How to Groom a Large, Curious Dog

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How to Groom a Large, Curious Dog

Easy

15 - 30 Minutes

1 Week

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Introduction

There is something about having a dog who seems to have an endless supply of curiosity that can make everyone in the house laugh from time to time. But, when it comes to grooming him, this abundance of curiosity can make getting the job done a bit on the challenging side. You may be able to channel this curious nature into turning your trusty pal into a hunting dog, but it is something that needs to be quelled or grooming can become a struggle for both of you. Thankfully, with a little hard work and patience, you can get your pup to relax so that you can groom him.

Dog's Perspective

Your dog's curious nature leads him all over the place; there is nothing he doesn't want to investigate. This includes the room you plan to use for grooming and the tools you plan to use. Make use of this curiosity by letting him investigate everything to his heart's content. This will make it much easier for both of you when the time comes to groom him.

The Adjust His Attention Method

Effective

0 Votes

Slicker Brush

Pin Brush

Deshedder

Step

Lots of treats

For this, you need plenty of your pal's favorite treats.

Step

A toy or two

Make sure you have a few toys handy to redirect his attention (new ones work best).

Step

Turn the radio on

Turn a radio on in the room with some nice soft music and bring your dog in.

Step

Get familiar

Give him a few minutes to get used to the room and the tools. Don’t rush this, but when he seems to be done, give him a treat.

Step

A little off the top

Start brushing him by working on his head, face, and ears. Give him another treat. Go down his neck and chest before brushing his back and sides. Finish up by gently brushing the rump and tail, paying very close attention to the area around his anus and genitals.

Step

Going down under

Rather than trying to groom his belly with him standing up, have your pup lie down, then you can groom his belly, legs, and paws. The last thing you need to do is give him plenty of praise and one more treat.

The Worn Out Pooch Method

Effective

0 Votes

Slicker Brush

Pin Brush

Deshedder

Dematter

Comb

Step

Pick a path

Even the most curious of dogs get tired. So, start grooming day out by taking yours for a nice, long, tiring walk. Let him sniff around, go potty, and burn off as much energy as he can.

Step

Spend a few minutes playing

Once you get home finish wearing him out a little bit by playing with him for a few minutes and then give him a tasty treat.

Step

Handle with care

Get Benny to come over to where you can give him a nice rub down. This helps him get used to being handled. Make sure you touch sensitive areas like his face, muzzle, ears, rump, and genitals.

Step

Bring in the tools

Now that he is all relaxed, it's time to get started. Starting at the top of his head brush him gently in the way his coat grows. Be aware that his hair grows in different directions at various spots on his body. Once you have groomed the top of his body, give him a treat and take a short break.

Step

Going down under

Then finish up by having him roll over so you can groom his belly. When you are all done, give him plenty of praise and another treat.

Caution & Considerations

Having a curious dog can be tons of fun, but you need to harness all of that curiosity and calm him down to make grooming a bit easier for both of you.
Keep the length of your dog's walks appropriate for his age. You want to tire him out, not exhaust him.
As he matures, you simply extend the walks to achieve the desired level of tiredness needed to make the grooming go more smoothly.
Use plenty of your dog's favorite treats as rewards to encourage him to relax for grooming.
Always use the same room for grooming as continuity builds trust and familiarity.
Give your pup lots of time to satisfy his curiosity before you start grooming, this will make things go far easier.

Conclusion

There is nothing like the fun of watching a truly curious dog go scampering all over in search of anything and everything. But scampering and grooming do not go hand-in-hand. The more you work with your pooch to get him calmed down, the easier grooming days will become for both of you. In time it will become a fun and bonding time for both of you.

How to Groom a Large, Curious Dog

Introduction

Dog's Perspective

The Adjust His Attention Method

The Worn Out Pooch Method

Caution & Considerations

Conclusion

Success Stories and Grooming Questions

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