Bathing and Drying

Challenging Situations

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Many dogs have something they do not enjoy about being groomed!

Let's look at bathing and drying.

Dogs that are not regularly exposed to loud noises or water can often become anxious and fearful. It is important not to push a dog too far. However, it is our job to clean and dry dogs, so how do we tackle these challenging situations?

Time and patience is the key. Some dogs need time to feel comfortable standing in a bath, they may need to get used to the sensation of water on their bodies, or air from a dryer. They may also be in physical pain. This can be difficult to assess. By working with the dog and owner, you have a greater chance of de-sensitising the dog and conditioning them to these tasks. 

Start slowly, take your time. Reward good behaviour and keep these sessions as regular and small as possible. 

Aromatherapy baths, Happy Hoodies and low setting hair dryers are little things that can make a big difference. 

You may not be able to overcome all negative behaviour, but the dog will hopefully gain your trust and relax as much as he can. All behaviour needs to be recorded and kept up to date.

Please see The Difficult Dog Groomer course for detailed instruction and advice on how to handle challenging grooms with compassion and skill.

The course is free for Professional Members - check your dashboard, or available for purchase here.