Being a pet owner is like being a parent; it’s about wanting the best for our little ones – whether it’s taking them to the vet for the first time, taking them to the park to meet other dogs, or even their first visit to a groomer. We naturally want to protect our pups and to ensure they are safe and comfortable in unfamiliar situations.
This is why being a groomer or other dog professional requires great care, compassion, and sense of responsibility – especially when dealing with young dogs. Positive early experiences set the stage for positive future experiences.
A few weeks ago I had an opportunity to groom a Goldendoodle pup named Spark. He was an adorable guy all of 16 weeks old. He stumbled excitedly toward my grooming van with his owner, his tail wagging as if he was going to get a treat for being so adorable. Suddenly he came to a screeching halt and started sniffing, curious to know what was in the van. I greeted Spark with a gentle pat on his head and a playful hug. When he was feeling safer, I carried him into the van where he got to sniff around until he was confortable with the space. Then it was on to the grooming table, where I noticed Spark’s eyes immediately widen. He started giving nervous kisses, a sign of needing reassurance.
With his owner still present, I gave Spark a hug to show him he was safe. Then off his person went and I began the grooming with cleaning his ears. Many pups find this sensation enjoyable and Spark immediately seemed calmer. Then came the often daunting nail trim.
Spark put his paws on the shiny metal clipper as if it was a toy. When I took hold of his right paw he started to pull back, but soon enough we got the first paw clipped. Yeah, success! I gave him tons of “good boy” feedback and he wanted to please me some more. This made trimming the rest of his paws go smoothly.
The next stage – the coat trim – often gives the first timer a bit of a scare, so I turned the clipper and let Spark feel the back of it on his body, again reassuring him that there was nothing to fear. After that, the fur trimming went without a hitch. Success! And now for Spark’s first bath…
Placing Spark in the oversized tub was swift and easy. He seemed to enjoy the warm spray of water flowing over his body and the massage of shampoo into his coat. He stood patiently as I scrubbed him down. After a quick rinse, he gave a good spin to release excess water.
As I towel him dry, his tail wags continually. A few final touches and it’s time for congratulations: “Spark, all finished!!! Good boy!!!” Another happy pup, and happy owner, too, to see her sweet boy all spruced up and obviously not traumatized.
Take care to choose your pup’s groomer with care to ensure a positive association with this essential activity. Same goes for veterinarian, trainer, sitter, walker, and any other dog professional your puppy meets. It’s a great way to show your love!
Miki Chan, owner/founder of SpaGo Dog, left the corporate world in 2010 to venture into the doggie business. Learn more about her SpaGo Dog state-of-the-art grooming service at spagodog.com.
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