Dear Barb, I have tried many times to groom a particular dog in my salon who is extremely aggressive and is only getting worse at each visit.

I’m not sure if it's safe to continue providing my services. Help, Barb!

Well, my darling, the fact you’ve opened the glistening golden doors to your mind-palace long enough to think, worry, and message your dear Barb tells me your concerns are real and this is not a dress rehearsal!

Firstly, I’d love to give you a big gold star for both your poochly persistence and your ability to notice when things may have reached their end point. No salon is a good fit for all dogs, and not all dogs are fit for a salon—just like not everyone can rock a double-breasted blouse with shoulder pads. (But that’s another cup of reali-tea I’ll be serving my neighbor later!)

The moment our safety and well-being as groomers is called into question is the moment we need to take a step back, analyze the situation, and see what our waters tell us. If we approach a groom with anxiety, apprehension, and fear, it’s like starting in a deep hole and trying to dig out with a teaspoon. Not ideal! Not only that, but anxiety transference between groomer and pooch is a real thing—you can read about it here. To summarize, dogs feel what we feel.

Now, add that as the glazed cherry on top of a trifle that is a dog already aggressive and dangerous to groom, and it becomes the dessert at a BBQ I certainly don’t wish to be invited to!

When Should You Recognize That Providing a Service Isn’t Safe?

Naturally, when grooming a reactive and aggressive dog, our minds and bodies are on edge—not just because we’re trying to keep our limbs out of reach of a snappy snout, but also to ensure the pup doesn’t injure themselves on our sharp tools. A muzzle can usually get the job done, but sometimes the dog starts flipping their body around even more dangerously than I did attempting aerial silks. Take my word for it—that’s not safe for anyone!

How Do You Tell the Owner You Can’t Continue?

If you’ve exhausted all avenues you’re comfortable with (e.g., breaking the groom into smaller sessions, grooming with a co-worker, grooming with the owner present, vet-prescribed medication), the owner should already be aware of their dog’s behavior. But remember, these dogs are their fur children!

Take ‘The Good Guys,’ for example. They were both sensitive and clear when telling me that my granddaughter could no longer sneak in with a bag of chips to watch reruns of Dr. Phil on their televisions unless she made a purchase. Whilst I wasn’t privy to what she was doing on her lunch breaks, it was a well-received conversation.

And here’s your hot but true cup of reali-tea—the owner cares much more about their fur child than they do about you. So, when you explain your concerns, focus on the dog's safety first. Highlight the high risk of injury or incident, and explain that as much as you’ve both tried, it’s no longer safe to continue providing your services.

Closing the Door with Grace

An extra nice touch when closing a door on a client is to open a window. (Not your window—otherwise, what a waste of time this has all been!) But a window of opportunity for the client. For instance, you might recommend a vet consultation or a different grooming environment, such as a one-on-one home setup if you’re a busy salon and the dog is reactive.

Let me know if this helps and how you go,
Till next time, dolls,
Barb-bye!

P.S - If you are recommending another grooming environment, be sure to let the owner know that they should inform the next groomer of the dog's behaviour, so that the groomer can be equipped from the get-go to handle the situation. Otherwise, not only have you ‘passed the buck’, but you’ve struck the buck like a hockey puck right through the next groomer’s window!