How to Groom a Dog without Being Bitten
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Introduction
Does the idea of grooming your dog cause you to tremble in fear because he likes to bite anyone who even thinks about brushing him or trimming his nails? Often, this difficulty starts off with a single bad experience. Maybe the person trying to brush him was being too rough and it hurt (creating that "hated" brush in your pup's mind). Maybe someone trimmed his nails too short and they bled. No matter the cause, things like this tend to stick in your pup's mind and make him afraid the next time.
Dog's Perspective
Your dog probably learned to hate being groomed through a single incident such as those above. The mere idea of being groomed sends him into a state of fear and anxiety. He really isn't mad at you, he is mostly just scared and trying to tell you in the only way he knows how. The good news is that with a little time, effort, and patience, you can reach the point at which your pup will let you groom him while he patiently waits for you to make him look his best.
The Acclimation Method
The Redirect Method
Caution & Considerations
- You should be aware that while fear and anxiety are among the most common reasons why dogs will bite while they are being groomed, this is not the only reason.
- Dogs who are in pain, have a skin condition, or are suffering from hip dysplasia may bite when you touch the painful areas with a brush.
- It cannot be stressed enough that you need to take your time acclimating your dog to being groomed once he has started biting during the process.
- It can take weeks or months before your pup is ready to comfortably submit to being groomed. Be sure to give him lots of praise and treats along the way. Make it fun and he will learn to enjoy the experience.
Conclusion
Bear in mind it can take a lot of hard work and patience to calm Captain Bite-tastic and get him to stop trying to chew your face off each time you go to brush him. But remember, you can make the entire event fun for both of you, and always have plenty of treats on hand.
Success Stories and Grooming Questions
Grooming Questions & Answers
We trim her with discord but the razor sound…seems to scare her. We take our time with her and let her get off the table when she is ready. Not sure what to do with her. She’s only been once and within a hour the lady said she hated water. She loves water and the water. I picked her up and the groomer wanted 60.00 for her . So I am not sure if she’s afraid or if it was the groomer. What should we do with her. She’s a barker and loves to play and will growl at you but she has never bitten anyone.
Her hair is so long and she looks terrible. Help thanks anything you can help me with? Can they be put asleep or given something ?
Thank you
Marlon
803-524-4268
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Molly is a rescue and quite aggressive with grooming/brushing etc. We manage to brush her gently on main parts but at the sides of her back legs she is really prone to matting. We use conditioner spray which helps but wonder what else we can do. A year ago she had a thorough groom who clipped her short but she was set right back by that so we don’t want her clipped again, and to do it at home where she is happier. She tolerates a bath well but is fearful of anything else. Thanks for helpful suggestions on how we should look after that dry area of her coat
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Thank you for the question about cute little Molly. There are a few things you can try; I have provided links to a few guides on our site. If she tolerates baths, can someone distract Molly while another person trims some of the mats out of the back area? Trim a bit at a time and once you get the mats cut out, don't worry about brushing it right away because if she cooperates when having that done, that's a good thing. It could be that she is aggressive when brushed because the process hurts and pulls. I always think that in these cases, having the dog mat-free is more important than having the fur looked perfectly shaped. A little bit at a time goes a long way and comfort is more important than looks. Keep using the conditioner to soften the fur, too. https://wagwalking.com/grooming/brush-matted-dog-hair https://wagwalking.com/grooming/wash-a-dog-with-matted-hair https://wagwalking.com/grooming/prevent-dog-hair-from-matting Good luck and enjoy your dog!
Hi to you and Molly. I am a pet groomer. There are people like me that come to your house and groom animals. I would clip the mats out with dog clippers, that is less painful than brushing. But if you like your dog long haired, it's best to brush her a little at a time. And give her treats and praise for good behavior. And you can ask the groomer to just do one thing at a time so your dog can learn 2 trust him or her. For example for the first time maybe just have the nails clipped and the ears cleaned. Or maybe just clip a few of the big mats out at first. In dog grooming School they trained us not to clip mats out with scissors because it could be dangerous you could accidentally cut the skin. I know an owner of a cat that tried to clip them out with scissors and cut his cat's skin when he did it. I hope everything goes well for you and Molly.
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Grooming Success Stories
She loves being groomed and never bites
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