As much as a precise cut is important for your furry companion, you should know how to keep a dog calm while grooming. Grooming is more than what meets the eye! Apart from the basic cleaning and maintenance, if your dog is subjected to high-end care, that can startle him (or her). And most dog owners are of the opinion that their dogs react weirdly before professional groomers since they’re not acquainted with the surroundings, which propels their anxiety.
To obtain an effective and productive grooming session and keep your dogs calm and composed, here are a few tips and tricks that can work wonders.
Make them feel safe about the equipment
Build a trusting relationship with your canine friend first. You can make them feel at ease by allowing them to explore dog grooming equipments (by sniffing and contacting). This way, the experience is positive and your dog would easily take baby steps to get familiar with a grooming salon.
Getting your dog familiar with the equipment
The fear of the unknown is no less in dogs, much like their human counterparts! To ensure a safe and highly enjoyable experience, create a familiar environment that would allow the dog to feel they are in full control of the place. In case your dog fails to adjust with the salon and the people around, allow him or her to move at the pace required and simply follow the lead.
Rewards and praise are essential
Sometimes treats work supremely well when you must ensure that your Rottweiler or Pooch is comfortable and relaxed while grooming. You can make dogs stand or even sit still, in whichever way they feel comfortable, and keep praising and stroking their fur. Try verbal praises to start with and then see the difference it can make to an otherwise irritable dog or one that gets scared easily. Eventually, your dog will start reconnecting with the groomer and enjoy the process.
Take a break
Recognize the need for taking a break during a rigorous grooming session. Sometimes, dogs feel uncomfortable and jittery when they undergo the process for a duration longer than usual. After you have introduced your dog to a good groom, the frequency of breaks decreases and later with time, these stop completely. When you begin, go slow and extend these sessions if you see there’s no such panicky expression on the face of your canine.
Stop when it becomes too much
As stressed earlier too, you should never force your dog. Remember he’s just a canine and in dire need of love. If you project a lot of stress on him or her unnecessarily, there are high chances that he or she might develop condemnable behaviors or simply get agitated.
Relaxing music/familiar sounds
If you’re aware that your dog is nervous or unsettled at the time of visiting the dog grooming salon, talk to your groomer openly or ask the salon to put on music that would help him calm down. Sometimes, relaxing amidst familiar sounds can help your dog not get distracted and enjoy the groom.
Walk to the salon
While dogs invariably love the breeze as they travel in a car, some get traumatic when they use any mode of commute! Try walking your dog to the salon to help him relieve his pent-up energies just before the grooming session begins. If that’s not possible, you can allow him to play for some time in the waiting room to take their focus away from what’s awaiting them.
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Bottom-line
There are plenty of ways to keep your dog amused and entertained while he avails a grooming session. Added to that are stress management products that you can possibly think of, if those help. But above all, try and understand the psyche of your canine friend if you want to know how to keep a dog calm while grooming.