I was able to catch the end of our 'after grooming table reinforcement' game before his mom came. Leroy is a very lively boy which is awesome and so much fun! However on the table a calm dog is much easier and safer for me to work on, so I am big on reinforcing calm behaviour on the table. When you reinforce a behaviour, you see more of it❤️ And yes, calm absolutely IS something that can be reinforced so you see more of it! "Nothing" is still something!
It's hard to believe this sweet guy was so nervous his first visit he didn't want to leave the wall🥺❤️ Three visits later, he's like a completely new boy!🥰
His mom said I could give him all the treats... so I did 😅
Leroy had a difficult time adjusting to the dryer when it was initially introduced by his previous groomer. He would try to bite and attack the hose out of fear and discomfort. After some counter conditioning, shaping and removing the neck tie (which was increasing his reactivity), we were able to make excellent progress in a single groom! I'm so proud of this boy❤️ Gaining comfort and confidence with grooming procedures is so important for achieving successful lifelong grooms. I focus on keeping stress low and working with each dog to develop a positive association with necessary procedures.
