Dogs are happier after grooming due to the many health benefits and overall cleanliness that it provides. Grooming also provides an opportunity to be social with other dogs and groomers. Although some dogs may feel down after grooming, this quickly goes away and they truly appreciate the benefits of grooming.
All dogs have very different personalities, while some like being pampered and enjoy a grooming session, other dogs may feel uncomfortable during and after grooming. Here are some of the emotions and reactions dogs can experience, from feeling stressed and traumatized to making it easier for them in the future.
Pampered pups are probably confused, not relaxed
Professional grooming tasks, such as those featured in Pooch Perfect, are likely to take much longer than the usual social contact dogs get from each other and from humans, and dogs may not understand the purpose of this interaction.
Some of the reasons why your dog is acting funny after a grooming session include the fact that it is a strange feeling (especially if it is the first visit to the groomer). Another is the sense of powerlessness and hopelessness they feel. They feel as if a fundamental part of their identity has been taken.
Regular grooming fosters positive behavior.
The positive reinforcement your pet will receive will affect their mental state, which will improve their behavior as well. Many pets associate negative feelings with their bath time but creating a fun experience with a pet spa can turn that around.
For many pets, a trip to the grooming salon can be an unpleasant or even traumatic experience. If not dealt with, dog grooming anxiety not only increases the risk of your pet developing more serious behavioral issues but can also turn a grooming session into a dangerous situation for both the groomer and pet.
If your dog was recently groomed, either professionally or at home, and starts to exhibit any of these symptoms of irritated skin, there are steps you can take immediately to help reduce their discomfort. A room-temperature bath and oatmeal dog shampoo can help calm irritated nerves and reduce the irritation.
In fact, it's not at all unusual to see your pup cowering from you or just looking very sad each time you bring him back from a grooming session. Here are a few reasons that can help you understand why your dog acts strange after a grooming session.
Many vets and groomers believe that shaving a double coated dog can result in shave shock, a phenomenon where your dog's coat grows back patchy, a different texture/color, or maybe even not at all.
Sometimes the dog clipper blades will irritate this highly sensitive area when a dog is groomed, and sometimes the pet's vulva and anus will be sore from urine and feces that can build up and burn sensitive tissue. This is more likely to happen if the blade is too hot or has become dull from use.
Some dogs love the pet salon while others fear it. A reputable grooming salon takes strides to make a dog\'s time there a luxurious and soothing experience. Understandably, for a dog, even this pampering experience can be scary. A pet salon is full of loud noises from the clippers and blow dryers.
Unless you have specific breeds that do require little grooming, this is a pain for your groomer, and sometimes a literal pain for your pet.
Groomers use non-slip surfaces. To help dogs stand still and steady, groomers invest in special non-slip padding for appropriate surfaces such as grooming tables or bathtubs. It helps prevent fatigue which makes for a calm dog.
The key is to keep your dog active, entertained, and show them that you really care for them. The endorphins released during these activities are a sure-fire way to reduce negative feelings associated with dog depression.
You might be thinking that a good, close shave could help cool your dog off while eliminating some of that furry mess. Well, think again. Many dogs should not be shaved at all, depending on their coat type. Shaving can actually have the opposite effect of what you intend and make your dog even hotter.
The worst time to brush your dog's coat is right after a bath while their hair is wet. Because brushing your dog when his hair is wet can be quite painful, while also creating more tangles and knots. That's why you should always brush dogs before you bathe them and then just let it all dry naturally afterward.
Dogs such as golden retrievers, German shepherds, Siberian huskies and any dog that seasonally sheds huge clumps of fur (part of its undercoat) should never be shaved. It is a misconception that shaving will help keep a dog cool on hot days.
Poodle hair is notoriously hard to groom. Whether you're going for an elaborate grooming style or not, their naturally curly fur demands near-constant brushing, clipping, and trimming. Neglecting a proper grooming regime for your poodle could land you at the veterinarian treating painful skin infections.
Your pet may be jittery after his/her shaving as he/she can now feel air around the body where before, he/she could not. This can make your pet jumpy and nervous for a few days. Shaving often exposes mat sores under the mats.
In fact, cutting or shaving your pet's fur can actually compromise your furry friend's ability to remain cool. Although wearing a fur coat in the summer might increase your risk of heat stroke, the same isn't true for your pets. Their coats actually provide a built-in heating and cooling system.
Dogs may lick their owners as a way of grooming and cleaning them, similar to how they lick themselves and other dogs. In the wild, wolves and other canines will lick their pack members as a way of grooming and cleaning them.
They don't like being handled.
Some just hate having their feet touched. Maybe they dislike having their tail brushed. Whatever thing they hate when you try to clean them up probably happens for every grooming. This would give them anxiety about every appointment, even if the thing they hate is only one small part.
They might be nervous, cold, bursting with anticipation, or having a really stimulating dream, but an underlying medical condition or an injury could also cause such tremors.
No groomer should administer sedatives to your dog unless a vet prescribed the drug for that particular animal. Doing so is in breach of the law!
Barking, howling, and whining can be common behavioral problems with dogs to grooming attempts. These fear based behaviors, much like in people, are volatile and can also lead to the other problem behaviors such as running away or aggression.