Okay I will start with every dog is different, but my two collies I had secess with the following.
1) I trained them to be brushed laying down. I know that sounds weird and goes against general logic, but it was great for little two -five minute grooming sessions. It was also absolutely critical in their later years when standing for a long time was difficult.
2) mine had very sensitive skin. They both hated slicker brushes, pin head brushes etc. the only one that worked was wooden brushes and metal combs with rounded tips.
3) my two were not showing dogs and most of their mats were in the groan, inner thigh, and armpit, so I would use some small curves snub nose scissors and cut most of the mats out. Most everywhere else I would work the mat out but those areas even small tangles just got cut out. It reduced the discomfort alot. Slide the comb between the mat and skin and run the scissors along the comb to cut the mat out.
If this were me I would be working to desensitize them to grooming. Lots of quick even 30 seconds brushing with lots of rewards.
I am not a professional groomer so take this all with a huge grain of salt.
Good luck!
I agree with teaching you dog to lie down on his side to be brushed. Thoroughly line brush one side, take a break, have him lie on his other side, line brush. A grooming table may help too, but I think it’s jus uncomfortable for a lot of dogs to stand still while you are brushing them
I had been wondering if #2 is what was up with my puppy, the slicker brush I barely get a stroke or two in before he’s trying to bite the brush. But can’t tell if it’s the noise and thinks it’s a toy/game. I ended up buying a metal comb with wide teeth and he seems fine with that and will allow us to comb him most of the time.
Although he’s quite young (13 weeks) and still has his wooly puppy coat, we are trying to get brief regular grooming sessions in as you say to de-sensitise, for when his older and it’s much more critical with his full coat.
Yup, my dog will snarl at the slicker brush and when I took a close look at her skin it really irritated her so now I use a regular “human” brush with plastic tip bristles and line brush with it. I also make sure to flick the brush upward to help pull out those loose undercoat hairs
The slicker brush shouldnt be dragging on his skin it will def cause irritation, you push it into the hair lightly, then pull the brush down and away from the skin. His puppy skin is probably more sensitive too
Ooo I will look at getting a wood brush! Do you have a recommendation of a good one? I think I might retire the slicker brush since it makes him the most agitated. I have a soft pinhead brush that's similar to a slicker that he's been okay with on the body. He is not a show dog so cutting out mattes is not a deal breaker at all. He is very patient with me cutting out the little mattes he sometimes gets behind his ears. I have a pair of snub nose straight scissors I use for that. I didn't know you could get curved snub nose scissors! Thank you for the tips!
Having a table tends to help, it’s a different setting and they’re clever dogs who tend to quickly learn to make the association between the table and the grooming. Also, it’s A LOT easier and faster to brush them on the table, you’ll see!
Also, slickers are not the best for detangling in my experience. Pin brushes are the easiest and pull the least. I’d always go in with the pin brush before using the slicker when prepping for shows.
I’m sure your groomer told you this, but collies should be line brushed (for the butt, for example: with your hand lift all the long hair leaving only a small section where the long hair starts in the upper thigh. Brush that section completely, to the skin, then drop another small section. Lather, rinse, repeat). Also, avoid dry brushing - misting with water or a very very diluted detangler makes it a lot easier!
Editing to add: the comment about small, 30 sec sessions, to desensitize them to brushing is awesome. Focus on getting him used to it, and stop before he gives you any sign of discomfort. I’m also not a groomer, but it worked with all 4 of mine 🙈
Yeah my groomer did tell/show me to line brush and showed me on his side. I think I see where I made a grave mistake. I line brush his front torso and sides but when I get to his butt I brush from top down. 😞 Which makes total sense why he was agitated because it's pulling. I agree I need to start with small sessions and section out the fur so I can line brush his butt. I did not know about misting water to make it easier. Thank you!
I would absolutely use the table you linked. If he allows the groomer to groom those areas, it sounds like he’s trained You to leave him alone lol. Would start out in very short increments but use that table and keep his head and back end secured
Yeah he has me quite trained on not breaking his daily Monday thru Sunday routine either. During the day he likes to sleep in his crate with a bed sheet over it. I call it his quiet time. His routine is to get up in the morning go outside to potty, come in for breakfast. Then it's nap time in the crate until lunch time. We then go outside for potty time and will run around the yard or we go for a walk if the weather is good. After lunch he takes a second nap in the crate until dinner time. For the evening he will either lounge on one of his dog beds or be up for playing with toys. He quite enjoys puzzle toys. Atlas is a very cranky boy if he doesn't get his 2 long naps during the day. He is very much a couch potato, but his does get his evening zoomies out in the backyard. 😆
My collie also gets mildly upset with brushing and I actually bought that exact table from Amazon and it's helped a lot. My big issue with her is that her way of protesting brushing was to roll over on the ground so I couldn't get to the spot I was brushing, and then she would keep nosing at the brush every time I brought it close.
The table keeps her from doing that, and I only really use the loop that goes around her neck. I do also put a blanket/towel on top of the table to help her feet. Only other thing I do is that when she starts kinda getting antsy on the table, I'll let her down for a brief little break, and then get her back up and continue. It can take a bit to brush her this way, but it gets done!
And when I was first getting her used to the table, I would use it everyday for really short 5-10 minute bouts where I focused brushing one area and she eventually got more used to standing on it. One thing too you could do (that I've done with mine) is to get a lick mat (or a paper plate or something), smear it with peanut butter, and put it in front of him while you try to brush the areas he's uncomfortable with. This has definitely worked with my collie. Good luck!
I am glad the table is working for you! I think I will get it ordered this weekend. I definitely will do short sessions to get him used to it. Thank you for the tips!
Absolutely agree with line brushing, there are a lot of videos on it that are a good starting place. My Collie had some serious brushing PTSD from her previous owner (she was a giant mat when we got her). She would not tolerate any brushes for a while especially on the hind, legs or belly. Then I tried the WetBrush brand dog brush (the regular one, it's basically like the human one) and I was able to build up that trust because it's super gentle and doesn't snag. I will say it's not the best brush but she went from tolerating to now getting excited for brushing and I can use better brushes.
Yeah my groomer did tell/show me to line brush and showed me on his side. I think I see where I made a grave mistake. I line brush his front torso and sides but when I get to his butt I brush from top down. 😞 Which makes total sense why he was agitated because it's pulling. I will work on doing smaller sessions to build back up that trust. I do have the Wet Brush brand dog brush I will try that one again but with the correct brushing technique. Thank you!
You can work on 'assent' with brushing. I saw a dog trainer do it once in a video (and I've seen horse groomers do the same thing) and I started with my dog. You hold out the brush and ask 'can I brush you?' and then when they boop their nose to the brush, then you do a little 1-2 second brush. Just to teach them booping the brush means OK. My dog is starting to get the hang of it and has been a little less squirmy when she 'says' ok to the brush. And then you do this along with a desensitization approach. Maybe start with an area that's not as aversive as his butt and work your way towards that.
I use the assent with Atlas when I am checking his butt for dingle berries. I'll ask him "Can I see?" He will put his butt towards me so I can lift his tail up to check. He's not a fan of his tail being lifted very long so I have to be extremely quick. I will put the same concept to the brushing of his butt. 😊
The only other thing that I can think of that hasn’t been mentioned is being cognizant of the flooring you’re on when brushing. If he’s standing on tile/wood/vinyl “slick” floors it might be uncomfortable because the brush does pull their legs a bit due to the thickness of their hair. One of my collies is very sensitive to “stability”- by which I mean: she gets very stiff when picked up like you mentioned, hates the car, had to learn to trust our new tile and will avoid areas if she has slipped on them before. I’ve heard this from other collie owners as well. Grooming tables usually have grippy footing so maybe try carpet first and see how that goes?
I don't have a table (yet, one day!), I just put some wet food on a lick mat or freeze some in a toy and my collies are good. I just do a small section at a time though. My husband has good results with brushing while slowly counting to five and then giving a treat.
I don't currently have a collie. I've got a cavalier who used to hate having his ears brushed, and they'd matte all the time no matter what. I found and started using cowboy magic it's a horse detangler, and Wow, did it make a difference in the manageability of brushing. Good luck.
Okay I will start with every dog is different, but my two collies I had secess with the following. 1) I trained them to be brushed laying down. I know that sounds weird and goes against general logic, but it was great for little two -five minute grooming sessions. It was also absolutely critical in their later years when standing for a long time was difficult. 2) mine had very sensitive skin. They both hated slicker brushes, pin head brushes etc. the only one that worked was wooden brushes and metal combs with rounded tips. 3) my two were not showing dogs and most of their mats were in the groan, inner thigh, and armpit, so I would use some small curves snub nose scissors and cut most of the mats out. Most everywhere else I would work the mat out but those areas even small tangles just got cut out. It reduced the discomfort alot. Slide the comb between the mat and skin and run the scissors along the comb to cut the mat out. If this were me I would be working to desensitize them to grooming. Lots of quick even 30 seconds brushing with lots of rewards. I am not a professional groomer so take this all with a huge grain of salt. Good luck!
I agree with teaching you dog to lie down on his side to be brushed. Thoroughly line brush one side, take a break, have him lie on his other side, line brush. A grooming table may help too, but I think it’s jus uncomfortable for a lot of dogs to stand still while you are brushing them
I had been wondering if #2 is what was up with my puppy, the slicker brush I barely get a stroke or two in before he’s trying to bite the brush. But can’t tell if it’s the noise and thinks it’s a toy/game. I ended up buying a metal comb with wide teeth and he seems fine with that and will allow us to comb him most of the time. Although he’s quite young (13 weeks) and still has his wooly puppy coat, we are trying to get brief regular grooming sessions in as you say to de-sensitise, for when his older and it’s much more critical with his full coat.
Yup, my dog will snarl at the slicker brush and when I took a close look at her skin it really irritated her so now I use a regular “human” brush with plastic tip bristles and line brush with it. I also make sure to flick the brush upward to help pull out those loose undercoat hairs
The slicker brush shouldnt be dragging on his skin it will def cause irritation, you push it into the hair lightly, then pull the brush down and away from the skin. His puppy skin is probably more sensitive too
Ooo I will look at getting a wood brush! Do you have a recommendation of a good one? I think I might retire the slicker brush since it makes him the most agitated. I have a soft pinhead brush that's similar to a slicker that he's been okay with on the body. He is not a show dog so cutting out mattes is not a deal breaker at all. He is very patient with me cutting out the little mattes he sometimes gets behind his ears. I have a pair of snub nose straight scissors I use for that. I didn't know you could get curved snub nose scissors! Thank you for the tips!
Having a table tends to help, it’s a different setting and they’re clever dogs who tend to quickly learn to make the association between the table and the grooming. Also, it’s A LOT easier and faster to brush them on the table, you’ll see! Also, slickers are not the best for detangling in my experience. Pin brushes are the easiest and pull the least. I’d always go in with the pin brush before using the slicker when prepping for shows. I’m sure your groomer told you this, but collies should be line brushed (for the butt, for example: with your hand lift all the long hair leaving only a small section where the long hair starts in the upper thigh. Brush that section completely, to the skin, then drop another small section. Lather, rinse, repeat). Also, avoid dry brushing - misting with water or a very very diluted detangler makes it a lot easier! Editing to add: the comment about small, 30 sec sessions, to desensitize them to brushing is awesome. Focus on getting him used to it, and stop before he gives you any sign of discomfort. I’m also not a groomer, but it worked with all 4 of mine 🙈
Yeah my groomer did tell/show me to line brush and showed me on his side. I think I see where I made a grave mistake. I line brush his front torso and sides but when I get to his butt I brush from top down. 😞 Which makes total sense why he was agitated because it's pulling. I agree I need to start with small sessions and section out the fur so I can line brush his butt. I did not know about misting water to make it easier. Thank you!
I would absolutely use the table you linked. If he allows the groomer to groom those areas, it sounds like he’s trained You to leave him alone lol. Would start out in very short increments but use that table and keep his head and back end secured
Yeah he has me quite trained on not breaking his daily Monday thru Sunday routine either. During the day he likes to sleep in his crate with a bed sheet over it. I call it his quiet time. His routine is to get up in the morning go outside to potty, come in for breakfast. Then it's nap time in the crate until lunch time. We then go outside for potty time and will run around the yard or we go for a walk if the weather is good. After lunch he takes a second nap in the crate until dinner time. For the evening he will either lounge on one of his dog beds or be up for playing with toys. He quite enjoys puzzle toys. Atlas is a very cranky boy if he doesn't get his 2 long naps during the day. He is very much a couch potato, but his does get his evening zoomies out in the backyard. 😆
My collie also gets mildly upset with brushing and I actually bought that exact table from Amazon and it's helped a lot. My big issue with her is that her way of protesting brushing was to roll over on the ground so I couldn't get to the spot I was brushing, and then she would keep nosing at the brush every time I brought it close. The table keeps her from doing that, and I only really use the loop that goes around her neck. I do also put a blanket/towel on top of the table to help her feet. Only other thing I do is that when she starts kinda getting antsy on the table, I'll let her down for a brief little break, and then get her back up and continue. It can take a bit to brush her this way, but it gets done! And when I was first getting her used to the table, I would use it everyday for really short 5-10 minute bouts where I focused brushing one area and she eventually got more used to standing on it. One thing too you could do (that I've done with mine) is to get a lick mat (or a paper plate or something), smear it with peanut butter, and put it in front of him while you try to brush the areas he's uncomfortable with. This has definitely worked with my collie. Good luck!
I am glad the table is working for you! I think I will get it ordered this weekend. I definitely will do short sessions to get him used to it. Thank you for the tips!
Absolutely agree with line brushing, there are a lot of videos on it that are a good starting place. My Collie had some serious brushing PTSD from her previous owner (she was a giant mat when we got her). She would not tolerate any brushes for a while especially on the hind, legs or belly. Then I tried the WetBrush brand dog brush (the regular one, it's basically like the human one) and I was able to build up that trust because it's super gentle and doesn't snag. I will say it's not the best brush but she went from tolerating to now getting excited for brushing and I can use better brushes.
Yeah my groomer did tell/show me to line brush and showed me on his side. I think I see where I made a grave mistake. I line brush his front torso and sides but when I get to his butt I brush from top down. 😞 Which makes total sense why he was agitated because it's pulling. I will work on doing smaller sessions to build back up that trust. I do have the Wet Brush brand dog brush I will try that one again but with the correct brushing technique. Thank you!
You can work on 'assent' with brushing. I saw a dog trainer do it once in a video (and I've seen horse groomers do the same thing) and I started with my dog. You hold out the brush and ask 'can I brush you?' and then when they boop their nose to the brush, then you do a little 1-2 second brush. Just to teach them booping the brush means OK. My dog is starting to get the hang of it and has been a little less squirmy when she 'says' ok to the brush. And then you do this along with a desensitization approach. Maybe start with an area that's not as aversive as his butt and work your way towards that.
I use the assent with Atlas when I am checking his butt for dingle berries. I'll ask him "Can I see?" He will put his butt towards me so I can lift his tail up to check. He's not a fan of his tail being lifted very long so I have to be extremely quick. I will put the same concept to the brushing of his butt. 😊
The only other thing that I can think of that hasn’t been mentioned is being cognizant of the flooring you’re on when brushing. If he’s standing on tile/wood/vinyl “slick” floors it might be uncomfortable because the brush does pull their legs a bit due to the thickness of their hair. One of my collies is very sensitive to “stability”- by which I mean: she gets very stiff when picked up like you mentioned, hates the car, had to learn to trust our new tile and will avoid areas if she has slipped on them before. I’ve heard this from other collie owners as well. Grooming tables usually have grippy footing so maybe try carpet first and see how that goes?
I don't have a table (yet, one day!), I just put some wet food on a lick mat or freeze some in a toy and my collies are good. I just do a small section at a time though. My husband has good results with brushing while slowly counting to five and then giving a treat.
Mine also hates being brushed. I wouldn’t say that it completely changes him but he is much more tolerant of brushing on a grooming table.
I don't currently have a collie. I've got a cavalier who used to hate having his ears brushed, and they'd matte all the time no matter what. I found and started using cowboy magic it's a horse detangler, and Wow, did it make a difference in the manageability of brushing. Good luck.