Daily Grooming/combing

[HeatherL]

Hi, My newf is 8 months old, and I have combed her daily since the day we brought her home (6 weeks old). I read the Judy Adler book and it said that if you brush them every day from the first day you bring them home,then after 6 weeks the pup should sit still for the combing. I am still wrestling with Kaysie. Some days are better than others but I would like for her to sit patiently for at least 10 minutes. Any suggestions?
HeatherL

 

[GAD]

My advice is to wait until she's two (or more) then post again.

My Cozy NEVER sat still until she was about 2 1/2. Then it was like a miracle - she turned into the good girl we'd hoped for.

GAD

 

[HeatherL]

Thanks for the info, I can't wait for the day that she does sit still. She's a great gal though.
Thanks again.

 

[Jeannie]

Heather,
You cannot expect a puppy to sit still or have a good attention span at the age of 8 months. Ten minutes may not seem long to you but it is a life time for a puppy. You will be better off to break your grooming time into sessions than do it all at once. It will be easier on your dog and she will learn to enjoy grooming. If you struggle with her now she may only learn to dread grooming. Make it fun. Prasie her as you groom. After a few minutes, stop and play, give a treat then try grooming some more. Stop before she starts to struggle or she will learn that "struggling means grooming stops". (Newfs are smart and she will learn that very fast.) Depending on her attitude you may have to start back at square one and make the grooming session VERY short.

Lot of dogs struggle with grooming because the owners unknowingly hurt them while combing out tangles or mats. (I see this problem with lots of my customer's dogs) Be sure to hold between the mat/tangle and the skin as you comb so you won't be tugging on the skin and hurt her.

Hope this helps. Keep us posted on your progress.



------------------
Jeannie and the rescues
Sara, Samantha and Panda

 

[HeatherL]

Thanks Jeannie, I know I need to be patient, but I think since I read Judy Adler's book (which practically every breeder recommends),she said it should only take you 6 weeks to have the pup sitting still for 10 minute sessions. So I assumed I was doing something wrong since she is 8 months old now and not sitting for that long. Actually combing her hasn't been that bad yet, right now I have only had problems with her hind quaters and she really hates it. Her coat is really starting to get thick back there. She is my first newf so I have a lot of learning to do.
Thanks for your help
Heather

 

[AmyPC]

Hi Heather,

Rory particularly hates her hindquarters being done too. Her hair is almost wiry there...well, that's a bit of an exaggeration but it is definitely a different texture from the rest of her hair and I struggle to get a rake through it. It is also positively brown...kind of sun bleached. They look like pantaloons.

Off topic, sorry...back to the point...

Rory struggles also. We have good days and bad days. She is getting better, she almost goes into a trance when you hit certain spots but she will also get up and move if you get a place she doesn't like. We just persist.

[This message has been edited by AmyPC (edited 08-02-2001).]