After numerous failed attempts at learning how to brush my dog, I might have finally cracked the system with the help of a dog trainer.
Brushing your dog might sound like a simple task, but anyone with a pooch will tell you it’s exactly the opposite. They rarely stand in the position you want them, and it only takes a falling leaf or a sound on the TV for them to shoot off across the room.
How to brush your energetic dog
The difficulty level of brushing your dog is partly down to the breed, we’re looking at you Poodle, Afghan Hounds, and Polmeranians. Their coats are notoriously difficult and some even require specialty tools to brush properly. The same could also be said for temperament, as some pooches are naturally more energetic than others.
When we first got Maggie, my 8-month Cocker Spaniel who I have previously written about, her energy levels were almost too much to handle. Trying to get her to focus on anything was a task and a half.
In the hopes of streamlining the process, I turned to dog training extraordinaire Ali Smith, founder, and CEO of dog-training company Rebarkable. She told The Focus that the first step is picking the correct brush for your dog’s coat.
For double-coated dogs, like German Shepherds, Pomeranians, and Dalmatians, Ali recommended a buttercomb rake for the undercoat and a rubber curry comb for guard hairs.
If your dog is a Doodle or haired breed, then you should opt for a slicker brush combined with line brushing.
Over multiple brushing sessions, Ali said that owners should be implementing desired behaviors while also being aware of stress and displacement signals including lip licking, scratching, shaking off, and stretching.
Ali recommended sticking to the following steps:
- So, pick a reward, which can be playtime, or treats, and start slow.
- Show the brush and reward. Repeat that a number of times, and then, if you know a spot that’s your dog’s favorite spot to be scratched (it’s often the neck, below collars) Start with that bit, do one brush stroke, and then reward. Repeat.
- Increase to two brush strokes, and repeat step 2.
- Increase to random brush strokes between 1 and 5 and reward, repeat.
- Slowly increase grooming your whole dog!
The verdict is clear
After around three weeks of using the tactic, I can wholeheartedly say that Maggie has never looked better and I now know how to brush my dog. Like with most dog training methods, the most difficult part was getting a handle on each distinct step.
Once both Maggie and I had the stages cemented in our minds, it was fairly easy to get her brushed and groomed in just under 15 minutes.
My only alteration would be changing up the treat every now and again. After the first two training sessions, I found that Maggie was less interested in the food and more interested in what was going on around her.
