What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 6pm Tuesday 9am - 6pm Wednesday 9am - 6pm Thursday 9am - 6pm Friday 9am - 6pm

Lock’s Dog Grooming

Home
United Kingdom
Taunton
Lock’s Dog Grooming

City & Guilds fully qualified groomer who operates on 1-1, no force, holistic basis.
(6)

12/08/2024

Hi Everyone

Can I remind people that as per my policy, groom payment is by cash or card on the dogs collection. Unless it's a home groom or I'm doing a dog drop off for local WFH neighbours. Due to a stressful situation 2 years ago with avoidance of payment, I ceased taking "at home" bank transfers after that. Additionally, once people return home and are getting on with everyday life, payment inevitably gets forgotten. I really don't enjoy chasing people down for money.

Thank you for your cooperation. 🐾

12/08/2024

Frosty faced Ben was in today. He doesn't have a bath but has everything else and comes here every 3 months. He was really moulting and needed a good de-shed. His mobility is getting poorer, but he is nearly 12 so I groom him on the floor so he doesn't have to get on the table. Really good with his brush, comb, deshed, ear clean, nails, paw trim and a**l gland check. As long as there's treats in it for him. His skin was very dry so applied some hypoallergenic coat and skin conditioner, so he looks nice and glossy. Always great work from Ben. ❤️

09/08/2024

Here's Winnie in for her full groom. She was very excited to see me on arrival. She has a very waxy ear that causes her some sensitivity issues. In the bath she's fine, as long as no shower head on her head and face, so those areas are flannel washed. No grooming loop. I give her a quick rub down with the towel, then put it on the floor where she dries herself. On the table, no loop, finish dryer only. Fine with a brush and comb and ear clean. A bit fidgety with nails. Clipper work she's very sensitive, so it's a few clipper runs and then some cheese. Tail work was good, paw work - sensitive. We popped out for respite which she enjoyed, making sure she didn't find any cat 💩 to eat this time! Then it was facework and finishing off. She is very jerky with head, ear and facework but we get there with cheese. Hair is out of her eyes at least. Post groom it's spins for cheese and ball play. ❤️

08/08/2024

Video of Lola mad for the scratchboard!

08/08/2024

Here's Lola in for her usual. She loves coming here she runs straight in without having her owner on the other end of her lead. She's due her nail injection so was expecting some extra resistence to leg/paw work today. Her skin issue has returned, only an isolated patch around her bottom, but it did make her sensitive in that area when being bathed and clipped. No blast dryer, finish dryer only. I lifted her ear to do an ear clean and she growled, I had a good look but didn't see anything. Super sensitive around legs and paws, lots of scissor stroking so she knows what's coming and then a food reward, Lola will work to some extent for food. But when Lola refuses she refuses - like inside rear legs and trimming the top of her paws today and so I leave it, she knows this. It was a small trim of her front paws on the outside avoiding nails and a removal of a mat inside, which was great, as she'd refused a paw mat removal in a previous session. Head trim, ear trim all good. She moved when I trimmed an eyebrow which meant going a bit shorter than I would usually! The other was cut to the same length. On a respite break, Lola will go to the toilet but then wants to head straight back into the salon, there's no sausage outside! We have a few minutes of ball play then finish off. Nails are done with the scratchboard, she loves using this, another dog that scratches the board before I've put the treats inside! I'll only do what Lola allows me to do, since her nail and latterly her skin issue she has become hyper sensitive. I'd rather her trust me and enjoy her time here, which she does, than perform a great groom that would make her extremely stressed and miserable. ❤️

07/08/2024

Watson was in today to see Cher-Lock. On arrival he was a lot happier to see me wanting fuss. He normally goes to the toys. Health check, noticed some matting in places. Bath time he got straight in, sometimes he has a sulk beforehand! Great with his bath. Tablework, finish dryer on mid setting. Ear clean good. Back nails fine. Front nails apart from dew claws were a refusal. Clip all good apart from rear hocks where he has a rear dew claw. That's been an issue since week 1. Facework and tail work pretty good, mats were removed from ears and tail. For the first time ever he accepted clippers on his front legs, not on paws though. His owners have been desentisising him at home. Didn't like scissors down any of his legs or front paws, so it was a quick trim and a check for mats as he was growling. It's a small win with the clippers so I'm happy about that. I got the scratchboard out for nails, he loves it and he's so enthusiastic he impatiently scratches the board when I haven't had a chance to replenish it! He's so funny! 😆❤️

05/08/2024

Lottie was in today for her full groom. Lottie is a nervous dog and doesn't like some aspects of the groom, such as getting on the table or dryers. Health check denoted a few isolated small mats in her ears and under her armpits, she had some sticky buds attached to her inside rear legs, but apart from that all good Lottie loves bath time and is quite happy with the shower spray all over, in typical Retriever fashion. After her bath she lies on the floor next to the aircon to dry, I tried the finish dryer again today and she was ok with that on low. After an ear clean, nail clip, a brush and comb damp we went out for respite. After respite she had another brush, comb, deshed and banded comb. I snipped out her mats and trimmed up her feathers and tummy area. After this we went out again, as she was still a bit damp on one side, and on return trimmed her tail and bottom. Lottie doesn't like to stand for her groom, she pancakes back to the floor, but she's happy to be rolled around and take a few biscuits! Lottie does have her little foibles, but we work around what makes her happy. ❤️

05/08/2024

This boy Jezza was in today. He's stopped shaking on arrival, he's still a bit apprehensive whilst he gets his bearings, then follows me around the salon when his owner has left. He gets lots of fuss before we start. Health check, he had a red ear, didn't look waxy, more irritated, so suspected some dryer resistence. Bath work he's really relaxed now as I don't shower his head, face or ears, they are flannel washed. He really doesn't like the spray around those areas. After a brief dry with the chamois, I put a towel out for him where he dries himself. He jumped onto the table today, no dryers as I thought. So after an ear clean and a brush/ comb we went out so he could dry off. On return he was clipped, he really has stopped wriggling with his clip now, he's happy to stand there. Paw and tail work were great. The only stumbling block is facework, but we are taking baby steps in the right direction and I'm trimming a little more off each time. He let me pull some eye hair bulk out of his eyes and remove it. Chin and jaw trimming, he's better, its getting shorter with each session. Headwork I work from the back to the front, if I show him the scissors from the front he starts head snatching. Ear work very sensitive with head shaking, so didn't go as close to the leather as I'd normally for safety. Post groom I took him out for a toilet stop and as is customary now, he has a cuddle in my lap. ❤️

02/08/2024

This is Oatley, my Cornwall dog. We had been making great progress with distraction techniques, licky mats and touch desentisiation. On arrival his behaviours were off and didn't want to be left. I took him for a walk and he calmed down. Health check, his coat was in lovely condition. He was very paw shy to let me look for any mats, so chose to revisit. I thought I'd try him with a partial jacket clip before bathing so he dries quicker as his coat is thick. He wasn't too bad, a bit of whiny here and there, where I'd stop and start again. Bath time, he's always good but we had some whining today. Back on the table finish dryer on low, ear clean ok. On trimming his front paw he growled. I tried a back paw as they tend to be less sensitive, he turned around and bit me. He has never done this, he's gone to mouth but with diversion techniques he's been fine. He's very food motivated. He was ok with clipping his jacket again, he used to show negative behaviours around his undercarriage and bottom, but he was ok with that. Back legs, ok with the clippers, but didn't go over his paws due to previous reaction. I put a licky mat out with liver paste to trim his tail and have a look at his back paws, I opened up a toe when he turned around and bit me again. This was just not like him. With some artist brush stroking to desentise him, he eventually let me see. He had mats in all his toes. I cut them all out with some artist brush desentisiation first, and he gave me a kiss. I think this was his way of apologising! He let me trim his nails. I replenished the licky mat to tackle front legs with scissors, as that is a trigger and he was whining with that. I'd stop, run the artist brush over them and go again. Same approach with front paws, but we had paw lifting, he eventually let me get his mats out with a licky mat and sausage reward. Again, mats in every toe and most had grass seed in them, I guessed this was why he was hypersensitive as grass seed can be painful. His paws are trimmed up a bit, but he was really struggling so didn't prolongue it. I gave him a chewy treat and quickly clipped his dew claws. He was clearly struggling with this element today, so decided on the scratchboard for front nails as he's food motivated. He worked this out very quickly and enjoyed participating in a game. I really was flummoxed by Oatleys behaviours today. A conversation about Oatley's behaviours on collection, revealed a couple of weeks ago he went to the vet for an injection. After having Oatley taken off his owners at the door, they put a muzzle on him straight away and took him off for his procedure. Oatley was pretty shut down when he got home. 😞 I've tried so hard to help desentisise this boy for nearly a year without a muzzle. Previous groomers had used them and it had massively traumatised him. Oatley had a muzzle slapped on him without even assessing his behaviours first, or checking with the owner. A few treats and the procedure would have been fine, he was at the stage where he was comfortable to have things done to him for food. No wonder Oatley bit me. It is extremely frustrating and a major set back, but we are where we are. We will work around it and with some patience as before, he'll be back to how he was. ❤️

02/08/2024

This comedy duo were in today. I hear Pip in the car, she is so excited. They both run in, Pip straight to the toy tray and Keeba by my side barking for a biscuit, his face is so happy! Keeba is on some meds for his mobility and it was much better today, less hind leg dragging. Keeba is bathed first, then Pip, after a towel dry and coat conditioner we go out for a walk to dry their coats off a bit. On return, Keeba has an ear clean, nail clip, brush, comb and deshed damp, whilst Pip is de-squeeking my toys! After Keeba gets off the table, Pip knows it's her turn and she jumps on. She then has the same treatment applied to her whilst velcro dog Keeba is by my side waiting for a treat. We then went out again to dry their coats some more. Afterwards Keeba has another deshed and a banded comb, Pip then follows with the same. Pip doesn't like the dryer sounds, it really stresses her, so they are left to dry naturally. Pip only de-squeeked 3 toys today which was pretty good! I had saved some toilet rolls for her, as she loves to play with them. However, it would appear Mr Lock put them out for recycling. Lovely dogs to groom, Keeba anything for a biscuit, Pip works for cheese. ❤️

01/08/2024

Windsor was in this afternoon. I haven't seen him for a few months, as his owner was going to keep on top his coat at home. I'm always a bit nervous when I'm told that, but like to give benefit of the doubt! Unfortunately, as soon as Windsor got out of the car I knew he was matted. Windsor has had his moments with growling, biting, climbing over my head. Grooming isn't his favorite day out and a very matted Windsor was going to be interesting. I clipped him first, my 7F blade wouldn't go through it was so thick, and it's the first time I've had to go to a 1mm 10F blade. He had an apple sized mat where his testicles would have been if he hadn't have been neutured. His front legs were two columns of mats his paws were encased in mats, 2 massive lumps of mat under his ears and in his muzzle. His undercarraige had mats of debris. Frankly he was a matted mess. I started with his jacket, he was very patient, moving around. No climbing, no biting or growling. Lots of kisses though! he let me clip inside his undercarriage down his back legs. The only bit he fidgeted about with, was trying to get the mats out of his front paws. They would have been painful. He had mats in each toe that contained grass seed. I trimmed his paws first then ran the clippers over and he was happy with that. The only bit of nose crinkling I got, was finding the mats in his muzzle, but relaxed when I cut them out. A bit wriggly with head and facework, but he'll work for sausage. Mats were removed from inside his ears, his nails trimmed and his ears cleaned. I was really impressed with his behaviours on the table. He then got in the bath no issue. All good. No escape attempts which he's done before. Didn't want any dryers on, no surprise his skin would have been quite sensitive. I've had a chat with his owner about commiting to 8 weekly grooms going forward, as what they were doing at home clearly wasnt working, and that's been agreed. ❤️

01/08/2024

Ginger was brought in this morning for her bath and brush. Normally mum brings her, today dad brought her, it was interesting to observe her behaviours. She refused to come in, then when she did she sulked under the table. She thought she was going out with her dad and she's obviously a daddy's girl too! I left her to come around, she remembered I have treats and came out. I took her for a walk thinking that might help. On return she refused the bath so I started bathing her on the floor, after realising that a bath was going to happen anyway, she got in the tub! 😆 she loves a bath normally. Tablework, didn't like the blast dryer, so she was part finish dried. I cleaned her ears, trimmed her paws up and cut her nails. Then we went for a respite walk where she was back to being my friend again. I brushed and combed her coat. Any mats were snipped out, there weren't many as she's coming regularly now, her coat is in lovely condition. After her groom we had some cuddle time and she had a couple more treats. It is funny how dog behaviours alter when there's a change to their routine. ❤️

31/07/2024

This new dog is Toby, he's 8 years old and has a few lumps and bumps. One large one in his groin area, there was another hiding behind it, on the inside of his leg. Health check denoted quite waxy ears, apart from his lumps everything else was good. A**l gland check fine. Toby climbed onto the door rim of the bath, he struggled getting his rear leg up with the lumps on it, so gave him a helping hand. Bath time he was great. Tablework, he was a bottom wriggler. He's been groomed before, so I tried the blast dryer which had him paw lifting, so I turned it off and put the finish dryer on low. Whilst he was drying, I cleaned his ears, he loved that leaning in for more, trimmed his paws, clipped his nails - a bit paw shy, particularly rear but he loves sausage so we got around. I suspect he's had a belly strap on for his clips previously as he's very wriggly. I'd pop him up to do a couple of clipper runs then when he sat down, I'd move elsewhere, stand him a bit, a clipper run or 2, then sit for a bit and conducted his clip in that fashion. I don't like using belly straps the groom becomes forced. Toby didn't like his bottom being touched or his tail, he had a big mat in his tail so I scissored it out with thinners with the help of sausage. He was fine clipping the inside of one leg, the other he really didn't like the clippers around the lumps there. There's a few stray hairs, but I'm not going to try it again when he's making it clear he's uncomfortable A bit of head swinging with ear trimming and head clipping, but again he'd work for food. We had some respite in the shade and we had ball play post groom. I throw the ball, he runs to fetch it, picks it up and drops it where it is, and then comes to me for a treat. It's not really how it works 😆 but this boy is so smiley, he's definitely worth a good boy treat. ❤️

30/07/2024

This is Laura, she was in for her first puppy groom. Her owners have never left her before, so it was going to be interesting to see how she would react. We started off slowly with a getting to know you process, I wanted her to get accustomed to the table being work space, floor being safe space. So I kept the table low so she could come and go. I tapped the table she got on, treat given, she got off and sat on the floor waiting for a treat. No treat. Tap the table, up she got, treat. She soon got the hang of it and was happy to stay on the table! Start small with a shampoo sniff. Brush and comb had her running off, I tried her with an artist brush all over which she was more accepting of. Paw feeling she was great, I applied some paw wax, all good. Felt and stroked her nails, no resistence, trimmed a couple of long nails and dew claws. Trimmed some hair out of her toes, again perfectly still. Ear clean good. I put a groom loop loose on her, she was really engaged by this point as she started to know that any good work was rewarded. I raised the table, put the finish dryer on low, curious but no adverse reactions. I popped a treat into the bath, she put 2 paws on and I lifted her in for safety just in case it was that little bit too high, grooming loop on. Excellent. For Laura's first session she was amazing. Once she's mastered brushing we are well on the way. When her owners returned, she didn't even say hello, glued to my side (I'm so sorry!). But I'm hoping that's been reassuring for her owners, who were worried about leaving Laura, that she had a nice time. Everything is conducted at her pace, reading her body language. There was no reapplying of things she wasn't happy about, so we can build up on her desentisiation in stages. When I was talking to her owners, Laura jumped into the bath, no treats had been forthcoming for a while! she's a smart girl! ❤️

30/07/2024

Here's Winston in for his clip. He doesn't have a bath, its too overwhelming for him. In his last session he was very hypersensitive and struggled to get much done. He had a couple of grass seeds in his paws which may have been the issue, he has been to the vets and he's been given a clean bill of health, they seem to think it might have been the grass seed. Today on arrival, his little face in the car, he was so excited he couldn't wait to come in barking to announce his arrival. He's normally all about the sausage, but as well as the sausage he was by my feet leaning in for some love and fuss. He let me stroke his head as well, which was unusual as he is a bit head shy. Health check good, ear clean fine, nails done. Clipper work he was great, he let me clip all around, his back paws, on his head, ears, inside his legs and around his tummy (which has in the past been trigger for clipper biting). The only resistence was clippers down his front legs, he'd tentatively give me his leg, withdraw it, become brave again and re-offered, I managed to clip a couple of inches but the closer I got to his paws the more reluctant he was. No equipment biting though today. After a trim of his eyebrows and stop area, we went for a respite walk in the shade. When we came back I scissorred his legs and then went over them with the blenders. He didn't need a licky mat and the remainder of headwork and facework, excellent. Winston was a little superstar today, very proud of him ❤️

29/07/2024

Little Effie was in today for another session. She's really happy to be here and we follow protocol, walkie first. As it was nice, I grabbed some equipment and took it outside so she could be groomed on the bench. Clipper work we are slowly getting around, I revisit all the areas she's permitted before, then start travelling slowly to new areas that she's previously refused. Effie let me clip her bottom today 👏 there was a mat there and I managed to get some of it, but then the nose wrinkling started. Before that she let me clip her front legs to her paw, more clipping under her belly and further down her back legs. We then came in and she sat on my chair. She needed her face trimming a bit, so whilst she was relaxed and comfy she let me trim her eyebrows, her stop area, her chin and jaw line (which took out a big mat). This girl is slowly growing in confidence, her very first session she would barely let me do anything and hid under the bath steps. Nails are a trigger so I'm going to do more work on that next time. I'm really pleased with Effie's progress, her trust is really growing and she knows that when things get too overwhelming (her nose crinkles and there's the deep rattle "grrr" sound) - we stop. We do things on Effie's terms and that process is working for her. She's not in a rush to leave now. ❤️

29/07/2024

Charlie was in this afternoon for a bath and dry. On his health check his skin was so much better. Some isolated ye**ty patches around the base of his tail, but that was about it. He's been on a supplement to help with ye**ty skin. He smelt so much better too, he did smell very musty before and his nails are improving as well. I put the steps out for him to the bath, he climbed straight in. He was double dunked in hypoallergenic shampoo, and used the exfoliating gloves to get the shampoo right into his skin. After his bath he normally lies down for his dry and likes to be fed biscuits, but today, he was moving about, and he indicated he wanted to go out. So I took him for a brief walk which helped with his drying. His mobility appeared much better. Charlie was brushed, combed, had a partial deshed, his ears cleaned and trimmed inside, his paws trimmed up and a few nails cut. Charlie is ever so good, happy to do anything for a few biscuits. ❤️

29/07/2024

Bertie was in this morning for a full groom. At his last session he was extremely fidgetty and it was a struggle to get much done. He was so happy to see me again on arrival, he lets out little crys jumping up for fuss, he then heads straight for the toy tray, showing us what he's found. He receives a lot of fuss before his health check/groom and we play some ball. Bathwork quite a bit of rim climbing, even though he gets some sausage in the bath, he knows that the table is where most of the food happens - he likes to see the container as well! After his bath he ran straight to the table, he received some sausage. In the past he's been funny about the blast dryer, but he accepted it today - but not on his head. Nails good, paw trim and ear clean good. Brush and comb he was fine, then I started with his clip. He sat there quite happily, at one point he even lay down. After his clip & visor trim we went out for respite, which he loved. When we came back he hopped straight back on the table. Facework a bit wriggly, particularly muzzle, but we got there with food. He sat there as good as gold with another clipper run and a tidy up with the blenders. I didn't even have to get a licky mat out. Post groom he loves climbing my chair to be pushed around and getting up on the table. He didn't do that in his last session, so something was definitely off with him, it happens. Really great work from Bertie today. ❤️

27/07/2024

Here's some more photos of Dilly's groom that her owner has sent over today. Her owner forgot her collar yesterday, and I called in very briefly to return it to her this morning. Dilly barked, then a sniff, recognition! Followed by a waggy tail as she lay next to me for some pets, which was reassuring that yesterday had gone well. ❤️

26/07/2024

This is Dilly. She came in last week for a groom, but she was far too stressed, with plenty of growling and we agreed that we'd treat the session as an intro meeting instead. Dilly hasn't had the best start in life and is a bundle of anxiety. With the aid of a relaxant (not sedation) today, and with her owner present, I played things really slow. I sat on the table and eventually she approached when she knew I had food. First with a little light touch, then a bit of cheese, a bit more, followed with cheese, initially head shy, so gentle touching around her body, cheese and so on. It got to the stage she was focussed on the container and not what I was doing, which was brilliant. She eventually let me progress to her head. I then showed her the clippers, switched them on and off, giving her a treat when she accepted the noise. I ran the clippers all over her in small bursts without them being switched on. Then proceeding to "air clip" her with them switched on. No reaction, focussed on the cheese, starting slow she was clipped a bit, followed by a treat and we went on like that throughout her clip. Paw work excellent. Facework, pretty good, she allowed me to cut some mats out of her muzzle. Not happy with scissors around her eyes, so I worked from the back of her head to the front. I then went backwards and forwards until her head and eye area were trimmed, she was happier with that approach. Dilly's owner wanted her bathed, I said that we'd do tablework first from a welfare perspective, as she had mats, and assess her from there. At least if she was cut really short it was less time in the tub. Dilly was so good with tablework and loved working for cheese, that we proceeded to bathwork. She was fine and I flannel washed her face to reduce any stress from the shower spray. She was towel dried then went and sat in my chair! I'm glad we approached her groom with an intro first, she wouldn't have coped. The salon was familiar and she'd met me before. Good job by Dilly today. ❤️ Dilly's owner has some additional photos which I'm hoping she'll send on. 🤞

26/07/2024

This is Ted. I don't as a rule do home grooms, but Ted was getting very stressed and refused to get out of the car. For his past few sessions, he's been groomed at home to see what is bothering him in his own environment. We started with a bath, but come table work he'd start getting really overwhelmed. His previous session he refused facework and paw work. It has been noted he has some sensitivity in front legs and paws, which has become apparent away from the salon. This morning, I saw Ted walking with his owner and waited for them. Ted was so excited to see me and bounded over, snuffling my bag for the treats! which was great. It proved the issue isn't with me. Some dogs just don't take or gel with groomers, it's not that they've done anything wrong. There's just no connection. We decided no bath today, let see how that pans out. Well, I was very proud of this boy today. He was SO much better. I performed facework and paws first and he was fine with that, and with digging out some mats. Clipping he was great, the only bit he didn't like were clippers down his front legs, but he accepted the scissors for a bit. He did start getting a bit bored towards the end of his groom, and was wandering off. After a break, he let me trim his legs a bit more and trim his head up. He's coming back to the salon next time, hopefully now it's just tablework without a bath, he will be more inclined to get out of the car. I even managed some shots of him today. ❤️

25/07/2024

These 2 Betsy and Tilly, were in for a bath and nail clip today, they are absolutely bonkers! 😆 they both ran in very excited to see me, Tilly jumping up repeatedly for fuss. Then they were running around the salon exploring, picking up toys. They are on the move constantly, trying to keep them still for some photographs has its challenges! Health check, Betsy had some red irritation in her groin area, it looks like she's been bitten a few times and she’s been nibbling it. Coat pretty good still from its last deshed. Tilly's ear eczema was a bit better, inside her paws, mainly front, it was really red, so she has some allergy going on there. Her coat was badly shedding again. Tilly was bathed first, in hypoallergenic shampoo. She is very wriggly, normally I'd bath dogs together but I'm focussed on trying to prevent an escape. Whilst i was bathing Tilly, Betsy decided to do a 💩 in the corner. After she'd deposited her present she'd then do boingers up the bath to see what was going on which then got Tilly excitable! I rubbed Tilly all over with the exfoliating gloves then after her rinse she was dried over the floor drain. Loads of hair came out in the bath. After a bath swill, it was Betsy's turn, she's pretty good and will stay in the tub. She was washed in oatmeal and aloe to soothe her irritation. After a dry, Betsy had her nails clipped, ears cleaned and I applied some antiseptic to her groin area, she gave me a big face wash afterwards. Tilly thought getting on the table was a game, then she'd clamber all over me. I sat next to her until she calmed down, then cleaned her ears, partially deshedded her and clipped her nails. She had some aloe vera applied inside her red paws and the inside ear flaps where she has eczema. I took 20 odd photos, only 7 were useable of them both still! This pair are 100 miles an hour of chaos and amusement! ❤️❤️

Address

Curload, Stoke St Gregory
Taunton
TA36JE

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 6pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm

Website

http://www.locksdoggrooming.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Lock’s Dog Grooming posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Videos

Video of Lola mad for the scratchboard!

Vid 2...well done Wilma! ❤️

Here's a couple of videos showing Wilma having a desentisiation session today. This girl was extremely groom anxious. Therefore, we are going back to basics, to introduce various aspects of the process slowly and to get her feeling that this is a safe place to be. Today was a nail focus day. I had thought of ways in which to make nail work fun as many dogs don't like their nails clipped. I purchased this scratch board which you put treats inside. Dogs scratch the board and I release the treats. I wasn't convinced this was going to work but look at Wilma go! She's got this...well...nailed! ❤️

This is new dog Travis. He was good with his bath. He was ok with the quieter blast dryer everywhere apart from his head. He was fine with the finish dryer on his head and ears. When it came to clipper work we had quite a lot of anxiety. Crying, dry heaving and biting the clippers. I took him off the table and we went for a little walk and when we came back he'd allow a bit more. When it came to clipping his bottom, tail, inside leg, groin, under ears, sanitary area and hocks we had more of the same, I took him off the table again and let him decompress. After a few minutes he was back on the table where he was good with bottom and tail work, he loved being told how good he was and receiving a bit of sausage, we started to gather some momentum. Then when I went to clip the remaining areas, we had more displays of stress, so I took him out for another walk. When we returned and took his lead off, he ran and jumped straight back on the table. Excellent! He's associating the table with reward. In the end I wasn't able to clip or scissor the top inside of his thigh, the groin area nor rear hocks due to equipment biting, but from where we started he made brilliant progress with some positive reinforcement and trust building. I kept the table low so as not to add another element of stress too. Post groom he had some fuss, a bit more good boy sausage and a game of ball throw. This lovely boy needed a different approach to grooming, where work was undertaken at his pace and with reading his body language. ❤️

This is Tilly a customer recommendation from Lisa Webster (Thank's Lisa ❤). Tilly is 9 Months old. The first hour of her groom we had separation anxiety, lots of barking and a bathtime tantrum. However, she realised treats were on the menu for good work, we also had some playtime respite and we really started to bond. The 2nd part of her groom was a breeze and her behaviours were excellent. Tilly was really compliant apart from the dryers, so the finish dryer went on low and she was happy with that. 🐕‍🦺 Tilly is head of Health and Safety at the Grotto. She makes sure every employee is compliant with the grottos Code of Practice and wearing the safety inspected festive brand uniform. Santa Pawz is given an annual briefing on how to descend safely down chimneys of the good boys and girls homes (which is only 3 doggo nightime sleeps away!).

This is Spaniel, Kobe. He was here recently for nail work, where he was stressed about having his paws touched. This boy wants to please, but not have his limbs forced into a vice-like grip to get the job done. This method is not unusual, but it’s not my method. So, we had consent based nail grinding in his groom today. Kobe offers paw, I hold his paw lightly, a nail is ground, Kobe receives a treat, paw is withdrawn and so on. Kobe really engaged with the positive reinforcement of getting a treat and being told he was a good boy! He had an Emmi-Pet teeth clean too - no drama there nor with the rest of his groom. Although I was regularly offered a paw after his nail grind....clever boy! Kobe is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the Santa Pawz sleigh, the reigns and all the involved apparrell (including the sledge dogs) who need to be in their festive finery. He ensures everything is in first class working order, so the good boys and girls receive their presents on Christmas day.