brushing

[hottcop84]

My 12 week old rottie, Brutus, will let me bathe him, but won't let me near him with a brush. Any ideas?

[BostonRott]

I would show him the brush, let him sniff it, play with it, or whatever, reward any positive actions and then put it away. Don't use it on him. Let him see that it's not a threat.

Then start running your hand over his body (in another session) and slide the brush LIGHTLY into the procedure.

Is he attacking the brush? Hiding? What kind of brush are you using? Shedding blade? Curry? Bristle?

You could also try having an assistant feed him something of high value while brushing, so that brushing becomes associated with positive things.

[Rhea's Mom]

Rhea's used to the brush now (4.5 months), and actually enjoys the grooming time (or tolerates it really well and tries to please me), but in the beginning, we would:
- have her smell the brush and put it away (just like BostonRott said)
- start with short sessions
- sit on the floor (her between my legs),
- start as a petting session, "sneak in the brush"
- a piece of cheese in my left hand (closed fist, cheese cube sticking out just a bit so she can nibble on it) and right hand would have the brush, and lots of "good girl" and "stay still" - that was the only way it worked. Now we can do it without the cheese, but she still gets it.

[VANCOUVERISLANDROT]

At that age make it a "good thing/fun" not forceful etc. Oscar as a pup didn't like it either but now at 13 m/o he even see's his brush and his butt's happily wiggling all over the place. I used treats, used my hands and rubbed him all over, found the good itchy spots, talked to him, and would brush intermittantly between all the rubbing, treats etc...that kinda stuff...all positive and praising him. By the time he was 6 months old he was in love with his brushings. Touching him all over is good practice anyways for future vet visits etc so it works in 2 ways.

[JemarsSerena]

Serna who i snow 4.5 months would not let me brush her at that age either. We started doing it when she was asleep. She was too tired tomind much. Now I can do it while she is awake.

[gnwhite]

As the others have mentioned, take it slow and little bit at a time. I would use a jar of peanut butter. Let your puppy lick the jar and praise the pup. Start brushing the pup lightly, and continue to praise. Then stop after a few minutes. Use the peanut butter and heavy praise eveytime you brush your pup. Do not use the peanut butter for anything else ("keeps it special")

Practice this a couple times a day. By the end of the week your pup should have no problem being brushed ("gets peanut butter")........
If your pup does'nt like peanut butter or allergic to it, try some cheese whiz.

I would also use a very gentle brush, and progress to a more of removal of hair type of brush as the pup becomes use to being brushed period! GOOD LUCK

nj