Have you ever had a dog that was extremely challenging to groom that you fell in love with? OK, maybe it's just me. "Harley" is a bichon frise with some huge ISSUES related to grooming. Like, don't even TOUCH those toenails! And don't pick up my legs.
Harley had one big advantage going for him from the beginning. His breed. I adore bichons. I think I probably WAS one in a previous incarnation. This is a breed that has stolen my heart, so Harley got off to a great start. He used that up after just a few visits as it became apparent that Harley had a little attitude. Maybe that had something to do with his name. What do you expect when you name your dog after a rogue motorcycle?
Now I know many bichons who don't exactly love being groomed, but on the whole they endure it with maybe a little dancing around or maybe being awful about their faces or something. Harley, however, acted out. Harley bit me. Look at the picture - does that look like a dog who is going to take off your finger? I couldn't believe the blood!
I can hear you now, telling me "You've got to be firm with these nasty dogs and not let them get away with that behavior." Yea, right. It's not like I just wussed out: Harley and I HAD the serious conversation. I held onto that fluffy face and looked him straight in the eye and said, "I'll have NONE of that, thankyouverymuch!" Harley let out one blood curling bone chilling battle cry and did three back flips in succession and karate chopped my hands off his face with his rear legs and nearly hung himself in the grooming noose. So much for the firm approach....
I opted for the next best thing, compromise. Harley and I worked it out and he had a nylon muzzle with his name on it, forever to be known as the "Harley Muzzle." I let him communicate his issues (inside of the rear legs was off limits to the comb) (forGET the toenails) and as I let him have some say in the matter, I asked for a little more cooperation in such basic areas as the fluff drying. I coaxed him along.
We did well until I got a Saturday bather. Donna doesn't compromise. She goes after every tangle. Also she is all business, and doesn't suck up to the dogs like I do. Well after about four times with Donna's no-nonsense bath/brush work, Harley threw down the guantlet - he did his Tazmanian Devil/Karate Master number and would not let either one of us touch him.
I had to report this to his owner. "He is getting impossible to do," I said. "We may have to resort to drugs." Donna put her finger on it, "He doesn't like me, " she observed. "He does much better with you." Oh great!
Before resorting to sedation, I started working with Harley by myself, and I developed a new technique that we can call "Cheese Grooming". This involves feeding bits of cheddar through the muzzle just before Harley strikes. "Before" is the key word here. By treating and praising him just before he would "lose it," I gradually extended Harley's tolerance level back within the normal range. After a few times of this I was able to lose the cheese.
I became more strongly connected to Harley as a result of needing to find a way to deal with him. We are buddies. I guess he made me feel special as I handled his special needs. I love this dog!
Today I groomed Harley for the last time. His mom and their other dog, Jake, are moving to Houston for a better job. I worry. I'm worried both for Harley who may not find someone as patient and tolerant as I, and I worry for the next groomer who may end up with the Karate Kid on his/her table. Can you imagine the new groomer's eyes rolling when Harley's mom says, "His last groomer used to give him cheese."???
Bye bye, Harley ...I'll always remember our "cheese grooming." You're my buddy!
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