Matted Hair

Question
Hello.  I have a 3 year old male Bichon Frise.  For the first 2 years of his life, I had him professionally groomed by a mobile dog-grooming company.  My dog loved it and he always was excited and happy to go with the groomer.  Well one day, his regular groomer didn't show and they sent a replacement.  This kook didn't know what she was doing.  She cut his hair too low, leaving several cuts and nicks in his skin.  She also cut his nails past the quick.  I couldn't get my dog to come out of his kennel for a whole day.  I couldn't take him out for a walk for a week because I thought his skin would burn because his coat was too low.  Anyway, he is terribly afraid of being groomed now.  I've taken him everyplace and I can't even get his toenails trimmed.  I have to do it myself and since I'm not a professional, he looks a mess for the first couple of weeks.  He refuses to let me trim underneath him around his belly and hind legs.  He has developed coarse matted almost dread-locked hair there.  I was wondering if there is a product that I can get that will loosen this hair so that I can trim it?  Or any other suggestions you may have.  I can groom him some, but he's so panicky and frantic I can barely do anything.  And the ordeal takes around 3 hours and I'm frustrated and he's scared to death.
Any advice would be helpful.  Thank you.

Answer
Oh Nicole I really feel for you both after such a horrendous incident. Firstly the recovery will take time and has to be done slowly , it is all about gaining trust agin for this little one, just so that you know I have a 5 year old bolognese who was savagely beaten by her breeder and who hated any form of human touch and we are still making her life so much better every day with love patience and understanding, so it wont be a short haul.

Suggestions

Play time in place of grooming is how you will achieve recovery.
Take something soft like a feather and stroke the dog all over the body toes, face ears, bottom genitals for 10 minutes daily, at all times talk to him in a soft voice, say his name at every opportunity as you stroke him saying fido good boy, what a clever boy good boy. After every session he must be given a treat and once again lots of praise.

This will be continued daily for at least 6 months maybe up to 2 years.

Place him into a warm dog bubble bath make sure the water dosnt come past his belly , it is warm and soft and that he cannot slip , so use a bath mat at all times. play with him with a bright coloured rubber duck, encourage him to fetch it tap it and bob it in the water, this must be done once per week at all times talk in a soft gentle voice as above.

Drying should be on your knee with a gentle towel dry talking again, touch his body play gently with his toes and ears and kiss him, caress him gently but be patient. Once he accepts this move onto a warm (never cold) gentle air dryer repeating the same routine as hand drying and this should be continued for 6months to 2 years until he trusts you again.

Always show him any tool to be used and tell him the name ie Brush comb etc, make every touch a slow gentle one. NEVER brush or comb him dry always use a warm spray on his coat preferably using an oil , vegetable oil will be fine added to a warm spray. Once again after every comb treat him.

Once his trust is gained move to the new step and eventually he will love again to be groomed and touched.

need help
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