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Here's the gist of the situation: He has never been groomed by anyone but me, has always been a handful to make stand still and hated to have his feet touched and would bite if he even thought he might get hurt. (He's not the first dog I've groomed. I had a poodle and a sheltie before Frosty). I've been able to deal with it by using a muzzle when I do his feet or anything I know he will react to. I use a grooming table, sometimes the post with the noose. Now he's deaf and can't hear me talk to him trying to keep him calm, etc., he's uncomfortable because of age related pain in legs and probably back, and seems scared to death and defensive when I even get near his back half or legs. He moves around so much on the table I can't get him completely brushed out! It's like trying to groom a whirling durvish! It takes me an extra week or two after he needs his bath to get up the nerve to do it.
All his life I've done the daily type brushing with him on my lap, now he won't come near me if I sit in the recliner and get the box with the brushes in it! I don't do topknots, and have always scissor cut a style a little longer than a puppy cut. He is afraid of the electric clippers. At this point no amount of "reassurance" or rewarding makes any impression on him. I've tried "Rescue Remedy" natural calming drug and if anything he was worse! I worry about drugs because he has a heart murmur (4) and elevated liver enzymes---but I'm getting frantic here!
I don't want to take him to a groomer I don't know and would fear they could hurt him when he gets violent. It seems like the more restraint we use, like having someone hold him while I try to cut his nails or using the post, the more he fights. Poor little guy just doesn't understand anymore. As soon as you go through one of these fights and put him down he acts like his old sweet self. I hate really short cuts, but at least for the summer thats probably what I'll have to do---I just can't figure out HOW! to hold him still enough to get it done!

Any ideas?? "Safe" drugs? It seems like I just have to bite the bullet and get a grip and go through 2 hours of fighting him. I've got to get it done somehow today, he's about 2 weeks passed time. Before anyone says something about him being abused............and why is he so scared, etc........ No, he's never been! he's always been my dog, he's been our baby, our love, all his life. I love him like part of myself. He's always been difficult about anything he thinks could hurt him and now doesn't hear or understand which makes it much worse. I know I'm asking for help in an almost impossible situation. Maybe I just need to tell someone so I can get up the nerve to go through it today. :new_Eyecrazy: