How to Brush a Dog That Hates Being Brushed

Plenty of dogs will happily be brushed. Plenty of others leave the room the moment the brush appears. That reaction is almost always learned — a pulled mat, a poked ear, a session that went on too long — and it can be unlearned with patience and a much shorter session than you think.

Start by finding out where it hurts

Before you change any technique, run your hands slowly over your dog. Flinching at the hips, ears, tail base or armpits can mean mats, sore skin, ear trouble or joint pain. If you find any of those, book a vet or groomer first — no amount of training fixes a dog that is being brushed on a painful spot.

Rebuild the association in three-second sessions

Put the brush on the floor and feed a treat for looking at it. Next, touch the brush to a shoulder for one second, then treat. Then two strokes, then treat. Stop while your dog still wants more. Ten seconds a day for a fortnight beats a twenty-minute battle once a month, and it holds up far better in the long run.

Change the order you work in

Most people start at the back end, which is where dogs are most defensive. Start where your dog already likes being touched — usually the chest and shoulders — then move outwards. Keep one hand resting flat on the dog and brush with the other; contact tells them where you are going next.

Use a brush that does not tug

Tugging is the single biggest cause of brush-phobia. A self-cleaning slicker brush with retractable pins keeps the pins fine and flexible, so it lifts loose undercoat rather than dragging at the topcoat, and one press of the button empties it — so you never stop mid-session to pick hair out of the bristles while your dog escapes.

Work with mats, not against them

Never drag a brush through a mat. Hold the base of the mat between your fingers so the pull never reaches the skin, and tease it apart from the outside edge inwards. Anything tight to the skin or larger than a coin is a job for a groomer with clippers.

Time it well

Brush after a walk, when your dog is tired and pleasantly worn out — ideally after a decent run and a drink from a portable dog water bottle. A calm dog is a brushable dog. And always finish on a good note, even if that means stopping after thirty seconds.

Find brushes and walking kit in our pet accessories collection.