Bobert, when I got Bathsheba she had been shorn in places as her fur had been left to knot together by her previous owners and when she was rescued the centre had to cut off the hair as it was so knotted. We began brushing her with a soft glove than has a bobbly pad on the front so she could get used to it. She loved being stroked so this was a first step. After she had got used to that we moved on to a soft brush and then a wire and soft brush. Now we hold the brush out and she runs to it and pushes herself against it. At the same time every night she comes and stands on her 'brushing spot' and if we don't take any notice she soon lets us know it is time for her to be brushed. Isolde saw Bathsheba being brushed from the time we rescued her as a kitten and she has always been used to being brushed. Be gentle. It takes time.