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Dog & Comb Grooming

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United Kingdom
Portsmouth
Dog & Comb Grooming

Fully Insured, 1 to 1 Dog Groomer and Canine First Aider 🐾
(20)

15/10/2024

Happy 7th Birthday to our lovely Lou 🍖🐾❤️

09/10/2024

THE BENEFITS OF EARLY PUPPY INTRODUCTIONS TO THE PROFESSIONAL GROOMING SALON

The benefits of introducing puppies to the grooming salon as soon as they are fully vaccinations are massive. Dogs are not born knowing how to be groomed by a human, let alone a non-familiar human, so we need to introduce them to it slowly. It is a long post but please read on.

A good professional groomer wants your dogs to be relaxed and confident during grooming and this can easily be achieved if you start their grooming experiences early, which gives the groomer time to introduce themselves, the salon, equipment, processes and techniques positively over a period of sessions, building pups confidence, making positive associations, teaching them what is required of them during grooming, etc. The groomer will also give you advice how you can help at home to make the process even easier for your puppy.

Many groomers offer puppy packages to ensure your puppy gets the best start. Grooming training is equally as important as puppy obedience training. Investing financially and timewise in your pup's grooming experience should not be undervalued. Also bear in mind that for most breeds their groomer will handle them more than any other canine professional. Always ensure that the groomer you choose allows at least one session with no grooming taking place which will enable your puppy to get to process the salon, etc., which will make future visits less stressful.

Taking a 6 month old matted adolescent puppy to the groomers for the first time prevents all that gentle introduction, leaving the puppy with negative memories and associations which are difficult to undo. Imagine if your first visit to the hairdresser as a child your parent left you alone with the hairdresser and hadn't brushed or combed your hair for the last few months.

As a human, we really cannot fully understand the impact of walking into a grooming salon for a dog (let's call him Fred). Firstly, the salon is full of information that Fred will need time to process: sounds, sights, smells, textures. This alone can be overwhelming, especially if they are not allowed the time to process that information before they are whipped into the bath or onto the table to start grooming (both of which Fred is unlikely to have experienced before, so needs to process those too).

Most grooms involve:

*Fred being left with the groomer (maybe even the first visit)

* Fred being picked up, put on a high surface, moved between bath and table

* Safety restraints applied

* Bath

* Dried (towel, high velocity dryer, finishing dryer)

* Brushed all over (often whilst being dried at the same time)

* Claws Clipped

* Fur clipped, scissored

* Legs, ears and tail lifted

* Being moved around

* Hygiene areas being tided

* Some groomers also include:

* Ear fur plucking

* A**l gland emptying

* Teeth Cleaning

* Applying Cologne, bandanas and bows

* Using crates

That understandably is likely to be stressful for Fred, irrelevant of how good and gentle the groomer is, added to that Fred may have other issues that need taking into account:

* Separation anxiety

* General anxiety around strangers

* Noise sensitivity

* Touch sensitivity

* Discomfort/Pain

* Matted coat

* Not used to being handled by a stranger

* No grooming training done at home

* Other dogs and groomers that may be in the salon

* Not used to standing still for long periods

* Not used to having safety restraints put on

Now we are beginning to build a picture of why Fred is totally overwhelmed, struggles with the whole processes, builds up negative association with the grooming salon. This may then lead to Fred show aggressive behaviours during grooming, requiring muzzles, additional safety aids, etc. Eventually, Fred's guardians may find that groomers will refuse to groom him, leaving no option to have him sedated at the vets to be clipped off - a very expensive groom, or find that Fred freezes at the salon door the next time you take him, or comes home completely exhausted due to the stress and anxiety he has had to cope with.

I hope this gives you a least a basic understanding of why it is so important to prioritise grooming introductions

To give Fred an even better start on his grooming journey, his guardians could have invested in Sue Williamson' book "Introducing Your Puppy to Grrr-less Grooming"

02/10/2024

Posy survived swallowing a fishing hook 🪝😟earlier this year, she went through surgery and weeks of aftercare. She pulled through and is as beautiful as ever 😻

10/09/2024

Gorgeous little pom pup Coco 💕🐾

04/09/2024

Little Angel Dolly has some allergy issues, hence the halo on her last visit to the salon 😇❤️😇 X

02/09/2024

For the first six months, keep your Cockapoo’s grooming routine simple!

Regular brushing for 10 minutes, 4-5 times a week, will keep your pup well-groomed.

Stick to a basic grooming kit with a comb, brush and slicker brush. When your puppy’s adult coat starts coming in you can introduce trimming. ✂️

As soon as your puppy has had all its injections and is safe to leave the house, it’s time to book your puppy pamper appointments with your nearest Spotlight Groomer. ✅

With plenty of reassurance and cuddles, the groomer will gradually get your puppy used to the sights and sounds of the salon, preparing them for their first haircut. As owners, all you need to do is maintain the brushing in between. 💗

Visit our website to find a qualified spotlight groomer near you 👉🏻 www.thegroomersspotlight.com

02/09/2024

Beautiful chilled out red fox lab Wilson 🥰🐾🦮 #❤️

29/08/2024

DOGS IN PAIN STILL RUN AND PLAY

This is Twig my yorkie, as many of you know she was born with deformed back legs. She has patella issues, cruciate issues, malformed hocks and also elbow disease.

Despite all of this, Twig would play all day. She is a young dog and would run non-stop, play with toys, play with my other dogs 24/7 if she could. She always wants to go for a walk- she never wants to turn to go home, she would walk all day if you let her.

She’s never grumpy, never shows any aggression even when she’s in pain. She partially ruptured a cruciate a few months ago and despite not being able to use her leg she was still desperate to go for a walk and kept dropping balls in my coffee (obvs I didn’t let her walk or play!) 😳

She has phases where her legs are really bad and she is in pain. It would be really easy for me to think she’s ‘fine’ and not in pain as she would still play all day if I let her. My only behavioural signs of pain with her are that she wakes in the night and takes a while to settle again and she barks a bit more than normal at outside noises.

I’ve also seen night-waking with my Dalmatian, Lucky, when he was in pain and my first sign of his back issues was that he would wake up and wander around in the middle of the night. He also still wanted to walk and play.

People often think that a dog who is in pain won’t want to go for a walk but dogs in pain are often still keen to go for a walk and they will want to chase a ball etc and play if you let them. Don’t ever assume they aren’t in pain because they want to run and play!

Signs of pain can be subtle and these are some that I commonly see in dogs I work with -

🛌 They may wake in the night or find it hard to settle in the evening, pacing or moving from bed to bed

🐕 They may vocalise more (whine or bark) and be more attention-seeking (nudging your hand to stroke them all the time or following you from room to room)

🛋️ Hesitating or unable to climb on/off the sofa, go up the stairs or get in and out of the car or needing a bigger run up to get in. Being slower to get up from resting.

😔 Being unhappy about being handled (groomed/dried etc) or unhappy about people sitting next to them on the sofa or walking past their bed

🐩 Changes in interactions with other dogs on walks- less keen on interacting or less keen on certain types of play etc

🏀. Lying down on walks or walking at a slower place but also conversely running excessively (‘runners high’ endorphins make them feel good temporarily)

You may also notice physical changes (the way your dog moves or the way their body looks.

💊 Please chat to your vet if you see any changes, dogs don’t suddenly change and start or stop doing things for no reason.

Pain is one of the primary causes of many aggression in dogs. Dogs also often don’t stop running and playing when they are in pain- signs of pain can be subtle and easy to miss so please, please seek advice from your vet if you see changes

Laura McAuliffe, Dog Communication 2024

24/07/2024

With Tails of St Leonards – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

24/07/2024

With Animal Love Pet First Aid – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

20/07/2024

As the temperature is set to rise tomorrow, remember to keep your dog cool. Don’t exercise them in the hottest parts of the day, and watch out for signs of heatstroke.

Read our tips on how to keep your dog cool at www.thekennelclub.org.uk/heatstroke.

17/07/2024

Tegan enjoying a treat in the sunshine (finally! ☀️😀) 🤗🐾

10/07/2024

Super cute Maggie 💕🐶🐾

17/06/2024

1st puppy visit for gorgeous little 3 month old labradoodle Maisy 😍💕🐾

04/06/2024

Mollie the Collie 💜 14 years young 🐾😍🐶

31/05/2024

Beautiful short clip for Lully girl Cinammon 😍🐶🐾💕

17/05/2024

Brave boy Bears 🐻 first visit to he did great despite being scared of having his back end touched, we were patient and persevered and he went home a happy, tangle free pooch 🐶🐾💙

10/05/2024

Another absolutely adorable senior pup for your viewing pleasure, beautiful boy Oz’s first time 💙🐾😻

01/05/2024

Lovely little Maggie May 💕💜💕

28/04/2024

Little before and after of sassy pants Coco the Pom 💕🐾🥰

22/04/2024

Some beautiful shots of Cinnamon ☺️😍🐾💕

Address

Portsmouth
PO14PS

Opening Hours

Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Saturday	9am - 6pm

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Videos

Beautiful chilled out red fox lab Wilson 🥰🐾🦮 #dogandcombgrooming #redfoxlab #goodboy #dogs #lovedogs #dogsofinstagram #dogsofportsmouth #❤️

Fabulous 15 year old Foey 🥰

Biscuit 🍪 🩷 came by for ear pluck and clean and nail trim #dogslife #DogHealth #terriers #lovedogs #dogandcombgrooming #doggrooming

🐾🩷🐾🩷🐾

West Highland Reel 💃❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Winston’s 2nd visit to Dog & Comb Grooming 😍💜🐾

Posy 💖🐾🐶

Cuteness overload for your weekend 💖🐾💖 @scratchicoco @mtim94 #dogandcombgrooming #lovedogs #cavapoo #doggroomingbusiness #dogsarefamily

https://www.facebook.com/share/xAPKnTBU2LYo6QcC/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Pippa 🩷🐾🩷 #dogandcombgrooming #westhighlandwhiteterrier #westhighlandterrier #lovedogs #doggroomingbusiness #hampshire #goodgirl

Sprocker Posy having a make over 🥰🐾🫧🛀 #lovedogs #dogandcombgrooming #sprockerspaniel #doggrooming

Foey’s fed back that he had a spring in his step after his groom and they were both tired out after he’d dragged her round the park chasing squirrels 😝🐿️😊 #lovedogs #borderterrier #seniordog #portsmouth #dogandcombgrooming 🐾❤️

Gorgeous JuJu had a good nail trim and groom ❤️🐾❤️ many thanks to Caroline and Clare @learntogroomdogsatdandinis for an excellent refresher on handling, scissor skills and technique 😊 from Sarah @dogandcombgrooming #doggroomingbusiness #lovedogs #dogsarefamily #westhighlandwhiteterrier #reactivedog