Zoe is afraid of

[4theloveofzoe]

her brush. We gave her a bath yesterday because she decided to go swimming in the lake, across from our apartment building and the water was really nasty! I went to brush her and she had a fit. She ran off.
When I try to brush her today, she's SCARED... :( :confused:

Any suggestions in helping her get used to it?

I've left the brush sit where she can smell it, and get used to it's presence, but that's not working.

[Ginger's Mom]

My advise would be to distract her. Can you have one of your girls hold a chew-chew of some sort, and allow/encourage her to chew the chewie, while someone else is brushing her. It may take two people to accomplish this for the a while, but maybe she will learn to just keep herself occupied with a chew-chew while being brushed. Not sure if that will work or not.

[anna_66]

My little Huney girl was afraid of the brush too. It's still not her favorite thing after 3 years, but she's learned to live with it;)

We started with my husband talking to her while I brushed, then when he was gone i would give her small treats and talk to her. She's finally gotten to where she'll let me brush her without causing a fuss. It takes time but it's worth it:)

[jackie]

When Tito was a puppy, he hated the brush too, but now he loves it! Maybe she will learn to like it in time. Make sure it isn't scratchy, I bought one brush before and it was really sharp!

[4theloveofzoe]

I think that's the problem. It's scratchy.

I'll have to buy another one.

Thanks guys!

[jackie]

I have a double sided brush, one side it has metal, but tipped in plastic. and the other side is soft bristles.

[Vette]

Kirby hates getting brushed.. but he tolerates it. :o

you dont need a one sided slicker brush with no nubs(steight wirey kind) for a short haired dog. slicker brushes are ment for long haired dogs. try finding a double sided slicker brush.. one side has the matal stuff,, and other has a soft tooth brush like brissles.. that should be perfect for a short haired dog.

i cant brush Kirbys coat with the soft tooth brush brissles. the brissles just slide off without even brushing anything. so hes blessed with what i call the 'spark-plug brush' end. LOL

see,, it really does look like a spark-plug brush. sorta. LOL
http://www.petco.com/assets/product_images/4/4566300253B.jpg

the nubby slicker brush(wirey things with plastic tips) is harder to find.
i never have seen one of those in Wal-mart before. i wish you the best of luck in finding a brush you like. :)

[tricollie4me]

Bijou doesn't like being brushed either (she would run from me the minute I showed her the brush!), but I've discovered that with timing, preparation and a Greenie, she does okay. I make sure I brush her when she's feeling relaxed (after playing outside, for example), and I keep her on leash to maintain control and so that she can't run off. I give her a Greenie and let her nosh on that while I brush - she has a double coat so it's really important I do a thorough job! With Bijou, I have three tools, and I use them all depending on how cooperative she's being and how much time I'm able to spend on her coat. I try to brush her every day, even if it's just a brief time, so that she gets used to the process. I don't stop if she tries to pull away - just like with anything, I'm the alpha, not her! Hopefully, one day she'll love being brushed and it can become more of an enjoyable experience for both of us. :)

Good luck!

[4theloveofzoe]

THanks everyone~!