Brushing Help

[Leah]

We have had our corgi mix for 9 months now. She was very good about letting us brush her for the first 6 months. Now, when we try to brush or comb her, she snaps at us and lets us know that she is not happy. Any suggestions would be appreciated. We thought it had to do with static electricity through the winter, but she is still doing this even when we brush her on tile floors. She is a little over two years old.

[Michael Romanos]

Corgis SHOULD enjoy being groomed because they like being fondled, petted, scratched, massaged, stroked and accorded attention. But a Corgi cross is not a Corgi. If your dog likes these things but doesn't like your acts of grooming, try different things. For example, try having her sit instead of standing - this might help to relax her - because maybe the whole process tenses her up and makes her feel under some kind of duress; don't use a hard brush until she is ok with grooming - use a soft brush and after each brush, stroke along her back and sides, with your hand as though it is smoothing her coat (I do this anyway because the natural oil on the skin of a human's hands are good for getting a little gleam to the coat); alternatively don't use a brush at all at this point, just the combing - and remember not to comb hard and be especially gentle with her skirt (in the USA called pants). Reward and praise and roll her over and tickle her tummy after each session that she allows herself to be groomed.

I looked after a Corgi pup for two weeks and he did not want to be brushed and combed or towelled clean in order to come inside my house and he would break away, try to nip etc. So I tried some of the above and told him he had no choice in the matter anyway. It worked.

[Mvons]

Originally Posted by Leah

We have had our corgi mix for 9 months now. She was very good about letting us brush her for the first 6 months. Now, when we try to brush or comb her, she snaps at us and lets us know that she is not happy. Any suggestions would be appreciated. We thought it had to do with static electricity through the winter, but she is still doing this even when we brush her on tile floors. She is a little over two years old.

My corgi was a purebred, and disliked my combing her with a flea comb because it pulled her hair. I had to work smaller sections at a time to not pull as much. I'm looking forward to trying the zoom comb on my next dog. I plan to comb daily at the most weekly and that should stop the pulling of having so much hair to remove.

You could try a nail clipping tip: do one section one day, another section the next. That way it isn't a long ordeal and she might tolerate shorter time periods of combing.

Merrie

[Chip's Mom]

I bought a regular baby brush for Chip when he was tiny and I would brush him every evening. That helped alot. Michael - I thought they were called skirts for little girl corgis?

[Michael Romanos]

Bonnie - Go Corgi has gone through this subject of skirt, trousers and pants as pertaining to Corgis and appparantly in the USA the pants apply to both male and female Corgis and the skirt and trousers definitions are obsolete in that country.

[Chip's Mom]

Well Michael - I must be from NZ, because I call them skirts for little girls. Why don't you start a new thread on how that little dog is doing that you took care of for 2 weeks. I have been wondering. Now back to the original thread.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Corgis SHOULD enjoy being groomed becaise they like being fondled, petted, scratched, massaged, stroked and accorded attention.

Michael, one size generalization statements are sooo misleading and inaccurate. Not every corgi does enjoy the petting you mentioned above and even among those that relish that kind of tactile attention, often they "balk" when they feel the "restraints" that come at grooming time.

I use a stages type procedure for grooming. I start with a brush, which loosens hair and undercoat. A zoom groom is also good to do this and it does feel more like a "massage" to the dog. I then go to a metal comb with wider teeth on one end and closer spaced ones on the opposite. I use the wide end first and then the narrower end. I'll often finish up with what is called a "face" comb, a smaller version of the larger metal comb and the smaller end can be used as a flea comb. And IF a dog is particularly snappish - I have several muzzles I'm not afraid to use.

Gentle hands, calm voice, lots of praise, resolve on your part and well timed treats also help make grooming time more enjoyable for both of you.

Debbie

[Chip's Mom]

When I am brushing Dale, Chip wants to get brushed. When I am brushing Chip, Dale wants to get brushed and they both want to play so it becomes a free for all. Love those corgi boys.

[Michael Romanos]

Debbie - I am at liberty to generalise because that what it is and that's why I said SHOULD not MUST. I also went into details about alternatives and what you have down marked me for is a lot like taking what I said out of context. If a Corgi doen not enjoy grooming even after softening measures are taken, they will have to endure it because there is no substitute.

[Leah]

Thanks so much for your help. I switched to a grooming glove and a Zoom Groom. Both of these, along with well-timed yummy treats, seems to be helping with this problem.