Groomers might cover an aggressive dog's face with a towel while moving the dog. Aggressive dogs are restrained with a loop and most groomers have muzzles on hand for the toughest dogs. Neither of these devices will hurt your dog. Both ensure your dog stays on the table during the groom for her own safety.
Some solutions are muzzles, medications, or special anxiety reducing jackets. Muzzles: If your dog tends to snap and bite during grooming, putting the muzzle over it can make the task easier. Some muzzles are padded to avoid discomfort for your dog.
Some aggressive dogs may not calm down during grooming sessions despite your best efforts. However, they'll still need to be groomed. Some solutions may include special anxiety-reducing jackets (during nail trims), organic and all-natural medications, or muzzles.
Aromatherapy/ Calming Aids
Many pet groomers include aromatherapy to calm nervous dogs. They may use shampoos and conditioners with calming scents that include lavender, chamomile, and bergamot.
Be gentle and firm, but do not yell at or punish a hyper dog as this only increases excitement and makes the behavior worse. Conduct multiple short sessions rather than one long one, if necessary. Brush your dog while she is eating, or provide a chew toy or rawhide bone while grooming.
Normally, it's not necessary to sedate dogs if you need to have them groomed. Some dogs may be jittery or hyperactive, but most groomers are trained to handle difficult-to-handle dogs. However, a vet may suggest sedation for grooming if the dog is suffering from extreme fear or anxiety.
Use the visit to accustom your dog to the sights and sounds of the groomer, including the noise of clippers or dryers, and to practice being lifted on and off the grooming table. Be sure to follow up with lots of treats, so that your dog learns to associate the groomer's with good things. Think outside the box.
Slowly start introducing brushing his coat in the more difficult areas first. These include around his face and ears, his paws, and his tail. Give him plenty of praise and treats to reward him for getting it right. Turn the clippers on if you are using them and let your pup get used to the noise.
Keep your back straight. Place one hand under the dog's neck and onto the head. Pass your other arm under the dog's abdomen, close to the hindlimbs, and place your hand on the flank on the far side. Hold the dog towards yourself, supporting the dog by cradling it between your arms and body.
If a groomer injures your animal, you can file a small claims suit or lawsuit against the groomer or salon. A story about your animal's injuries on a local television station or in the newspaper can help prevent additional tragedies.
For many dogs who are uncomfortable with body manipulation, the dog grooming experience can be a stressful one. A nervous or fearful dog who doesn't like to be touched makes the job that much more challenging for your groomer—and that much more unpleasant for your dog.
One of the hardest parts about working at a dog grooming salon is keeping up with the cleaning. We have a constant flow of dogs coming in and out of our facility. Some people think that professional dog groomers just playing with puppies all day, and they are wrong!
Trazodone can both sedate a dog and relieve anxiety. This is a good dog sedative for grooming, veterinary visits, thunderstorms/fireworks, and other short-term stressful events.
An aggressive dog may bite or show other aggressive behaviors during grooming sessions for numerous reasons - whether they are feeling anxious, fearful, confused or have had previous bad experiences while being groomed.
The quick answer is: It will take an average of 1 hour to groom your dog. If he has a short and low-maintenance coat you may be done in as little as 20 minutes. If you own a breed with a more difficult coat or a large breed, it may take up to 2 hours to groom your dog.
Give your dog melatonin for a natural, over-the-counter option. This natural supplement that many humans take to help them sleep can be helpful for sedating dogs as well. If your dog weighs less than 5 kg (11 lb), give it 1 mg of melatonin. If your dog weighs 5–15 kg (11–33 lb), give it 1.5 mg.
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.
When pet hair and dander is inhaled, the tiny hairs and other harmful particles can travel down into the lung and stay there. In time this can inflame the lung lining and scar the airways, which can then progress into a chronic lung condition. We sometimes call this 'Groomers Lung'.
Summon your dog and pick up the clippers in her presence. Act happy when you grab the clippers and give your dog a treat. Repeat this step several times a day for a couple of weeks. Your dog should quickly learn to associate the sight of the clippers with praise and treats.
Ask for a sedated nail trim.
Unless there is a medical reason not to sedate your dog, your vet should be able to do a sedated trim. Being sedated should make the nail trim process less traumatic for your pup.
Place the nail clipper over each nail. Hold your dog firmly but gently and reassure him, provide a treat or distraction. Start squeezing clippers near the toes to make a clipping sound but do not actually clip the nail. Place the clipper on your dog's nail, but near the end, far away from the quick, and clip the nail.
Benadryl: This mild antihistamine sedative helps calm your pet when it is nervous about clipping its nails. Melatonin supplements: Help regulate body rhythm and help calm down your dog. Natural sedation methods: Herbs like California poppy, chamomile, rosemary, or valerian are natural relaxants.