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Grooming an Anxious
Dog
Grooming an anxious dog? Try these tips:
Whether it’s trimming nails or trying to
bathe a dog, if you’re a dog groomer then you probably see anxious
dogs on a daily basis and if you have an anxious dog then you’ll
know exactly what I’m talking about! No matter how experienced you
are, how good at your job, and how much effort you put into keeping
a dog calm, there are some dogs that simply don’t like to be
groomed. Maybe they’ve had a bad experience. Or perhaps the sound of
clippers makes them nervous. It could be a lot of things.
Fortunately, there are some easy ways to help calm nervous dogs.
A little bribe never hurts
Bribery may be illegal with humans but,
when it comes to dogs, a little bribery will often get you what you
want and there are no laws against it. Many dogs are very
food-motivated. If you’re grooming a dog who is only slightly
anxious then you can frequently help him overcome his nervousness by
giving him a treat reward for being a good boy (or girl). This is a
great way to help a puppy when he’s getting his first “big boy” hair
cut or having his nails trimmed. If he’s never had a bad experience
and he’s simply a little uncertain you can ease him through the
entire grooming process by giving him a treat at each step. Clip a
nail — give a treat. Clip another nail — another treat. And so on.
Many puppies can’t wait to jump up on the grooming table if you
practice this method.
Music soothes the savage…
If you’re bathing a dog who is seriously
afraid, such as a dog who freezes up as soon as the water hits him,
singing and crooning to him can help. Playing music in the grooming
salon is often relaxing to dogs. Some groomers find that dogs enjoy
having a television with nature programming on in the shop. This may
not take away all of their anxiousness but it can help relax some
dogs. Grooming products with soothing natural scents, such as
lavender, can also help calm a nervous dog. You may want to try
something like Calming Aromatherapy Spritzer , a leave-in
conditioner and detangler with a calming lavender & chamomile scent.
An all-natural solution
You may also wish to try an all-natural
solution such as
Sleepytime Tonic to help an anxious dog.
Sleepytime Tonic is a relaxing tonic that is perfect to help
calm a nervous dog. It’s a herbal and a Flower Essence-based formula
that can ease your dog into a calmer more relaxed state. It contains
valerian and scullcap, two herbs that have been used for centuries
in Europe to encourage relaxation and sleep. If you’re using it for
a dog that you’re going to groom you can put a couple of drops on a
treat or place a few drops directly into the dog’s mouth.
Sleepytime Tonic works in about 20 minutes so you can give a dog
a treat with a few drops on it when he first arrives and he will be
ready for a bath or grooming in just a few minutes.
Grooming can be very stressful for some
dogs and
Sleepytime Tonic can help relax the dog so he won’t be so
distressed about the whole process. You will be able to trim the
dog’s nails, clean his ears, bathe him and finish his grooming
without causing him the kind of upset that disturbs some dogs so
much.
Sleepytime Tonic is perfectly safe and completely non-toxic. But
of course, get permission from the dog’s owner first.
The finishing touch
Remember, too, that simple brushing is
often relaxing for many dogs. Try to begin grooming with brushing
and let the dog relax a little so he feels more comfortable before
you spring something on him that could cause him to become anxious,
such as trimming his nails. Finish up with treats and lots of
petting. Don’t forget to tell your client dog what a good boy he’s
been and how great he looks. He’ll be happy to see you next time.
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