Please help me learn to brush this dog!

[PeanutsMommy]

Anyone got some magic tips for gettin a 14 month old dog to calm down during brushing? I'm trying to keep him at a puppy cut, but I don't want to risk mats.

[Adelina]

Anyone got some magic tips for gettin a 14 month old dog to calm down during brushing? I'm trying to keep him at a puppy cut, but I don't want to risk mats.

I'm afraid I don't have any tips for you, but my pekeapoo is an active dog, too. He won't really sit still for much except his bath and brushing, so we've been lucky in that area.

Have you tried to teach your puppy a "settle" command? We started off rolling him on his back, holding him firmly under our hand, and saying, "Piko, settle!" Then we praised him when he relaxed.

It took a while for him to catch on, but once he did, we could use the command anytime he was rowdy and we wanted him to calm down. He came to associate the command with our hand holding him still, and then he eventually learned to settle down without our hand.

Just a suggestion. I'm certainly no expert! But it worked for us. Might be worth a try?

[Ltlpistol]

One thing you might try is to just brush him for short periods of time, gradually increasing the time. Also, try just holding the brush while you hold him, letting him know the brush is going to stay near him, but isn't necessarily going to be touching or brushing him always. Let him become accustomed to it being around. Leave it in plain sight for a few days. And as Adelina said, try teaching him a 'settle' or 'stil' command without the brush at first, then slowly introduce the brush into the situation. And always, a treat when he does what you want. Whether it is a food treat, a toy, a belly rub whatever he most loves, to get that when he does it right, makes him want to do it right again!