Aggressive whilst being brushed ...advice needed please

Hi everyone, My little girl Mia is 7 months old and real sweetie, great with everyone, until shes being brushed or combed, then she turns into this screeching growling monster ,she bears her teeth and bites and snaps. Its even scaring the kids now.

I know Im not hurting her as I make sure she has no matts so I know Im not pulling them, so Im at my witts end as to how to handle this.

Has anyone else had this problem please?? I could do with some advise as to how to deal with it, thanks. Tracey and Mia xx

Hi Tracey the important thing is that you don't let her win... she has to be groomed and she has to get used to it. Has she been to the groomers because if she has someting might have scared her or there might have been a knot/mat which caused her some pain and that could have caused this.... or maybe just at 7 months she is starting to test the water and see how much she can get away with.

Where do you usually groom her? If it isn't on a table then I recommend you use a table possible with a rubber mat on so that she doesn't feel as if she is going to slip off. You need to start off little and often so that the grooming sesssion is not seen as an ordeal byt her. What I did when I had one that didn't like being groomed and turned into a mad thing was have lots of treats to hand. Try not to panic or show her you are worried and if she does go to bite you just try to block her with the brush or comb (if they bite the comb they do think twice the next time ). Do a little bit, keeping calm but confident, talking to her encouragingly but in a matter of fact way... as you brush a little bit, give her a small treat and tell her she is a good girl then do a little more and repeat the process.

Only do this for a couple of minutes at a time but repeat the session a little later on (little but often till the coat is completely groomed). Make sure you end it on a good note.

Whatever you do don't stop if she gets aggressive otherwise she is learning how to dominate you.

Have you done any training with Mia? If not I would suggest you try to find a puppy training class in your area, preferably one that offers the Kennel Club Good Canine Citizen courses because they are not so much obedience as the whole package of training dog, owner and good animal management and usually work with the whole family. If you contact the Kennel Club (I will put a link at the bottom of the post) they will provide you with a list of clubs in your area. Apart from developing Mia's training and your confidence with her, they will also be on hand to advise you on how to combat this problem and, as one of the part of this programme is grooming your pet, they will give you pointers on how to effect this without aggression.

I hope you sort this out quickly and then you can all get on with enjoying your puppy.

BTW try and do the grooming when the children aren't around (for the time being) so that you can deal with Mia without the children passing their emotions on the the puppy

KC Good Canine Citizen Scheme Link