for the show ring. I never look forward to that chore!! LOL!

When I brush Rain she just collapses on the floor and rolls on her back so I can brush her belly Only problem is, she won't stand up so I can brush her back. When she was younger she would bite at the brush too.

She also doesn't have issues with nail clipping, she just lays there, at the vet I work at, people don't believe me :P

Both Sparkles and Boots just lay there for brushing, I just roll them around as needed and they care less about getting nails done. Not fond of it but they are used to it. Tink wants to eat the brush its a game I give her a chewy or something to have in her mouth and we keep the sessions short I have to have something good for the nails. She doesn't mind the feel just wants to play with my hands, I just go slow and calm say ouch when she chews and keep working.

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Boots, Sparkles and Tink Bridge dogs, Tuffy, Blueboy, Pudge, Maddie, Broker, Jet, Baily, and Reva

I have this problem with Zoey too. The weird thing is I use a rubber kong brush in the tub when she gets a bath and she just stands there for that.