Brushing/Combing

[Lulu Mae]

How often do you brush/comb your shorkie?  Any tips?  Lulu doesn't like it at all.  I stopped by the groomer inside petco and the lady there said she needs to be brushed 2 -3 times a day!?!?  What hair products (shampoo/cream rinse, brush/combs) do you use?

Thanks!
Sue

[stacy15]

I brush him everyday beleive it or not.  He actually stays.  It took a lot of treats to teach him to stay.  I use any shampoo that has oatmeal in it. =)

[Ann]

I brush Toby everyday but only once a day. He can be a pain but it does depend where you brush him if you try to brush him on your lap it won't work. You need to be above him as he needs to know that your the leader of the pack. I was told this by a dog trainer. So what I do is put Toby on a table and stand over him and dominate him. I find now that as soon as I put him on the table he knows what I'm going to do and he keeps still for me. Hope that helps.
 

[cherokeeangel]

As with anything you do with your dog regularly they become accustomed to it and they will surrender to it. Like you said you just have to let them know you are the leader. When they go to give you gruff you just do the bite (put your hand in claw like position, and them firmly put it to them and close with assertiveness, do not hurt them, do not pinch, do not do in anger, frustration, only calmness and assertivness). If you feel yourself losing patience stop the grooming and come back to it. Cherokee loves it I do it while she is watching TV. (She loves to hear dogs barking on animal planet). When I first started working with her I HAD to do it on my lap (I had recently had a hysterectomy, and not one of those easy ones either I had an incision all the way across my bikini line) and so she is accustomed to doing it  on my lap and she loves it. However, Anne's trainer is correct, that is not ideal. However, in extreme situations it is ok.
Where do your shorkies become most tangled? Cherokee becomes most tangled around her nose. She is so cute though, she throws that head up so I can comb it easier.

[eepuni]

i'm not exactly sure about the combing but i know my sadie likes it when i comb her belly while she's lying on her back (she loves her belly rubs). My boyfriend found that she will sit still and calm if he brushes her while she's sitting on a stool in front of him, partly due to the fact that she can't really go anywhere.

as for shampoo, I use Crazy Dog Puppy Shampoo.  It makes her coat very very soft and the smell is really good too.

[swagette]

As with any breed, how often you brush/comb your shorkie depends on the length of their coat. A short coat might only need a quick brush once a week, but the longer the hair, the more brushing involved. It also depends how many prickles/burrs/leaves that your shork picks up when outside. I would never say more then once a day though - I don't believe you would brush your hair 3-4 times a day!!!!
If your Shorkie doesn't like it, start with a softer brush but never stop and give in to them, Grooming on a table gives you the upper hand but just ignore the protests, gently hold the them till they stop moving then continue,with praise - treats can help. The worse thing you could do is stop grooming them when they try to make you.
ANy shampoo will do for a shorkie but a more natural ( oatmeal base) will help the soothe the skin,

[stacy15]

fun fact: cesar millan (the dog whisperer) says that grooming/brushing your dog is the greatest way to bond with him or her

[swagette]

I couldn't agree more!!!!!!