brushing

Question
i have an 8 yr old sheltie who use to let me brush her some, but has never liked it much, but know she is shedding even though it is winter. I tried to brush her today ,but she only allowed it for a few minutes and then she cried so i stoped and tried agian and she cried what can I do ?
THANKS FOR THE HELP
ROBIN IN LILLINGTON NC

Answer
Hi robin,

First - is there a reason she is upset, perhaps she has some arthritis or another medical condition that hurts her when you brush. Sometimes it's not the brushing itself that makes a dog show dislike.  If her medical condition is good and you see no physical reason why she should cry then maybe it is your brush that is hurting her.  Are you using the proper brush for her coat?  you should be using a pin brush followed up by a wide tooth comb.  Shelties have a lot of undercoat and when you are pulling at the hair it tends to hurt. Do you have her professional groomed?  If so, ask your groomer if she is this way for her, ask to be shown the right tools for the job.  Also, there is a service that most groomers are now using called the Furminator. See here how it works http://spottsdogcare.blogspot.com/2008/02/furminator-how-it-works.html

These are a few things you can look into and see if they help with your grooming time with your dog.  
Hope this helps you.
Have a Happy New Year!
Susan Potts
www.spottsgrooming.com