Regularly grooming your dog will reduce their shedding, leave them with a healthier coat, and reduce pet odor, allowing you to make spending time with your dog more enjoyable. However, your dog doesn’t understand the importance of grooming, and the experience might seem frightening to them at first.
With that said, instead of trying to force a grooming session onto your dog, use calming techniques to help reduce your dog’s anxiety. A calmer dog may even enjoy a gentle grooming process, making it easier to keep up with your pet’s hygiene.
Understand Your Dog
It’s important to have a basic understanding of your dog’s temperament, as it will help you predict how your pet will react to particular grooming techniques. A more docile dog may be more accepting of grooming practices, while a dog that’s generally more anxious may react with aggression.
Discover what objects trigger your dog so you can acclimate your dog to their use. When you know that combs or scissors trigger your dog’s anxiety, work with them more frequently and use positive reinforcement techniques when your dog accepts the use of these items in order to help them overcome their fear.
It’s also important to know when your dog begins feeling anxious or nervous so you can switch to a calming technique. Some signs to look for include hair standing on end, low growling, and curled or snarling lips.
Preparing for a Calm Grooming Session
You’ll help establish a comfortable grooming environment for your dog by preparing in advance. For example, combing your dog’s fur on a soft mat will keep your dog from slipping or falling on hard flooring. Try to notice how your dog reacts to grooming tools as well. For instance, if your dog cowers or tries to slip away in response to a particular comb, try switching to a brush with softer bristles.
Calming Techniques for Dogs
There are several practices you can employ during each grooming session to help your dog feel calmer and more relaxed. Soothing petting and supportive communication are essential in maintaining a comforting atmosphere. Your dog will respond positively to the sound of your voice so long as you avoid employing a stern or harsh tone.
You can also use positive reinforcement to encourage your dog’s compliance. A reward will keep your dog compliant during grooming. Just don’t let your dog eat too many treats at once!
Lastly, a pheromone diffuser can also be useful in promoting a calm demeanor in your dog. Additionally, certain scents, such as frankincense, ginger, rosemary, and vanilla, are known to have calming effects on dogs.
Physical and Mental Exercise
You can preface each grooming session with physical activities that will help your dog expend its energy. Physically wearing out your dog just before grooming will leave them feeling fatigued and less aggressive.
During the grooming session, keeping your dog mentally stimulated will take the edge off of their anxiety. In fact, they may become too preoccupied with a puzzle, toy, or treat-dispensing game to notice the grooming practices you’re using.
Regular Grooming Sessions
One of the most important ways to keep your dog calm during grooming is through repetition. If you maintain a consistent schedule, your dog will come to expect grooming practices as a normal part of their daily or weekly routine, and over time, you may no longer need to employ special calming techniques as your dog becomes accustomed to the sessions.
Additionally, the consistent repetition of grooming sessions will make it easier for you to try new things with your dog. You might find a better way of bathing your dog or find better clippers for your dog’s claws. Your dog will experience less anxiety trying these new things if they’re already familiar with your grooming practices.
Professional Help
In addition to the grooming you perform at home, your dog can see a professional groomer once a month. If you notice hair loss or a sign of skin irritation, such as redness, your dog might require less grooming. One of the advantages that a professional groomer provides is that they can look for signs of health problems that you might miss.
A groomer will tell you if your dog has lesions, bumps, pest infestations, or other conditions that may affect their well-being, which often proves helpful in giving dog parents early warnings with which they can seek help from their vet before any conditions worsen.
On top of that, dog groomers generally have access to better grooming equipment and tools. They will use special conditioners, blow dryers, and other items to remove dead skin and loose fur, leaving your dog’s coat much healthier and far less likely to be scratched and gnawed at.
How Wag Hotels Can Help
Wag Hotels provides a full range of boarding and grooming services for your dog. We provide clean and comfortable boarding with plenty of fun activities to ensure your dog enjoys their time with us. We have a caring and skilled staff that loves every dog as if they were our own!
When it comes to our grooming services, we provide a comfortable and relaxing environment. Our groomers are extensively trained in using a variety of calming techniques to reduce your dog’s anxiety. We offer breed-specific grooming services and a full range of shampoos and conditioners.
Our high-quality products are effective in hydrating your dog’s coat to keep it healthy and enriched with natural oils. Choose a sea salt bath to restore skin health or a fur mask to remove stubborn stains from your pet’s face. We’ll help you choose the best grooming services for your dog, or you can opt for a full spa day to pamper your furry friend.
Remain Consistent With Dog Grooming
Use a consistent combination of home grooming and the grooming services provided by Wag Hotels to keep your pet’s coat healthy and attractive. As your dog begins to accept these practices, it will become easier to prepare your dog for future grooming sessions. The end result is a happier, healthier, and better-groomed pal!