December 19, 2009
our teacup yorkie gets very stressed when we try to cut her hair, is there a way to calm her down?
we always give her treats afterwards so she doesn't think we do it because we are mad at her, and we are very gentle when doing it, but bathing her, cutting her nails and hair are all pure torture in her eyes but she needs to be groomed very bad. we bought a "calming" medicine at walmart which didn't work and the vet. said not to use things like baby benadryl so what other options do we have? all the vet told us was to bring her in and they would do it, but we can't afford that right now so if anyone has any good tips it would be GREATLY appreciated, like i said she looks rough, she needs to be groomed and once we do it good once than we can do it constantly so its not so hard on her everytime, but how do i do it good the first time around when she won't stop kicking and freaking out!?!?
She's not used to being groomed. When groomed out yorkie, the first times were difficult because he hated it. We used a food reward program. Someone distracted him with food and kept his attention with toys while I groomed him. I got him used to the tools first before I started on him. Sometimes unknown sounds can scare dogs which is why you have to introduce the clippers,etc to them before. You could try having her stand up on a towel where you will be grooming her. Have her hold her stance by holding a treat in front of her just for a few minutes. Each time increase the "stance" as I call it. Other times, during the day,when she is calm, handle her body. Start with her feet, gently massaging her toes, gently handle and massage her ears, lift her tail, stroking your hands all over her body, massaging under her eyes with your fingers, massaging in and around the ear opening too. Use soothing words, a happy voice, and treats for these things too. Keep sessions extremely short but frequent. I done this with my yorkie after he was tired from playing. He usually had a "nap" on my lap and this was the perfect time to do it! It helps later in the process of grooming.
I always trim the nails after a bath- the nails are softer then.
My yorkie loved his baths…he got treats in the begining because at first he didn't like it. She just needs to get used to it. Daily brushing helped keep mats from forming which was easy on grooming part.
He was groomed a bit every day to get used to it.He associated treats with grooming and learned it was a good thing and even after we quit the treats he still behaved on the table for us.
He is kept in a clipped coat which means he needs daily to weekly combing and brushing.
Filed under Yorkie Hair Cuts by admin
Comments on our teacup yorkie gets very stressed when we try to cut her hair, is there a way to calm her down? »
I don't know if this helps you, but my hubby's old Chow/Spaniel mix hated being groomed. So much that he'd go to the groomers and physically hold her to prevent her from stressing out and biting. The reason it worked is his chow/spaniel saw him as the alpha and did what he wanted her to do.
The vet is going to most likely use a knock out drug on your Yorkie and groom her while she's out. That can get expensive. My suggestion would be, try to hold her while doing it and just talk gently into her ear. It worked for my hubby's old Chow/Spaniel mix, and it might work for you. If the dog hears you talking calmly she might calm down a bit.
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Your dog is not "stressed" about being groomed. She's not groomed often enough, so she's not used to it.. and she has probably gotton out of getting groomed by throwing such a fit.
Be firm about it, insist that grooming will be done. If possible get someone to distract the dog with food rewards WHILE you groom her.. she has to learn to associate a good thing with the grooming. you need to get her used to being groomed. Do a lil each day so that it is becoming part of a ussual routine, rather than waiting till she's a matted mess to groom her.
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Make sure you are petting her when you are doing these things. Give her toys or bones to chew on while you are grooming her. She looks at it as torture, make it a treat.
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I have groomed many dogs like that. You have a job to do & you are going to do it regardless of her action or antics. She needs to learn that this is something that she is going to have to live with. I have used things like squeeky toys to get a dog from actiny up. It only works for a short period of time. I have also used the inside paper roll of paper towels & banged it against the table to get them to sit or stand still.
Most of the time when this happens is because the dog is spoiled & not trained. These dogs don't know what NO means.
Start her in obedience training & gain control of your dog.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=obedience%20training
cool tricks you can teach your doghttp://search.yahoo.com/search?p=cool%20tricks%20to%20teach%20your%20dog
You will be amazed at how well a little training does.
ADDED:
I meant to tell you that these behaviors is why so many little dogs get hurt at a groomers. I have seen some groomers get so upset with an uncooperative dog that they are cruel to the dogs. Hitting & slapping & once I saw a dog still hooked up to the noose on the table go flying trough the air. Cuts, clipper burns, bruses, limps, etc. So gain some control & your job a groomer with be much easier.
References :
She's not used to being groomed. When groomed out yorkie, the first times were difficult because he hated it. We used a food reward program. Someone distracted him with food and kept his attention with toys while I groomed him. I got him used to the tools first before I started on him. Sometimes unknown sounds can scare dogs which is why you have to introduce the clippers,etc to them before. You could try having her stand up on a towel where you will be grooming her. Have her hold her stance by holding a treat in front of her just for a few minutes. Each time increase the "stance" as I call it. Other times, during the day,when she is calm, handle her body. Start with her feet, gently massaging her toes, gently handle and massage her ears, lift her tail, stroking your hands all over her body, massaging under her eyes with your fingers, massaging in and around the ear opening too. Use soothing words, a happy voice, and treats for these things too. Keep sessions extremely short but frequent. I done this with my yorkie after he was tired from playing. He usually had a "nap" on my lap and this was the perfect time to do it! It helps later in the process of grooming.
I always trim the nails after a bath- the nails are softer then.
My yorkie loved his baths…he got treats in the begining because at first he didn't like it. She just needs to get used to it. Daily brushing helped keep mats from forming which was easy on grooming part.
He was groomed a bit every day to get used to it.He associated treats with grooming and learned it was a good thing and even after we quit the treats he still behaved on the table for us.
He is kept in a clipped coat which means he needs daily to weekly combing and brushing.
References :
my yorkie…