Here are the facts
When I am working on a dog who isn't cooperating, it's frustrating, the dog may be fidgeting, moving away from me, whining, growling or in extreme cases head butting or maybe even showing teeth. All I want to do is get the dog clean, make them look nice and help keep them healthy... sometimes I can't and that kills me.
But, I know the dog is most likely scared, in pain or just has no idea what is happening and me going into the groom or trying to continue by getting rougher or adding more restraints isn't going to make it better.
This is why it's important to take a step back when you start to feel the frustration, or even anger when our dogs aren't cooperating like we want them too.
This will allow you to regroup and reenter whatever it is you're doing in a better head space and a new plan (or maybe you even call it quits for that day)
But just because you regroup doesn't mean the dog will suddenly be ok with what you are trying to do. At the end of the day, no matter how slowly, gently or how much reinforcement is involved the dog may still say no. And that's ok.
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I can have it all planned out:
No other dogs in the salon, licky mats ready, knowing what parts of the process they struggle with the most and planning to stop when the dog is done (regardless of where in the grooming process we are) .. And it can still go sideways.
Dogs are not robots, there isn't always a way to get to the finish line, HOWEVER it's important to give ourselves grace when our best laid plans go sideways.
When the happens, take a step back, evaluate the visit and readjust for next time.
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Let's briefly talk about recalls
It's always important to take into account, what your dog is doing,and where they are in location to you when we call them.
This will effect how long it takes them to get back to you, or if they may be too distracted or something of higher value is in play.
In this clip I whistled (before starting to film) which is one of their recall cues.
Midna and Osa were closer and recalled quite quickly (they are also pretty speedy dogs so typically come like rockets)
Archer was closer to the parking lot, which has a few fire pits in it(very exciting for him, as they often have snippets of food)
So, he takes a minute to think about what is more important to him in this moment, finding something yummy in the pit or coming back to me. He then makes the (Imo right) decision to return to me. Archer is also not as fast as other dogs so this also will effect how fast he responds to any given recall cue.
He was highly reinforced for that recall because I know it was a bit harder for him.
And yes pokey pants is one of his many nicknames 😂. The only reason I tried to get him to speed up was for fun, how quickly he got back to me didn't actually matter.
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Grooming Tip:
Did you know that your nail clippers can get dull? And that dull nail clippers can actually effect your cooperative nail trimming with your dog?
When nail clippers start to dull they are not able to cut through our dogs nails as efficiently and require more pressure. This means that you can actually start to pinch the nail before it cuts, which can be a bit painful for our dogs.
Replacing your nail clippers regularly will ensure they are always sharp and able to cut those nails with ease.
As a professional groomer, I aim to replace my nail clippers every 6-8 weeks. For dog guardians at home it is recommended to replace them every 1-2 years depending on how often they are being used and cleaned.
When did you replace your nail clippers last?
Is it time for a new set?
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𝗚𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵𝘀 .
𝑴𝒚𝒕𝒉:
Short coated dogs DON'T require grooming.
𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒕 :
The term grooming often becomes synonymous with the term haircut and so although short coated dogs do not typically require a haircut they do in fact require grooming, as grooming is defined as maintenance of their coat, skin, eyes, ears and nails.
𝑴𝒚𝒕𝒉:
You should wait until your dog is older to introduce grooming
𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒕 :
Although your young dog may not require as much grooming until they are older, starting to introduce them to the process young allows more time for them to become accustomed to it as well as have a better understanding of what is going on when they do require it.
𝑴𝒚𝒕𝒉:
Bathing a dog to often can harm their coat and skin
𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒕 :
Although this comes from when we were still using products that were not designed for our dogs, we now have many different options to choose from. When we use the right products for our dog, we can safely bathe them as often as they require it.
Like with any industry, grooming is always growing and changing. This is why it is always important to find a groomer who continues their education so that they are able to better provide you and your dog with the most up to date information and products to ensure a positive and safe grooming experience.
When we are introducing something to our dogs it can be very easy for us to get a bit too focused on the end goal, moving at our pace instead of theirs.
This often results in us pushing our dogs too far, too fast and ended up either frustrated when our dogs are not where we think they should be, and/or, with a dog who is even further back than when we started.
It is always important to remember that it is the learner who should be setting the pace, and rate of reinforcement whenever we are introducing something new, not the teacher.
When I was in grade 4, I struggled to read, it didn't matter that my friends could, and if left to the pace of the rest of the class I would have fallen behind and likely been held back. However I was lucky, I got a tutor, who worked with me at my pace in an environment where I could focus. This allowed me to learn and I was able to catch up to where my classmates were.
I will forever be great full for that opportunity and it is one I try extremely hard to give to every dog and person that work with.
Remember if your dog is struggling with something, or isn't learning at the pace you think they should be, take a step back, get curious, adjust the criteria or environment to better set them up for success.
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Groomer Tip!
Do you supply treats when you go to the groomers?
Here is why you might want to start.
Dogs enjoy food. This is why so many different types of training use food to help reinforce all the good decision our dogs make.
Getting something yummy when they are stressed, anxious, or nervous about something (grooming) is an easy way to start to help them feel better
-I know when I'm upset and someone brings me ice cream, I tend to feel better 😋-
When you supply your own dogs favorite treats you are ensuring that your groomer has something for them.
Although many groomers keep a variety on hand, it is impossible for us to make sure we have something for every single dog that visits, especially those with allergies or sensitive stomachs.
Although suppling treats during the grooming process isn't a magic pill that will solve all your issues it can be a good way to help reinforce all those different grooming behaviours, and snuffle or licky mat beaks can be a fun yummy way for your dog to decompress a little during the process.
Remember it is never too late to start to help your dog feel a bit better about the grooming process.
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Following up on one of my reels from last week about how it is important to introduce your puppy to grooming at a young age.
I got quite a few messages with a myth I actually hear often
𝐼𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑝𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑦 𝑎 ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑔, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑎𝑡
As a groomer of 10+years, and certified trainer I promise you..that's just NOT true.
Although I'm not entirely sure where this myth comes from I believe it has to do with a dogs coat transition. Our dogs to through this transition anywhere between 6 months to about a year and a half, and this is where that super soft puppy coat grows out and their corser adult coat starts to grow in.
When puppies are given haircuts we are physically removing that puppy coat allowing the adult coat to grow in sooner.
However this WILL HAPPEN regardless of when your puppy is groomed and by waiting until they are older for that first introduction to grooming we are accidentally setting up our puppies for a potential scary and stressful process since it is not one they are already familiar with.
During this transition period, as the adult coat starts to mix in with the puppy coat, it actually creates a mutant coat of sorts that is much more likely to tangle and cause problems. This means that removing the puppy coat BEFORE this transition can actually help in keeping our puppies happy and healthy.
Early positive introduction to grooming will only help set up your puppy for a lifetime of grooming success.
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I know it can be really tempting to wait until our dogs are a bit older for that first haircut. Or it can seem like our shorter coated dogs don't need grooming for the first bit of their life... BUT when we wait too long to introduce new things to our dogs those introductions can become harder.
When our dogs are young, their brains are a lot more open to new experiences and when those new experiences are paired with positive things then our dogs learn that the experiences themselves can be good things.
What this means is:
Introducing your puppy to different aspects of the grooming process (either in your home or in a professional salon) is going to give you a better chance of getting a dog who understands that the process does not need to be a scary one. Especially if the introduction is done slowly, at the dogs pace and paired with positive reinforcement.
All dogs will require some form of grooming at some point in their life, So even if you don't think your puppy will NEED grooming for a while starting the introduction process as soon as possible will only help you(and them) when they do need it.
The best way to get ahead of the game is my being proactive. ❤️
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We expect a lot from our dogs.
But it's important to remember that before we expect them to meet our needs, we first need to make sure we have met theirs.
We should not be expecting our dogs to lay quietly at our feet while we work if they haven't had the opportunity to run, sniff, play and explore.
Nor should we be expecting them to stay out of the garbage, or recycling if we are unable to give them outlets for their natural scavenging and shredding behaviours.
Remember our dogs are living beings with needs, just like us, so it is important for us as their caregivers to make sure that those needs are met, because most often they are unable to do so by themselves. And if they can you may not enjoy how they go about it 😉
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You have all heard me talk about keeping your dogs nails short with regular nail trims.
BUT
what happens when your dogs nails and quicks (the blood supply) are already too long, and you are unable to clip them shorter? Don't panic.. There is hope.
If you are wanting to work on getting your dogs nails shorter, you just need to start trimming them more often.
As the nail grows, so does the quick.
But, the quick also receeds slightly when it is exposed to air (like after a nail trim)
So by trimming your dogs nails every 2-3 days you are continously exposing the quick to the air and are able to slowly work in getting those healthy short nails!
Some groomers (like myself) even offer nail trim packages to help you get those nails done as often as possible.
Remember never hesitate to talk to your groomer about your dogs nails if you are concerned.
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Grooming can feel.. in a word.. redundant, and I'm often asked what I mean when I say the bathing and the drying us what typically takes the majority of the time.
The only way to make sure we are able to properly groom a dog, loosening all that excess hair, and removing all the dirt is to get the water, and shampoo down through the entire coat and to the skin.
And the only way to ensure that we can fully brush out and do a haircut is to then have a fully dry dog.(especially since unlike grooming at home.. groomers do have a bit of time limit and are unable to wait for a dog to dry naturally)
This is because our brushes, clippers and scissors (and the rest of our grooming equipment) will not work properly on a dirty, or wet coat.
Have any questions? Never hesitate to ask me, or your own groomer 😊.
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Whether your dog have a basket full of toys, a cupboard full of treats, multiple collars, leashes or all of the above... I promise you... That isn't causing any type of behaviour issues, separation anxiety or allowing them to become 'alpha' of the house.
Dogs put up with so much, and have so many expectations put on them from us.
So if you feel the need to 'spoil' them, to help them meet their needs in whatever ways you can go ahead... Buy another toy, bake those treats, snuggle together on the couch (if you so choose to)
I hope you and your dogs have an amazing 'spoiled' weekend ❤️
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If your dog has allergies, irritations or sensitive skin chances are that you have been given medicated shampoo.
Here are a few tips to help make sure you are getting the absolute most out of that shampoo.
Step 1) Throughly clean your dog first with an all purpose cleaning shampoo.
The medicated shampoo is designed to help your dogs skin and coat, but it can not do that if it is blocked by dirt, excess hair or grime.
A good scrub will help remove all those and allow your medicated shampoo to properly do it's job.
Step 2) Make sure you throughly scrub the medicated shampoo throughout your dogs entire coat and leave it on your dog as directed.
Typically this is about 5-20 minutes.
This allows the medicated shampoo to actually soothe your dogs skin as intended.
Step 3) Rinse with cool water.
Cool water will really help to soothe your dogs skin that little bit extra, helping to complete the process.
Unlike warm water which can irritate already sensitive or inflamed skin disturbing the work of the medicated shampoo.
** this is very similar to appling a cool compress to our own skin when it is itchy or irritated **
If your dog needs medicated shampoo never hesitate to talk to your groomer about using it during their grooming routine to help them feel refreshed.
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Interactive feeding is the process in which we, as dog guardians, provide fun, interactive meal or snack opportunities for our pet dogs.
And there are many benefits to swapping out your dogs food bowl for something that provides more than just food.
Interactive feeding offers mental stimulation, slower eating pace, improved digestion and reduced risk of obesity. Additionally, interactive feeding can help reduce destructive behaviors, promote bonding between the dog and their owner, and help keep the dog occupied when we need to focus on other things.
There are many different ways to provide interactive feeding for our dogs including, food puzzles, stuffable toys, things to shred, chew, and destroy and so much more.
Although there is nothing wrong with a good old fashioned bowl when we are low on time or in a rush but whenever you can I highly recommend swapping out the meal bowl for something that will provide your dog with so much more then you can sit back and watch them or even make yourself a part of the game.
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I am beyond excited about my newest scent work gear for teaching!
These Sniff N' Snacks from @noseandhearts will help make pairing odour with food so much easier for all my students still learning to look for and find odour!
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Does your dog love to shred?
Shredding is an extremely natural dog behaviour and something that they need in their lives.
If appropriate outlets are not provided then our dogs will find their own ways to meet this need (such as furniture, pillows or whatever else they may find).
Cardboard can be a great outlet (especially if it's still got a bit of something yummy inside it 😉)
Meeting our dogs needs is the first step towards having a satisfied, well mannered family member.
Has your dog had a shredding opportunity today?
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