Tips For The Winter Months

Training Your Dog to Enjoy Grooming

Step 1:

Teach your puppy or dog to be comfortable with handling in general, by patting and stroking different parts of their body. Praise and reward them for being calm and allowing you to handle them.

Go slowly, patting them on the chest area, shoulders, sides and along the back, gradually working towards other areas such as each leg. Once they’re comfortable with this, try briefly lifting a paw up, one at a time. Overtime you can extend this to gently touching the footpads and nails and also other areas such as the ear flaps and under the chin area.

Continue to praise and reward (e.g. with tasty dog food treats) for calm behaviour and when they allow general handling. This will make your dog less likely to react when you touch them in these areas while grooming.

Step 2:

Once they’re used to general handling on different parts of their body, you can slowly introduce them to a brush. Associate the ‘brush’ with positive things (tasty dog treats) and use reward-based training. For example, if your dog remains calm and happy when patting them and having the brush next to them (without brushing yet), then reward with dog food treats. This way your dog will associate ‘the brush’ with something pleasant and this will help to facilitate the process.

Step 3:

Once your dog is used to having the brush next to them and when your dog is relaxed, try brushing very lightly and gently with just a few strokes on the chest area. If they allow this and are calm then reward with some tasty treats. Overtime you can gradually increase the number of brush strokes and the length of time you brush your dog and extend brushing to other parts of their body. Brush in the direction of the hair growth.

Step 4:

Once your dog is comfortable with brush strokes in the direction of the hair growth you can do the occasional brush stroke in the direction opposite hair growth. This will allow you to do a quick check of the skin and look out for any fleas/flea dirt etc.

Step 5:

Make sure the brushing experience is always comfortable and soothing for your dog. If there are mats, knots or tangles you may need to have these carefully trimmed off rather than brushed to avoid any jerking movements or pulling which may cause pain and discomfort.

Step 6:

If your dog gets upset or seems uncomfortable, stop brushing and resume on another day starting on a body area that your dog is comfortable with, and then continue to reward for calm behaviour and gradually build up from there.

Step 7:

Observe your dog’s reactions to brushing and if your dog seems uncomfortable you should check the type of brush you’re using to make sure it is soft enough and not causing any physical discomfort. Also reduce the pressure being applied (try lighter brushing). Be aware that brushing might also tickle in some spots which could cause your dog to move, so you should try different brushing techniques until your dog is comfortable. Your local veterinary clinic can advise you about suitable brushes and combs.

Step 8:

It’s best to keep grooming sessions short so your pet doesn’t get overwhelmed (unless your dog really enjoys the process). Remember to praise your dog and give them tasty dog treats throughout the grooming session and when finished to end on a good note. This will positively reinforce the activity and help to make it a pleasant experience.