The Curious Case of the Guardian in the Kitchen with a Hairbrush
Wag-Wagatha Christie Investigates…
The Curious Case of the Guardian in the Kitchen with a Hairbrush
This may sound like the answer to a Cluedo mystery – but let me assure you, this tale, or quite literally tail, has a happy ending. No crime took place here. This is the story of cheese & Biscuit, a two year old cavapoo who turned into a gremlin who was fed after midnight at the site of a brush, or even a touch of a hand.
This may sound like the answer to a Cluedo mystery – but let me assure you, this tale, or quite literally tail, has a happy ending. No crime took place here. This is the story of cheese & Biscuit, a two year old cavapoo who turned into a gremlin who was fed after midnight at the site of a brush, or even a touch of a hand.
It's hard to imagine this ridiculously cute little doggo being anything other than adorable, but when Biscuit first came to me, she was very quick to let you know when you'd overstepped her boundaries!
Her guardian explained that Biscuit was terrified of vets and groomers and would become very reactive, even aggressive, when being held. Professional grooming had mainly involved muzzling, and trying to groom her at home between appointments had become practically impossible.
The trouble was, Biscuit's curly/wavy coat wasn't going to stop growing just because she'd decided grooming wasn't for her! Her coat doesn’tso needs regular maintenance to prevent matting, both professionally and at home.
Having found a local groomer who was making progress with Biscuit, her guardian wanted to find a way to maintain her coat between appointments, preventing matting and making the whole experience easier for Biscuit and her groomer.
And so, dear reader, we had our first clue. The investigation was more than teaching a dog to tolerate a hairbrush. It was about teaching two individuals how to understand each other.
Now, what Biscuit's guardian didn't know at the time was that she was about to become my very first Foundation Reset customer. No pressure, then!
We started with a Meet & Treat session, where I could observe Biscuit, get to know her guardian and begin to understand what was happening when grooming tools or hands came into the picture.
From there, we arranged an hour's training session, focusing on just two things her guardian wanted to achieve:
To be able to brush Biscuit without triggering a reaction.
To be able to touch and handle Biscuit without her feeling the need to defend herself.
Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? Well, anyone who's ever tried to brush a dog who has firmly decided otherwise will know that's not necessarily the case. Although we had a secret weapon to make this possible...cheese, and lots of it
Rather than throwing every training technique in the book at them, I introduced just two resources: one co-operative grooming technique to help Biscuit understand and participate in brushing, and one TTouch resource to begin changing how she experienced being touched.
The session focused on giving Biscuit’s guardian the knowledge and confidence to start practising at home, at Biscuit's pace, and to recognise when to carry on and when to stop.
Because this particular investigation wasn't going to be solved in my grooming salon. The real detective work was about to happen at home, with Biscuit, her guardian and a hairbrush.
Biscuit's guardian would send me videos of them practising at home, and I'd give feedback on things like her timing, positioning and, perhaps most importantly, what I was noticing in Biscuit's behaviour that she might not have spotted herself.
I'd also send her videos of me using the same technique with other dogs, so she could see exactly what I meant. It took a bit of time to get right but we weren't in a rush to move on to the next stage. First, I wanted to be confident that Biscuit understood how the technique worked, what was being asked of her and, crucially, how she could opt out.
Once we had that understanding in place, we could start progressing through the different stages, gradually building towards the ultimate goal of being able to brush Biscuit without it turning into a battle.
Progress was initially slow, but Biscuit's guardian stuck with it. These techniques aren't a magic wand; consistency, patience and a good supply of cheese were key!
I'm incredibly grateful that she persevered, as I'm sure is her local cheesemonger, because the results have been worth it.
Biscuit's guardian can now keep those mats and tangles at bay between professional grooms, and they're also making lovely progress with the TTouch. Biscuit is gradually learning that being touched can be a pleasant experience, rather than something she needs to be fearful of.
But perhaps the biggest achievement is the change in their relationship. What was once a battle involving a hairbrush has become something they can work through together, with Biscuit having a say in the process.
And that, dear reader, is what I consider a successful investigation. Not a perfectly groomed dog, but one who no longer feels the need to defend herself every time the hairbrush makes an appearance.
Could your dog be my next Foundation Reset case?
If brushing, handling or even getting near your dog with a grooming tool has become a battle, you don't necessarily need more determination or a different brush. You might just need a different approach.
My Foundation Reset is designed to help guardians understand what their dog is communicating and learn practical, co-operative techniques they can use at home, with my guidance and feedback along the way.
Because sometimes the biggest grooming breakthroughs don't happen in the salon.
They happen in the kitchen, with a hairbrush, a patient guardian and a rather generous supply of cheese!
Find out more about my Foundation Reset
Until next time...
Yours in curiosity,
