A thought about dropping your dog at the groomers or vet
 

So many people post about how terrified their little one is when being dropped off at the vet or groomers. As a groomer, I just wanted to make a point. Many people come in with their little dog shaking in their arms or on a leash. The owners are sure their little one is terrified. Your dog instantly feels your anxiety. If you are nervous about leaving your dog, your dog will be nervous as well. Most dogs stop shaking immediately when their nervous parent leaves. Its really funny sometimes. This happens every day. I will be taking in a dog on a leash who puts on the brakes and won't come back with me. The dog looks pleadingly at mom as if to say "please don't leave me!". Mom finally does out the door. Pup watches mom go and the instant mom is gone the pup's attitude completely changes and she happily trots back with her tail wagging. I know it's hard to believe but I see it over and over every day. I even have dogs that are groomed every week that do this. One in particular (a shihtzu) comes in and looks nervous while dad is there. His dad insists he (the dog) hates comming in and always apologizes to the dog. The minute he leaves the dog is back to his usually happy self. I should film it for the owners to see. It's like a switch. Owner leaves...dog stops shaking!

When my daughter was about 3-4 I had to leave her in daycare each morning when I went to work. She would cry and cling to me. The daycare providers would have to coax her off me. They would talk me into leaving even though I was sure she was going to cry for me all day. Finally one day I left and immediately turned around and peaked in a window to see my sobbing child immediately turn around and start playing with something with a huge smile plastered on her face. Same thing.

Anyway, my point is, if you will need to take your dog to a groomer then find one you are comfortable with and do it. Ask other dog owners who they use. Drop in and look at the facilities. Talk to the groomers. Whatever you need to do to be comfortable. The sooner the better. Waiting until your dog is 9 or 10 months old and matted to the skin is not a good way to introduce your dog to grooming.

One other thing. The criticism about groomers who won't let you stay and watch. You know how excited your dog is to see you. Jumping up and down and spinning around. Do you really want your groomer with her very sharp sissors working on your dog while it is in an excited state like this?

Excellent post! I know how animals can be....when they're in the presence of their owner (and beloved one) they don't want to be abandoned but once you're out of sight, they're fine in most cases. I always feel bad too when I leave my little one off, but I KNOW he's in good company and care and that he probably sleeps most of the time he's waiting either for his turn to be groomed or for me to pick him up. I agree with your statement to ask other people who they use and to just find someone you feel comfortable with. I totally trust my groomers. Max isn't ever excited like I know some other dogs are to go to the groomer's, but then, he just doesn't want to EVER be away from me, so I know it's not the groomer! I truly appreciate what groomers do; I can't imagine trying to trim Max's nails myself!!!! Thanks to all the good and caring groomers out there, and shame on the bad ones who give the good ones so much grief!

P.S. Have you thought of using your cellphone to video some of your client's dogs? Just a thought....I always forget I have that capability til it's too late, LOL.

good point :)
Maggie is going to be left with a groomer for the first time tommorrow. she is only 16 weeks old and has gone a couple of times for things like face trim, poopy trail, and ear trim. but I have always been there for it, it was a walk in, do it and leave thing. tomorrow she will be left all day. but she loves people and this place is amazing!! so I am kinda looking forward to it. however, I am a little torn as to how to get her cut. I really want the hair around the face trimmed nicely but am just unsure as to how I want it all cut. I think I want to go short on the body to try and get rid of some of the puppy hair. any suggestions???

mandee

That's good to hear!!

Thanks for the reassureance. Always wondered if it was true when the groomer says "he was a very good puppy."

groomer
 

I agree totally. Dogs pick up on your moods. I used to work in a dental office where we saw lots of children. The parent's would come in and the first thing out of their mouth was how terrifed their kid was to be there. Usually the kid did just fine with mom out in the waiting room. I can't tell you enough what a pain in the *## some of these parent's were. Don't project fear onto your dog/kid!

Periwinkle

I know that is true with ours they do shake untill we leave at the groomers. Chachi is very fearful of going to the vet but he has had some bad vet experiences when he had mites. We have to turn his crate upside down to get him out of the crate at the vets. I really doubt he becomes less frightened when we leave

I can picture Chachi holding onto back of the crate. LOL

It is funny to watch but I feel sorry for him. I changed vets and they handle him with kid gloves but he still does it

very good points. I always look at my groomer like she is nuts when she tells me Rocco was great! Boy they have us snowed, huh?

Poor Chachi :(


Ferdinand had some bad experiences at the groomer that I didn't know about until I switched groomers. His new groomer said he had been "force clipped" or something like that. Apparently they didn't ease him in to the grooming process and he has now developed a violent behavior when they bring the clippers out - he bites and growls at it. So I decided to groom him myself for a while to get him used to the clippers and the noise.

One groomer told me I can take an inexpensive electric toothbrush (like the $5 ones you can get at Target) and run it all over his body every day so he gets used to the noise and vibration. She said that's really good to do with puppies so they don't have a bad first experience.

I have to comment on the dentist thing because it made me laugh. My daughters (now 10 & 12 yrs) have gone to a pediatric dentist since they were 2 yrs old. I was a little shocked the first time we went when I saw that the dentist did not allow the parents to come back with the kid. The asst. comes to the waiting room, collects the kid and then when they are finished, the kid goes into the "playroom" that has everything from little kid toys to video games. They get to play in there and pick out their prize while the parent then gets called in to consult with the dentist. I think my kids are less traumatized regarding dentist visits because of all the good experiences they've had (and that doesn't mean they've always had "good" checkups - they've had to have major work done too). I recommend this dentist (actually it's a pair of them) to everyone I know with small kids.

I guess my point is, if "we" are going to treat our Yorkies like skin-kids, we have to keep in mind that they react in similar ways like kids do. I think the original poster has some really good advise!!

That you for this clarification. I kinda knew that dogs behave better once the owner leaves, but it's good to hear it from a groomer who experiences that every week. Thank you!

One groomer told me I can take an inexpensive electric toothbrush (like the $5 ones you can get at Target) and run it all over his body every day so he gets used to the noise and vibration. She said that's really good to do with puppies so they don't have a bad first experience.
this is a really great idea. Whenever I have a liter I massage them with the handle part of the clippers to get them use to the noise and the vibration. I also play with their feet, nails and ears to help ease them into the grooming process as they get older. I started all of this when they were 7 weeks old and by the time they left, none of them would attack the clippers or jump around. Hopefully this made their grooming experiences more pleasant when they were taken to the groomers by their new parents.