Keeping his head still

[JohnAndTim]

Me and my wife are attempting to groom our new cocker spaniel puppy ourselves. He is 6 months old and has been groomed by his breeder for his entire life.

We are having serious trouble in keeping his head still when we try to clip his face and nose. He squirms so much that it is impossible to trim his face. He doesn't mind at all when we clip the rest of his body, just when we get near his face.

We do not have a grooming table. We have been putting him on a coffee table and my wife has been holding him by a leash attached to his collar attempting to mimick the grooming table with arm and noose.

We know his face has been groomed before, but it was on a grooming table.

Do you think the grooming table is the issue? Or do we need to try something else?

any advice is appreciated!
John

[BabyElephant]

Well, I've never groomed a dog in that way before (quick run over with the shedding blade is as much as I do ) but perhaps he is scared of the clippers. Perhaps they make more noise than the ones he is used to. I would just try getting him used to having them near his face, then move on to using them.

I'm sure there will be some other ones on later who are used to grooming their dogs who can give you better advice.

[GretaJack]

Ellie should be able to help. The easiest thing that we always did is just hold on to the hair underneath their chin. They don't want to squirm too much since it doesn't feel good. Don't yell at him when he squims though, it only makes the experience worse and will make him more fidgety. Nice soft voice when he is holding still and a little at a time. Don't force the issue. Start small and work up from there

[erdog3]

He is only 6 months old, I would say he would have been clipped maybe once before, his face twice possibly. Not much more than that.
He is afraid of the noise. What you need to do is turn the clippers off. Now place them on his face, let him realize they are not going to hurt.
How you go about this will make or mar for the rest of his life.
Be patient and gentle, in the meantime just cut the long bits with scissors.

You will have to do this with the clippers a few times a day, as often as possible, just put the clippers not running all over his face, under the eyes, over the stop, under the chin, show them to him.
Does he shy away when they are off and you put them near him.
What you can do then is to turn them on and just make out you are clipping round his ears and the top of his head.
Sometimes it helps if you hold his ear flaps down over his ears so he can't hear the clippers, then approach from the top of the head so he doesn't see them comming at his eyes.
This is very difficult to get out of an adult dog, work on it ASAP, try to get him over it while he is still a pup.
Good luck.
Check out the sticky in this Grooming Forum, it has hints and tips on grooming.

[JohnAndTim]

Well thanks everyone. I guess it makes sense to rub the unplugged clipper all over his face. That is what we did to the rest of his body to get him used to that and it worked, we just didn't really focus on his face.

So, in your guys experience, is a grooming table absolutely necessary? Or, if my dog can handle getting clipped on a coffee table, should I just go with it!?

Ill also try the hair under the chin trick.

[LargeDogLover]

With my Giant Schnauzer, he hates holding his head for his ears, beard, everything.
So I usually hold onto his beard, so he can't move. Or I hold his muzzle. It seems to work great for me.

[LargeDogLover]

Sometime my dog will wiggle out of it, I usually tell them to knock it off, and he will.

[LargeDogLover]

A grooming table is not absolutely necessary. A coffee table work great for me.

I didn't read your post all the way. Yes, make sure your dog is used to clippers first.

[erdog3]

You can clip your dog anywhere it suits. I have done some even on the floor if they have been too heavy to lift.
But I must caution too, my advise is to make sure that you do not frighten your pup, that is yes get him used to the clippers. You do not need to force at this age.
It is far better to let them become accustomed and used to it rather than forced and scared right now.
Let us know how you go. You are welcome with the help.
P.S. I am a retired groomer, what you are experiencing I have had multiple times.
It is not unusual. Did you check out my grooming tips and knowhow. May help a bit.

[Lessica Jake]

I don't use a table to groom my dog (Springer Spaniel). I sit on the floor with her and let her cuddle up in my lap. She behaves so much better that way, very cooperative and usually just has a nap.