why does my puppy not let me groom her?

S

Steph

New member
she is a 10 week old maltese. Its very important to keep this breed groomed but she hates it! she runs or sqorms out of my hands. I cannot keep her still.

She HATES to be brushed.
She HATES her eyes to be wiped down
She HATES to be trimed!

I have been trying to do it every couple days if not every day and she still isn't used to it. I have had her for 2 weeks.
any tips? I have tried to pin her down. She breaks free. I have tried to have my daughter hold her firmly... she fights it. I dont know what to do. I dont want her to get mats. I dont want the gunk in her eyes.
she hates treats! she is soooo fussy.
 
Much too early to start grooming any breed other than with the hands (GENTLY). Her mother was grooming her with her tongue just 3 weeks ago and she is not yet accustomed to humans !

Don't be pinning her down or have anyone holding her firmly. Of course she fights it and will become fractious if this abuse continues.

Try to make THE PUPPY comfortable and introduce yourself slowly. She has to accept you personally before she will accept grooming.
 
Don't pin her down or hold her- you need to make grooming a good thing, not something scary. Get yourself a handful of tiny treats, show her one and the brush, tell her good girl, give the treat with the brush near her. Then progress to touching her with the brush, say good girl, give a treat. Brush one stroke, treat, Two strokes, treat. Etc. Slowly increase what she must remain calm for to get the treat. Make sure she is comfortable at one level before increasing what you are asking of her. Same deal with the eye wiping and the trimming. If she freaks, back up a step, you progressed before she was ready. You want to slowly introduce grooming tools in a totally positive way.

Add: Have you tried GOOD treats like cooked plain chicken, steak, liver, small bits of cheese, etc.? There is a treat out there she will work for, you just have to find it. Many dogs won't work for store-bought biscuits.
 
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