all that jazz

I have been grooming my two minipoos now for about 6 months. The hardest part for me is the feet. I know how to do it but I can't get them to stay still, especially for the front two feet. I put them in a sit but one refuses to stay and pulls the paw away, the other sits but brings her head down to the leg and gets in my way. I have taken to grooming the back feet and just barely the front? Any suggestions? Thanks.

Carley's Mom

When you are not grooming pick up the feet. Get them used to the fact that you can and will handle the feet when you want too. Then handle the feet with the clippers on, but don't try to clip them, just get them used to the sound and feel ... treat them all the while you are doing this. Then the feet being handled will be something to look forward to, not feared. Finally try to clip the feet, if you only do a tiny bit and stop until later, that is not a problem. They will come to accept it .

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Jacamar

Try giving the dog a chew and see if that distracts enough that you can groom. Panda seems to know that the chew is a "deal" and that if he is not good, he loses the chew. That doesnt make his behavior perfect but good enough that I can work. Makes all the difference in the world.

If you are shaving the feel close, you might try backing off to 10 blade to see if that helps. You can also turn on the clippers and hold the base against a foot to see if its the blade or just the vibration and noise that is bother them.

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"I cant talk now, I have to get home and groom my poodle."