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Why won't he stay still?

3306 Views 24 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  Rocky's Mom
I've been brushing Rocky every day since he was a baby. He still doesn't let me brush his underneath parts. Under his legs is the hardest and that's where he gets matted. I clean his face every day. He's pretty good for that, but now that I think of it he used to be even better. He absolutely won't allow me to brush his teeth. I've tried a couple of weeks of saying..."Teeth" and putting my finger in his mouth and massaging his gums. He bites on my fingers. I tried a little rubber thing I put on my finger and he growls at it and wants to play with it by biting it. He's acting like the terrible two's age in a child. I have no idea how to get him to stay still and stand. Most times I put him on the counter in the bathroom. When I blow him dry he's on my lap...I'm sitting on the tub and he's constantly laying down so I can't brush him. Then I go to the bathroom counter and he turns back and forth and lays down. I'm constantly picking him up and saying, "Stand." When he's good I praise him, but that's just for a few seconds at a time. :blink:What's a Mom to do?
21 - 25 of 25 Posts
ditto here. and paris and coco are totally adorable!
Thank you! They send you puppy kisses!

I really believe some dogs are more sensitive to brushing than others. Just like some kids are more tender headed. I know Toy's skin "crawls" when brushed but Cosy's doesn't, although she doesn't like her belly brushed. I think it tickles!
That's a good point, about it tickling.
Coco finds her neck ticklish, and gives a little head shake sometimes.
Like how humans do when we get a shiver.

After reading all your replies to my thread...I see others are having the same kinds of experiences..that is one of the reason I love being here on SM. I can always count on you...it's so great!

I'm going to slow down on his brushing, a little at a time. Maybe I'm doing it for too long. I try so hard to get every little matt out. I have tried to put him on his belly with him on my lap...he only goes on his back for belly rubs...if I take that brush out he's right up again.

Thanks to you all, Rocky is learning and so is his Mommy!
Maybe try giving Rocky belly rubs and just having the brush beside you.
Then graduate to holding the brush with one hand and rubbing his belly, but not brushing it.
Then try 3 pats of the belly for every one brush stroke.
Pat with one hand and have the brush in the other.
These baby steps (okay, puppy steps! :thumbsup:) might help him.

That's what I did for my reformed wiggly squids.
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Thank you! They send you puppy kisses!



That's a good point, about it tickling.
Coco finds her neck ticklish, and gives a little head shake sometimes.
Like how humans do when we get a shiver.



Maybe try giving Rocky belly rubs and just having the brush beside you.
Then graduate to holding the brush with one hand and rubbing his belly, but not brushing it.
Then try 3 pats of the belly for every one brush stroke.
Pat with one hand and have the brush in the other.
These baby steps (okay, puppy steps! :thumbsup:) might help him.

That's what I did for my reformed wiggly squids.
That's a good way to try....I'll do it and see what happens!B)
I just listened to something that talks about getting dogs going on handling. I am saying if you can this is worth listening to.
It's on itunes > podcasts > Canine Campus > #18
I really like this.
Lilly doesn't have a lot of matts but when she does I squirt it with "ice on ice" (I swear that stuff has silicon in it and don't let it hit the floor makes it slick as snot).

I also put Lilly on her back in my lap to brush her belly but I use a comb a lot more she seems to like it better.
Hi, Where do I get ice on ice, what is that? I never heard of that one. I can sure use something like that. I am using the detangling spray from John Paul Mitchell. He really only matts under his front legs close to his body. thanks.
He actually laid back on the back of my legs tonite for a whole two minutes. I did a brush stroke here and there too.:chili:

Thank you! They send you puppy kisses!



That's a good point, about it tickling.
Coco finds her neck ticklish, and gives a little head shake sometimes.
Like how humans do when we get a shiver.



Maybe try giving Rocky belly rubs and just having the brush beside you.
Then graduate to holding the brush with one hand and rubbing his belly, but not brushing it.
Then try 3 pats of the belly for every one brush stroke.
Pat with one hand and have the brush in the other.
These baby steps (okay, puppy steps! :thumbsup:) might help him.

That's what I did for my reformed wiggly squids.
21 - 25 of 25 Posts
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