How to Prepare Your Nervous Dog for Grooming

Grooming is an essential part of a pet's health and well-being. For dogs with anxiety, it can be a stressful experience. Whether it be the fear of the unknown, unfamiliarity with tools, unknown noises, or new sensations, the grooming process can be a lot for a nervous dog! It is our job as pet owners to know how to prepare them without overwhelming them even further.

Understanding Grooming Anxiety

Anxiety from grooming can develop from a multitude of reasons. Previous negative experiences, a lack of socialization, and sensory sensitivities are all examples of reasons that dogs can be nervous before and during their grooming appointment.

Pre-Grooming Prep

If you are a new client, it is extremely important to let your groomer know that your dog is nervous, has anxiety, or has certain grooming sensitivities or behaviors. Nervous dogs may take a bit longer than a dog who is less anxious. I really take my time with nervous dogs to foster a bond, introduce tools from a positive stance, and make sure their specific needs are cared for.

As the pet parent, it is our job to introduce grooming lightly at home through maintenance. You, as the pet parent, will be the pet's most trusted face. Introducing brushing and light handling (lifting the feet and legs in their natural position) will naturally set the tone for the pet that this is a normal experience. Allow the pet to sniff the brushes and combs and reward with treats!

A tired pet is likely to be more relaxed. Schedule their appointment time for after playtime!

At Hound Town Grooming Spaw, I always suggest the idea of a "meet & treat" (schedule time to bring the dog by a few days before their appointment for a treat) to establish a familiarity with the environment and the groomer. This will allow the dog to be a bit more relaxed on the day of their grooming appointment, as they have a familiar relationship established.

Drop Off

It is our natural response to want to cling to our nervous fur babies and verbally soothe them in an attempt to calm their nerves while dropping them off with the groomer. Most of the time, we, as the pet owners, have more anxiety than our dogs actually do! Dogs also will feed off of your emotions and respond accordingly. The best thing to do for a nervous dog is to drop them off with confidence! The more we coddle them, the more it intensifies their anxious behavior, because they create a sense of anticipation for what is about to happen.

It can be a difficult and dreaded feeling, but this is why choosing a groomer you can trust and feel confident about leaving your beloved pets with is extremely important! My entire mission from the very beginning has been to create a safe space where your pets can relax and enjoy their grooming routine!