A Guide for Comb-Phobic Pups

Grooming is an essential part of your dog’s overall health and well-being.

Alessandro from Pawfect Cuts, the official grooming partner of Anglian Dog Works, emphasizes the importance of regular grooming:

"This practice can significantly enhance the dog’s enjoyment of grooming and minimize issues during salon visits."

However, for some dogs, the sight of a comb can trigger anxiety or fear, making grooming a stressful experience for both pet and owner.

As a long-haired dog owner, I’ve faced my share of challenges in maintaining a tangle-free coat for my dog, Thea, who we affectionately call a “bramble womble.” If you have a dog that loves exploring the undergrowth, you know exactly what I’m talking about!

Here in the UK it is shooting season meaning there will be lots more game birds around. So while we’re past the summer stickies, this time of year whether you are working a gundog or are just enjoying walks in the countryside, the brambles are extra tempting.

For dogs like these, grooming becomes even more critical—and sometimes more difficult.

 

Top Tips for Regular Maintenance Grooms

1. Use a Detangler Spray and tangle teaser: Spritz your dog’s coat with a detangler spray before walks or working them. This helps to reduce the number of bits that stick to their fur and makes it easier to tease out any burrs afterward. I personally use a mane and tail detangler by Canter (for horses) and a tangle teaser brush.

2. Incorporate a Lick Mat: To keep your dog calm and still during grooming, feed them some of their daily allowance using a lick mat. Thea loves the "slow mo" and "ufo" mats, which keeps her occupied while I give her daily detangle. If you’re interested, you can get 20% off using the code ANGLIANDOGWORKS20 on the lickimat website.

 

Training Your Dog to Enjoy Grooming

While some dogs, like Thea, are happy to be groomed regularly, others may find the process overwhelming.

 

Casestudy:

I spoke to with the owners of a lovely 4 year old border collie, the sweetest girl, until it came to grooming! She has a beautiful long coat which was getting knotted, particularly behind her ears and in her armpits. They’d tried to go slowly but when trying to brush her she’d bare her teeth and grumble. It had got to the point that even approaching her with a comb made her suspicious and they were asking for help.

Any time a dog feels the need to show aggression, help is exactly what they need.

Behaviour has so many moving parts, there's no way of knowing for sure what had caused her dislike of being brushed, perhaps she’d had an uncomfortable experience in the past or didn't like be touched. Whatever the case, we needed to do some training around the procedure to reverse any negative associations and replace with positive expectations using treats.

 

Step-by-Step Training Guide

Here’s a simple drill to help your dog become more comfortable with grooming:

Touch Training:

Collies, like a lot of the smart working dog breeds I specialise in working with with thrive on pattern games in training. Training her a sequence without the comb present builds predictability and removes suspicion in the steps, creating a positive association around being touched.

Begin by naming a body part, touching it gently, and then rewarding your dog with a treat

For example, say “shoulder,” touch your dog’s shoulder, and then give them a treat.

To prepare for all grooming interaction continue this pattern with other body parts: “paw” for front feet, “foot” for back feet, “teeth,” “tail,” “ears,” and so on.

 

Introduce the Comb Gradually:

Once your dog is comfortable with being touched, repeat the steps above but this time, use the comb.

Gradually build up from touching the area with the comb to lightly grooming with it, always following the pattern: cue, touch, treat.

Example of Desensitization

These steps are not just for dogs that are scared of combs—they can be applied to other grooming tasks as well. For instance, Thea used to be worried by clippers. We followed a similar desensitization process, starting with touching her shoulder without the clippers, then turning the clippers on and off behind my back, then bringing them into her line of sight, and eventually touching her with the clippers turned on.

Patience and Consistency are Key

Training a dog to enjoy or tolerate grooming takes time and patience. Be consistent with your cues and use their favourite food rewards, and always move at your dog’s pace. By turning grooming into a positive experience, you’ll not only make your dog happier but also make your grooming sessions much more enjoyable for both of you.

 

Professional grooming help

While we can do general maintenance grooms at home to keep coats tangle free, there are also times that it is appropriate and necessary to reach out to a professional for help. 

As an example, when Thea got older, her fur texture changed and thinned, making it more prone to getting knotty.

 

After a recent vet visit where her fur was shaved in patches, her coat was left uneven with different lengths. In situations like these, it's crucial to seek professional grooming help to ensure your dog’s coat is properly maintained. That’s why we trust Alessandro from Pawfect Cutss to neaten her up.

 

🐾 Pawfect Cuts: Local Dog Grooming Experts! 🐾