Puppy hates being brushed..

[Hollypups]

Does anyone have any tips on how make the experience less stressful for her?

I have a F1B cavapoo. She’s nearly 5 months old. Iv been brushing her since we got her.

She’s been to the groomers 3 times.

The first time was to show her around the shop and to meet the groomers (This was recommended on their website).

Second time was for a ‘puppy experience’… They washed, dried, brushed and shaped around her paws/face.

She went for a full groom on Friday and ever since she’s come back anytime I get the brush out she trembles/shakes like mad and just looked so sad.

She was never keen on being brushed in the first place, always tried to get away and hide under the sofa asap once I was done but now she’s trying harder to get away and I feel bad.

She needs to be brushed daily/every other day though.

I give her treats, I wait until it’s nice and quiet in the house and she’s relaxed but she now seems terrified and tries to run away.

Any tips please? I’d like to make this a positive thing rather then being petrified of the brush for the next 10+ years.

I’d search for a horse face brush (they are really really soft) and start with something like that, and then graduate to something slightly firmer. And then againReally short session’s with a lickiy mat with different high value treats on.

I used to give my pup grated cheese scattered to distract them from having their paws dried until they got used to it

My spaniel came back from the groomer like this. It's so sad and difficult. I tried scattering grated cheese which lets me comb him but God knows how he'll get trimmed. Poor boy.

Get a new brush.
Don’t take her back to the same groomer.
Show the (new) brush, treat. Show, treat.
then touch with brush, treat. Touch, treat. Do this just for 3 or 4 repetitions, multiple times a day. The slower you go, the quicker you will proceed.
my pup used to hate being brushed. He doesn’t love it, I’d say, but his tail wags when he sees the brush and he jumps onto the sofa for a brushing as he knows he’ll get good treats.
use steak, cooked chicken, salmon bits……. Treats have to be good. Not dried rubbish/kibble………

i’m sorry that the groomers have frightened her so much. Please don't take her back. This happened to my daughter (cockerpoo) and she decided that it was better to groom herself and she clips the dog and puts a coat on him when it’s cold. Please counter condition as suggested above but don’t repeat the experience as it’s won’t get better. Could you get a groomer to come to your house?