Compassionate Grooming: Where's the Love?

Ok, yes, I get it.  You, Dear Groomer, like every other business model out there, are concerned with your bottom line. 

You want it to be as profitable as possible to run your dog grooming salon, and that means numbers.  The faster  you can get a dog done, the more dogs you can do in a day, the more money you make....But is this speed coming at cost to your canine clientele's well-being?

Before you, as a Dog Owner and Guardian, sign your pup up for a day at the spa, there are a few things to consider.  First and foremost, you have to realize that it is primarily your responsibility to teach your dog that being handled, touched, clipped (if the breed requires it), scissored, or otherwise messed with, is not only acceptable, but safe. 

So many times I watch frightened dogs thrashing and jerking around, as groomers, or vet techs, try to trim nails, take temperature, or examine an injury.  These poor dogs are scared.  They are a danger to themselves, and anyone trying to work on them.  They are snapping, biting, and sometimes urinating or defecating all over themselves in a panic.....All because You (his guardian) did not take any time to show him that being touched is a good thing. 

Some Humans don't realize you must be brushing a long, or kinky-haired dog at least twice a week in between groom appointments.  They purchase (for usually a lot of money) a cute, fluffy puppy, and think the groomer is the one who will keep them looking nice.  Or they have an older dog, never brush him, and he winds up with matting down to the skin.  This not only poses a fashion disaster, it is a huge risk to his health; the skin can't get air, the hair pulls the skin, sores break out, infection sets in...it's nasty.
 
But a good groomer can take care of all of that, right?  They are "trained" to handle dogs of all kinds, right?

Well, sort of.  Trying to clip, or scissor a dog that is jumping, and twisting and jerking away can get him cut--There have been instances of accidental ear slicing, scissor punctures (think eyeballs), clipper burns, nails being jerked clean off, paw pad injuries...you name it.  Sharp objects and tools being applied to a frightened animal can net a slew of bad news, completely by accident.

You can help your dogs grooming experience be MUCH less scary, and a whole lot less painful (have you ever tried to pull a burr out of your hair?) if you proactively participate in his coat maintenance.  If your dog has troubles with this, as in, he snaps at you, or squirms away when you try to do take care of it, you should slow down.  Accustom him to just being touched all over with your hands first.  Talk to a professional dog teacher about how you can make it more pleasurable for him, and avoid (or alleviate) his survival instincts telling him he must fight or flee in that situation.

Speaking of slowing down, let's go back to my original start of this article---The Groomer.  While it is your job as Dog Guardian to teach your dog to be handled, some of the responsibility for kind handling should fall in to the hands of the person you have hired to take care of that groom.  You wouldn't use a Human salon where  you saw a stylist two inches from a child's face, snarling "NO!  Hold Still!" while they yanked at massive tangles in the child's hair, would you?  What about if you saw that stylist using the kids ear as a hand-hold, the little girl crying and saying she didn't like it, trying to squirm out of the chair, while the stylist pinches her ear and says "NO!".....

So why is it acceptable for grooming "professionals" to treat your dog this way? 

Wouldn't it make more sense for the stylist to slow down for a nervous child?  Soothe her fears and maybe cut just a little piece of hair, then pause, and show the kid that she isn't hurt?  She isn't bleeding, nobody is yelling at her, and little by little she gets a haircut.  Yes, it took much longer.  But how much longer did it take when she was being manhandled and scared?

Finding a groomer who is willing to work with a nervous dog, and take the time necessary to show them it is not a life-threatening experience is a MUST as a responsible dog guardian. 

The first time you drop your dog off with a total stranger (yes, even the dog groomer is a stranger to your dog---and they smell like fear, and anal glands....not a good combo to your dog) you really should ask if  you can watch.

Some dogs genuinely do calm down better when mom or dad are not present, and the groomer may ask you to leave.  But honestly, if your dog is that stressed out, perhaps you could forego the idea that your dog is getting a full groom, and ask if your groomer will just put them on the table (or floor if they are huge) and simply pet them, talk to them, or otherwise soothe their nerves that visit.  Or maybe you have an older dog who just needs a slower touch....in either case, you should pay something for their time, and tip well if they are willing to work with you.

The slower approach may effect the bottom line of a grooming salon that day, as they rationalize that there are plenty of "handle-able" dogs available, but ultimately, word of mouth speaks.  And how cool do you think it is, when you hear someone saying "I just love my Groomer!  Sparky was initially afraid and jumpy, but she took the time with him to calm him down.  Nobody else has been able to touch his feet before!!! And he looks amazing!  ....Why yes, I do have her number...."

Kindness effects your bottom line too.