Building positive associations is important!
Paul had a great successful nail trim where we worked on pairing handling and the sight of tiny nail clippers with treats he found reinforcing.
By conditioning positive associations to all of these things together we were able to decrease his anxiety for the process and have him willing to engage in his nail care because he found it enjoyable and rewarding instead of threatening.
Before starting, and once finished he decompressed with something called a snuffle mat, by using a mat like this for anxious dogs they're able to decrease their stress levels by doing something they find enjoyable and rewarding (sniffing and foraging for treats), instead of starting with a high level of stress.
By working with our dogs natural instincts and incorporating associative learning to the process we're able to build care that's enjoyable for the dogs that they want to engage with rather than run away from!
The dogs feel safe, they feel secure, and if they find the process threatening we know we haven't fully trained a positive association to the process and need to step back for them to enjoy it and be willing to engage in their care.
Too long to be a reel 😭 but important!
Behavior modification for decreasing fear, stress, and anxiety to experiences your dog needs in their life doesn't happen in the same way it happened or by a process that stresses your dog more.
If we continue in the same old way for dogs that exhibit these signs the problem 98% of the time will just get worse.
Exposure to similar experiences allows for the fear to be decreased over time as positive experiences are built up and trust is gained back.
Desensitization and creating positive experiences after bad ones is possible, but you have to go slow and steady for progress.
Last post of 2021! I know the year isn’t over yet, but I’m closing out the year of posting a little early to talk about an important subject.
In 2022 I’m no longer going to be posting after photos of your dogs!
I’ve done a lot of reevaluation this year, and I no longer think it's beneficial to your pets or myself to be prioritizing posts that focus on simply the aesthetic factor of the services I provide.
As social media has grown and changed many industries it's impacted dogs in so many ways, and grooming is no longer seen as a preventative health care service, and instead a service simply for aesthetics.
Pet care has changed significantly and the aesthetic aspect of animals is consistently being valued more than their comfort, training, overall wellness, and other basic needs.
I know many will end up disagreeing with me, but I don't think promoting a preventative health care service by its aesthetic value is serving the animals properly anymore.
In 2022 instead my posts will be focused more on showing your dog's as a participant within their care, highlighting their comfort, their willingness to learn new behaviors, and really giving a different perspective on what grooming visits are.
In the past I've used "low stress environment" to try to describe what I work towards, but after reflecting I think a term that more people can understand is "Dog centered care".
Underneath the aesthetic you want is; your dog!
Their needs within the service need to be prioritized in all interactions before a perfect end result is ever considered.
Going into my 11th (😳) year working with dogs I feel like there's been a lot of changes within the way the industry works, and I think more of us need to promote compassionate care, our understanding of behavior, and fully advocate for the dogs needs inside and outside the salon because the social media algorithms are doing the opposite.
Thank you so much to all my clients for understanding my position on this, please
A big poodle makeover today!
I absolutely love this trim and I think I almost nailed it 👌
Can't wait to do it again!
A little before and after video of @miniaturelili_and_jeffreycat 💕 So excited to be back in the salon tomorrow and seeing all your pups again!!
Educational post ahead!
When you first get your dog picked up from the groomer in a fluffy style it's important that you start brushing that week! Not only does it give normalcy to routine handling of your dog, but it also prevents tangles from forming in the coat.
When tangles form in the coat without a brushing routine you may not see how bad it is until the damage is unable to be undone and a shave is required.
Bathing a dog with severe tangles and not carefully brushing them out with a line brushing technique in combination with a blow dryer can create a cast of matting (walking in the snow with tangled hair does the same!) cast matting is impossible to undo without a short shave and if not taken off can even cut off circulation to limbs!
So as we approach more days covered in snow, please create a good routine of daily line brushing and don't skip on the grooming appointments if you enjoy your fluffy dog!
Brushing and grooming is preventative care for your pet in all aspects.
I don't like owner shaming, so please no negative comments on this dog ❤️
Head scratches while waiting for pickup 😍
Was lovely to finally meet @littlecocothepom!
It's nice to be back in the salon and getting through all these cancelled appointments 💖 Thank you to everyone for their patience and support!
Currently uploading a video to my YouTube channel on how you can wash your dog at home!
Featuring my mop of a dog @miniaturelili and Canadian shampoo company @marshmello_dematt 💖
Basic desensitization for grooming at home has been uploaded and ready for viewing on YouTube!
Keeping your pets calm, comfortable and cooperative is essential for a good grooming session!
Model dog number 2!
From mop to toy poodle in a German trim 🐩
Quick model head transformation from today!
Check back tomorrow when I demonstrate gentle brushing techniques for pet owners on a full toy poodle sized model dog, and then transform it!
Model from @opawz, finished with zolitta shears @olgazabelinskaya and @utsumi.grooming combs, color from the @urbandecaycosmetics electric palette 💕
I think I love everything about Teddy's before and after.
He's so much more relaxed and more confident after his spa visit 💕
Step one of this trim is finished!
Going to touch him up in a few weeks and then will be doing the trim again with added color and glitter for the Runway competition at Champion Grooming Show!
Working with @madameabbie this morning on her gorgeous hand scissor cut ✂️💕
Bobby! 😍 is Bobby's marcelled coat not incredible?
This wasn't my first time marcelling, but this was my first ever Kerry Blue!