18/06/2024
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"
