Grooming a well-behaved dog takes a considerable amount of skill (which you would expect) and also patience (this part might be a surprise). Even the most well-mannered dog doesn’t necessarily want to hold its face just so while the groomer works with some sharp scissors on their mustache. Like people who don’t like to be tickled, some dogs have sensitive feet and don’t want them touched. It takes the groomer some perseverance, patience and sweet-talking to work through this and get the job done. So what about a dog who desperately DOES NOT want to be groomed WHATSOEVER? This is infinitely more challenging. This article discusses grooming these more difficult dogs with the hope of putting everyone involved at greater ease throughout the process.
Before Grooming
The dog’s owner will want to gently introduce the dog to the groomer and the grooming environment. The dog doesn’t know what’s happening or how the grooming setup, equipment, and smiling technician is good for them. Instead, the dog is scared. The groomer and owner should both make an effort to get the dog excited for the grooming process. Liberal praise and lots of treats work wonders in this regard. The groomer will treat generously — a treat for saying hi to the groomer, a treat for jumping up on the table, a treat after the groomer turns on the clippers, etc. If there is a special kind of treat that is good for your pet, do share it with the groomer so as to stay straight with your pet’s diet.
During Grooming
A good strategy for the groomer is to groom the difficult areas first. If the dog nips whenever the face is touched, the groomer should go ahead and work on the face first. The dog will only become more agitated as time passes.
From here, the groomer should remember the negative behavior the dog exhibits is a result of fear. They may be anxious or sensitive to loud noises. They may also be physically uncomfortable/impaired or may have had traumatic past grooming experiences. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the groomer to bring the sense of calm into the grooming experience. Said another way, it’s the responsibility of the groomer to elicit a sense of calmness in the dog. A difficult, anxious dog with an anxious, agitated groomer is recipe for disaster! The groomer should maintain patience throughout the entire process. The dog may act out, but the temperament of the groomer will be kept in check.
Training to Support Future for Grooming Difficult Dogs
Threshold training will help a dog to overcome fear. If the difficult dog hates the blow dryer hose, it will take time to get them accustomed to it. The groomer could start by brushing the hose (turned off) against the dog’s body and work up to the face. As the dog is holding it together without reacting, they get a treat. After a while, the groomer can try turning the dryer on its lowest setting. If the dog behaves, they get another treat.
At home, the owner can support the training by exposing the dog to the home hair dryer. With enough exposure and treats, you might even find your dog running into the bathroom every time they hear the hair dryer. Share your progress with the groomer at the next grooming appointment. The goal of threshold training is to increase the duration and intensity of the source of fear (in this case, the dryer) to gradually expand their comfort zone. Persistence is key here as results of threshold training will become more evident over several grooming sessions.
Accessories for Grooming Difficult Dogs
An accessory that could help a sound-sensitive dog remain calm is a Happy Hoodie. You can find these on Amazon or Chewy, and your groomer may already have a few on hand. You could also throw these on your dog while you’re vacuuming, during thunderstorms, or other loud, stressful noises at home.
Conclusion
Your dog will be better acclimated to the grooming experience if you get them started young. The sooner you start grooming, the sooner your dog will grow comfortable with the experience. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t help an old dog become accustomed to being groomed! Refer to our article about teaching an old dog new tricks.
