Noble Dogs

02/12/2024

22/07/2024

If you are getting a puppy or know someone who is please please share this with them .
I can not stress enough the importance of this process - we see so many who have had no experience and are 6mths or even a year old and are in desperate need of a full groom and owners dont understand why we can’t just do it !!!

THE BENEFITS OF EARLY PUPPY INTRODUCTIONS TO THE PROFESSIONAL GROOMING SALON

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 them .

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 professional.

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.

As a human, we really cannot fully understand the impact of walking into a grooming salon for a dog (let's call him Alfie). Firstly, the salon is full of information that Alfie 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 Alfie is unlikely to have experienced before, so needs to process those too).

Most grooms involve:

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

* Alfie 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

That understandably is likely to be stressful for Alfie irrelevant of how good and gentle the groomer is, added to that Alfie 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 Alfie is totally overwhelmed, struggles with the whole processes, builds up negative association with the grooming salon.

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

Give Alfie an even better start on his grooming journey - for some breeds this is going to be every 6 weeks of his life - contact a groomer the moment you bring Alfie home - don’t leave it too late as groomers are usually booked 4-6 weeks in advance .

Thankyou on behalf of Alfie and all the other puppies 🐾💕

12/06/2024

Looking to rent a workshop / unit /garage with power .. any of my friends know of one can you message me please 😃

26/04/2024

Thank you Mike .. 3D dog training 🐶

08/04/2024

Stopped off at the stag .. coffee for me ,treats and a belly rub for the pooches 🐕😍

08/04/2024

Stopped off at the stag .. coffee for me , treats and a belly rub for the pooches 🐶😍