Brushing doesn’t have to be a chore.
Spring is here and it brings with it a mountain of dog fur. Kyleth is blowing out her puppy coat and I have tumbleweeds of brown hair everywhere! It doesn’t matter how much I sweep, those little bastards seem to pop out of nowhere, and she’s got no tolerance for the heat. (baby, I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news for you) She needs a good brushing to help remove that loose coat, which will help her be more comfortable as Texas marches towards another triple-digit summer. She’s convinced that brushes are torture devices designed by the Devil to torture poor, innocent puppies, so what’s a trainer to do?
I see where Kyleth is coming from. I’m extremely sensitive to touch and I don’t really like someone brushing my hair, especially when it’s dry and tangled, and I don’t like going to salons. My autistic nephew also struggles with this, and being held down and forced to endure a good brush, even if it’s for our own good, is miserable. Tangles or mats around your dog’s face, ears, feet, and butt are more painful than tangles on their ribs, so it’s no wonder that some dogs hate it when we corner them to brush them out.
Enter my superhero for this situation: Cooperative Care. I first learned about it from Deb Jones’ amazing book “Cooperative Care: 7 Steps to Stress-Free Husbandry” and it was a game-changer. Giving my dogs a choice about when and how they were going to be groomed helped them become more confident about handling and basic care, and is a lot less stressful for me!
In a nutshell, cooperative care is asking our dogs for permission to do something to them. We stop when they say “no”, and reward when they say “yes”. This teaches them that they have control over what’s happening to them, which reduces their stress and boosts their confidence. Food rewards are a shortcut to pleasure, so it helps to cement that association that brushing is a pleasant experience while at the same time allowing for our dogs to tell us when they’re done. It may take longer, but it’s worth it because I want my dog to feel safe and confident around me.
If you’re interested in training your dog to stop worrying and love the brush (Roll history, your DC is 12), let’s break this down. Grab your slicker brush and comb and let’s get started!
Introduce the brush
If your dog says “no” immediately, here’s where you start. You want your dog interested in your food and not telling the brush “no” by pawing it away, wrinkling their nose at it, or leaving the area.
Pet with the back of the brush or with the brush in your hand
If your dog’s fur is long or curly, this is also the time to introduce them to parting their fur so that you can line brush them to get that undercoat out better
Gently brush the top of their fur, looking for signs of discomfort and stop to check in before beginning again.
Part the fur and brush lightly if you need to
If you find tangles or mats, don’t brush from the top of them! That hurts. Instead, pick up a comb and start at the bottom of the tangle or mat. This might still hurt, so look for signs that your dog is telling you to stop, like moving the limb away, yawning, or trying to nudge the brush away
Keep your sessions short and sweet.
Any progress is good progress, you can come back to it later. What’s important is that your dog is comfortable. As they get there, you’ll be able to go longer.
Playful dogs would like some fun afterwards!
Grab a toy and get silly after a successful session, it will really help to motivate them and blow off some nervous energy
Cooperative care is one of the best things you can do for your dog. Whether it’s brushing, nail trims, or exam procedures, this will ensure that your dog is calm, healthy, and happy where others fear to tread.
Have a success story? Tell me about it below!
