I think this goes here...

[KMitchell]

I sit here writing this post in tears. Tears of frustration, anger and sadness....

Mia was do for a bath today (she hasnt had one since she was last groomed which was about 2 weeks ago) so I turned on the tub took out all her shampoo's and her conditioner like I always do...I put her in the tub and started putting cups of water on her. All was fine until I started touching her face. She growled at me, barked like a maniac and bit me so hard. I dont understand, she was never like this. I think that the last groomer I took her to did something mean to her. Before I had taken her to this groomer Mia was such a good girl in the tub, but today she was so aggressive with me. She was attacking me! I was so scared and didnt know what to do! I firmly told her no and she kept at it....I realized that saying no wasnt going to work so I tried calming her down by talking in a very low calming voice telling her it was ok, that it was just mommy and we were almost done...She calmed down a little so I started on her body....Once I went back to her face she did the same thing! Our whole time in the tub was like this! Oh, and she also jumped out!

Since our experience in the tub was not so fun, I thought maybe she would do better while I blow dryed her. I put her on the counter and tried putting her ear cleaner stuff in her ears (she never has liked it) but today she was biting me to the point that she made me bleed! I finally managed to get the cleaner in both ears and started blow drying her. She usually just sat there, but today she would snap at me everytime I would try to touch her. I thought maybe the blow dryer was too hot or something so I put it on low and held the little button that makes it even colder and she still did the same thing. I couldnt handle her biting my fingers everytime I tried to touch her so I dried her as much as I could and called it quits.

Once I put her on the floor she ran through the house like a mad woman barking her head off and biting my feet and ankles. I really dont understand how our normal weekly baths turned into a horrible experience. I am so frustrated and upset right now. I love my baby girl to death and it makes me sick at the thought of the groomer hurting her. I am not saying that she did for sure, but that is the only thing that makes sense to me...

I am sorry my post is so long, but I had to let you all know exactly what happend.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make her enjoy our baths again? I tried giving her treats while blow drying her, but it didnt help. She kept biting me...

Thanks for reading!

[zeek's mom]

How old is Mia now? It sounds to me like she may have been traumatised at the groomers. You may have to seek a specialist now. I have never had this problem so I really do not know how to help you. I wish I had the answers.:confused:

[KMitchell]

Mia will be 8 months next week. She was just laying by me and I was rubbing her face and she didnt bite me. I have touched her face since the groomers and she never would bite. Its wasnt until today when I gave her a bath. Thanks for the reply!

[I Found Nemo]

:mad: I bet the groomer did something to her, it can't be she would all of a sudden act like this:( :( All I can say is to take it slow and slowly try to gain her trust, let her see you will not hurt her.I dont know what else to tell you:(
Im so sad right now my heart is breaking for Mia and you...
ANDREA:hug: :hug: :hug:

[jdy]

you think mia might have a cut or something that hurts around her face? or maybe some shampoo got in her eyes and it stung?

i hope she is okay!

[lilybellesmom]

Krystal, OMGosh, I'm so sorry:( I can't imagine Mia doing that! Did you see if she has any cuts on her head or muzzle? If she does she may just be feeling pain from that.

I hope it gets better. Please keep us updated.

[kelkiss5]

Ach Krystal how awful for you. First af all im also thinking it could be the groomers, but I really dont no. Tell me this is she spayed. If not she might be coming into heat, Im just suggesting this, as when my Missy comes into heat she can be aggresive towards Boots. Now I have never bathed her when she is in heat, as she hates the bath and I personally think she wouldnt be very happy with me when she is in her moody time. This may be totally of the track, but it is worth looking into.

[KMitchell]

I did look over her face and it seems normal. If it wasnt the groomer (which I am really hoping it wasnt) I am thinking that maybe a dog at the dog park scratched her or something. I will try again with our bath next weekend and keep everyone posted. Sorry it took me so long to reply to everyone, but I am in the process of moving and havent really had time for myself or getting on the internet!

[zeek's mom]

Krystal Mia could be cutting some adult teeth and her face is tender. I just re read this thread and noticed she is 8 months. Check her gums and see if they seem swollen or tender when you touch them. I was also looking at her pictures on one of your other threads. I had a boy that had stains just like that and once he cut all of his adult teeth they cleared up tremendously. I am hoping that is the reason that she acted the way she did.

[KMitchell]

Krystal Mia could be cutting some adult teeth and her face is tender. I just re read this thread and noticed she is 8 months. Check her gums and see if they seem swollen or tender when you touch them. I was also looking at her pictures on one of your other threads. I had a boy that had stains just like that and once he cut all of his adult teeth they cleared up tremendously. I am hoping that is the reason that she acted the way she did.

I think that she has all her adult teeth already. When I took her in to get spayed they pulled the rest of her baby teeth that were not going to fall out on their own...If I remember right he said that she had all her adult teeth...But I am not sure! This is my first malt so I am not too sure when they get all their baby teeth! Thanks for your reply! I will look at her gums to see if they are swollen though!

[Ehunney]

I'm so sorry this happened. It sounds like the groomer must of done something to her :(. Poor baby. Maybe seeking a trainer who specializes in changing behavior might help? I hope it all turns out well!:)

[zeek's mom]

I think that she has all her adult teeth already. When I took her in to get spayed they pulled the rest of her baby teeth that were not going to fall out on their own...If I remember right he said that she had all her adult teeth...But I am not sure! This is my first malt so I am not too sure when they get all their baby teeth! Thanks for your reply! I will look at her gums to see if they are swollen though!

Krystal also check her ears by rubbing them and see if she may have an ear ache. That could have also triggered the biting. Also see if they have an odor. Odor mean infection. With seeing the pictures I am really thinking that she has something going on that is bothering her.

[Morkie4]

Wow Krystal what a time you've had with Mia!!!!

I think it may have been the grooming experience......some of them get pretty aggressive and controlling with these little ones. I've seen some of them brush them out like vicious attacks on their hair..........needless to say, that is why I do all my own grooming. The lady we bought Toby from said he hated a bath but loved to be groomed. I had no problems doing either with him. It is a matter of regaining her trust and certainly not taking her back to "that" particular groomer.

BUT, as Becky said, it could be an ear infection and her face is very sensitive so that would be my first step to make sure that her ears are clear because that can surely make them nippy, as it is their only defense against you unknowingly causing them pain by a mere touch.

[Ashley V]

Yea I agree with everyone. Make sure she is medically sound first before you assume it was a mean groomer. It definately sounds like something traumatic happened to her at the groomers though. I would still try to keep your weekly routine with her to let her regain trust. Remember, it's not you that she doesn't trust. It's everyone. She would be like with anyone who would bath her in that situation. Take it really slow with her. Maybe instead of leaving the water running, turn it off and let her smell you before you start washing her face. Maybe bring in a child's rubber ducky or something to entertain her. Still try to give her treats and tell her no when she starts getting upset. We always used the word "love" with my cat. We would say it really gentle and pet her real soft when she would get fiesty. I definately would NOT take her back to a groomers for a loooooooong time though.

I'm sorry this happened to you. It breaks you heart to think that they could have been abused or mistreated some way. It also hurts more emotionally when they bite you than physically. I've been in both situations with Chip a couple times.

Good luck!

[KMitchell]

I checked her ears and they didnt have an odor. I tried looking into her mouth at her gums but she thinks that anything that comes near her mouth she needs to bite! So maybe she is cutting adult teeth? Or she just likes to bite! But from what I could see, her gums looked good. Nothing looked swollen...I did look at her face while brushing her out today and I couldnt find any scratches. She let me brush her ears and touch her face...If she had an ear infection, she wouldnt let me do this, right?

Thanks for all the help and concerns! This place is GGGGGRRRREEAAATTT!!

[jazzysmom]

I am so sorry for you and Mia and hope you figure this out soon.

I have a client that started bringing her Lasa to me to be groomed after a terrible experience with another groomer (they cut her ear and hit her with the roll that paper towels are on) it has taken me almost 1 yr to gain Rylee's trust and just this week I groomed her with no aggression from her. Her momma and myself were very happy.

[Morkie4]

I am so sorry for you and Mia and hope you figure this out soon.

I have a client that started bringing her Lasa to me to be groomed after a terrible experience with another groomer (they cut her ear and hit her with the roll that paper towels are on) it has taken me almost 1 yr to gain Rylee's trust and just this week I groomed her with no aggression from her. Her momma and myself were very happy.

It's really hard to regain their trust. I took Toby once to the groomer just to have the hair on his feet and this ears trimmed (YORKIE). He peed on their counter. He does not mind me doing his grooming at all and is as good as gold but he fears the groomer. Makes me wonder what happend with him and his previous owner with the grooming process. All she told me was that he liked being brushed but not the bath. I never had a problem with either of them with him, nor Kallie!

[KMitchell]

I am so sorry for you and Mia and hope you figure this out soon.

I have a client that started bringing her Lasa to me to be groomed after a terrible experience with another groomer (they cut her ear and hit her with the roll that paper towels are on) it has taken me almost 1 yr to gain Rylee's trust and just this week I groomed her with no aggression from her. Her momma and myself were very happy.

It's really hard to regain their trust. I took Toby once to the groomer just to have the hair on his feet and this ears trimmed (YORKIE). He peed on their counter. He does not mind me doing his grooming at all and is as good as gold but he fears the groomer. Makes me wonder what happend with him and his previous owner with the grooming process. All she told me was that he liked being brushed but not the bath. I never had a problem with either of them with him, nor Kallie!


I am so sorry to hear both of these stories. It really pisses me off that groomers think its ok to hit your baby or yell at them loudly when the dog is just trying to say "hey, youre hurting me!" Or when they accidently cut your baby (which I understand that things happen sometimes) and they lie about it.

[jdy]

krystal did you bath mia again?
Let us know how she is doing, I hope everything turned out okay.

[KMitchell]

krystal did you bath mia again?
Let us know how she is doing, I hope everything turned out okay.

Yes, I did give her another bath and she did so much better! She still tried biting me, but I let her smell the shampoo and I talked to her in a calm soothing voice as I worked my way from her back to her face...Thanks for asking!! I think by maybe the next time she will be back to her old self!