Does your dog love Grooming or does she shiver at the thought of it?

For owners with dogs that react negatively to grooming, they may not believe you when you tell them that their dog can be (and should be) relaxed and comfortable.

Well, the good news is that there are ways to improve the experience you and your dog have with the Groomer.

Here are 10 things that every groomer wants you to know so that everyone, including your dog, has a good grooming experience every single time.

1. It starts with your dog’s paws

When a dog doesn’t allow strangers to touch her paws, grooming, especially nail cutting becomes difficult.

Train your dog to get used to her paws being touched by everyone. One of the effective ways is to gently stroke her paws as a part of your own grooming routine to show that paw massages are actually relaxing. I won’t be surprised if your dog snoozes!

ALSO READ: Prepare Your Puppy for the Groomer

2. Your dog groomer is a professional

Well, they better be! Once you have carefully chosen a groomer, you should trust that they know what they are doing. Don’t forget that groomers are specially trained for their duty. Hence, they should know what’s best for your dog’s breed.

Take time to listen to their suggestions and reasonings, which may prove to be useful. It is then your choice whether you want to follow their advice.

3. It’s good to start grooming early

You may not think that your puppy needs to be groomed yet but getting her used to it as early as possible will help her enjoy grooming from young.

Once your puppy is ready to meet strangers, introduce her to the groomer to kickstart their relationship. That can potentially prevent a lot of future grooming problems.

Also, stick to one regular groomer as long as you are comfortable with her. Changing groomers may increase your dog’s anxiety towards strangers.

4. Bathing your dog is not a bad thing

Some owners are scared of bathing their dog because they think that frequent washing will dry up their dog’s skin and cause irritation.

While that may be true for some dogs, not all dogs are the same. Some dogs get itchy or oily when they are not bathed frequently enough while some others need to bathe more often due to medical reasons.

Most importantly, use the right shampoo and conditioner for your dog’s breed. If you don’t know what’s best for your dog, consult your dog’s groomer and vet! They would be able to determine your dog’s current skin and Coat condition and recommend a suitable shampoo.

5. You should check your dog regularly

A good practice is to check your dog’s ears, coat, and paws regularly. Some dogs are prone to ear infections or mites, which may spread to other dogs. Along with fleas and ticks, they should be treated by a vet before your dog meets other animals.

Also, your dog’s paws may have dirt stuck between their toes or under their nails. This may lead to anything from minor paw licking to serious infections.

6. Your dog and others should be protected

If your dog is not vaccinated or titer tested, many groomers would not accept your dog. This is to keep your dog and other dogs at the grooming salon safe.

7. You need to know what you want

To help the groomer to give you and your dog the best experience and results, be clear and specific with your instructions and preferences. Do not expect her to read your mind.

If you need something unique, show her a picture as reference.

8. Keeping calm is important

Don’t ever show any anxiety or anger in front of your dog. Your dog can feel your energy and become nervous and unsettled.

Avoid distracting your dog during grooming. That may include arriving too early to pick her up because she would get excited about seeing you again, making it hard for the groomer to finish the job.

9. Your dog’s coat needs frequent brushing

What happens to your hair when you do not brush it for one or two days? Yes, they become rough and tangled. Same goes to your dog’s coat. If you do not brush your dog’s coat at least 3 times a week, you are letting the coat become hard to manage. Solving a bad coat would be stressful for your dog and frustrating for the groomer.

10. Matted coat may need shaving

If you don’t brush and groom your dog regularly, it may result in a matted coat.

Matting can cause serious problems to your dog’s skin. Depending on the severity, de-matting may be labourious and time-consuming for the groomer and uncomfortable for your dog. Also, your dog may not have the patience to sit still for such a long time.

Sometimes, the groomer may suggest a clean shave. That’s when you should remember to place health over vanity and try your best to not let it happen again.

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This post 10 Things Your Dog Groomer Wishes You Knew was written by Alex Chew, and originally published on Vanillapup.

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