The key here is to change a dogs association with the combination of human and the brush.
This method helps fearful dogs to recover mental and physical stability.
First after exercise, some real energy draining exercise, wait until your dog is truly calm submissive - relaxed body (not tense) and relaxed mind (not focused). Have some treats at the ready or prepare your voice for some gentle praise. Put a leash on your dog so that you have control, we don't want your dog running off to hide now! Sit down or having the dog standing on a table if they are really small, so you can make good warm eye contact. Hold the brush as far away from your dog as you can without letting go of the leash, preferably far enough away that your dog does not show a negative reaction! No talk and No Touch just encouraging yet confident eye contact.
Reward only calm submissive behaviour and mind. You are communicating to your dog this is a good thing - the brush being held by the human!
Gradually, - slowly and this is key, bring the brush closer to your dog, only moving the brush ever closer as your dog does not react negatively. Reward as you go - only for calm submissive behaviour. If your dog carries out unwanted behaviour then go back a step to when they did not act-out but do not give up now else once again they win the context! Keep going until you have the brush touching your dog and reward - as ever only reward calm submissive behaviour...I can't say this one enough as to praise anything else is to reinforce acting-out around the brush! If you do need to break this up into different sessions then always end a session on a positive note - so you still win the context!
Keep exercises short at first, building up to being able to groom your dog using any tool, this is systematic desensitisation and it works! Soon you may well have a dog who loves to be groomed - still having problems then Email me for personal advice.
Believe it or not but I did have to do this with my Gt Dane some 5 years ago who was fearful of the brush! Monty's sheer size made me more wary of a bite and I lost my confidence a little, so I used this approach instead!
Cesar's Way - dogs prefer to return to balance, aggressive behaviour is insecure behaviour, rehabilitation of the behaviour will change their response enabling recovery to begin!
Once again though - consult with a "Pro" if you can - maybe try thinking of it this way - would you expect to learn how to be a top singer without a vocal coach, the same is true for grooming or any other canine behaviour = contact a dog psychologist who can help you to understand your dog and teach you how to achieve balance between owners and dogs.
Cesar's Way - It works when we work it - Stay Calm Assertive
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