My dog is 2 and will be 3 in August. From the time we got her as a young puppy she’s friendly but guarded almost like she has trust issues.
When I got her I made sure she was socialized from the beginning. I took her to different environments to get her used to sounds and to experience different things. She went to puppy classes and obedience classes so she’s used to people and other dogs. When she was young she had almost a flight response to anything new. I took her for a walk and it was a pretty windy day and the trees scared her so much her whole body shook and she almost got her head out of her collar trying to get away.
The first time she was groomed she got hysterical and it took three people to bath her. When she got a little older I took her to a groomer that was recommended and they had so many problems trying to groom her they called me to get her. I tried taking her in once a week just for a treat to get used to the place. Since then she’s been to other groomers and she doesn’t have as much of a problem but she’s still doesn’t like it.
I took her back to the first place a couple weeks ago. She barked like she always does when I leave and when I went to pick her up I could hear her barking outside in that shrill crying kind of bark. They said she barked the whole time.
I leave her alone all the time at home and she’s fine. She goes to the door when I go out, but if I say to her “I’ll be back” she quietly goes in her bed or walks away with no problem.
Since the last grooming episode I took her to the dog park like I always do and forgot something in my car. I left the park and she went crazy. She was running back and forth with that piercing park. Friends inside the park tried to pet her and calm her down but it was almost like she was histerical. Now even if I don’t leave the park she won’t play with the other dogs the way she usually does and just stands by me.
Here is my question- My sister seems to think this is related to the place I took her to for grooming. Do you think she had a bad experience there? She doesn’t get upset when I leave the house or leave her in the yard when I garden or something.
I hope this makes sense. If I left anything out just ask because I’m horrible at explaining things.
I just want to add that I knew someone who worked for a groomer and she said some of the groomers used to hit the dogs with the dryers when they misbehaved.
Well, have you tried taking her to a different grooming place? Have you tried grooming (if only bathing) her at home?
When you leave her at the grooming place or in the park, do you tell her “I’ll be back”?
Do you get so shaken up yourself that (in the words of the Dog Whisperer) that you are projecting nervous energy to her?
I would think that if the poor girl had never been to a groomer before or never been groomed by you that she indeed would be afraid at the groomer’s whether or not they were mean to her. It’s a scary thing!
Try another groomer. Or better yet, take her a few times to a place where you can be there with her. You’re right, she doesn’t like to be left alone at the groomer’s…would you?
I think I might convey that I’m upset before we get there. Since I’ve gotten her I’ve tried to get her used to being handled and brushed every day. She’s very different with other dogs I’ve had so it’s a puzzle. She likes to be touched on her own terms and doesn’t like anyone coming at her face with their hands.
I wish I could find a place where I could be with her. I had a mobile groomer for my other dog but I’m on the waiting list for three mobile groomers. I really don’t know what to do about this and I hate having her so upset when she’s groomed.
I’m assuming that the separation anxiety attacks when I leave the park are related to this but I don’t really know. I know it’s not really so good for her that she’s so attached to me but I can’t really do a lot about that.
I wonder if it would be better if someone else took her to the groomer?
Does she have to go to a groomer at all? In my experience most dogs don’t like the groomer’s - it’s noisy, they may have to wait in cages, etc. And all it takes is for a toenail to get quicked once and they can get really freaked out about going there.
Unfortunately, she does. She’s a westie and they need to be groomed. I thought about trying to do her myself but I’m afraid she’d get laughed out of the dog park.
Thanks! It’s something I really might have to consider. After I drop her off I keep telling myself it’s only a haircut. But I feel like a monster. Especially when she’s so happy to get in the car.
Any chance of consulting the vet about the problem? They may do grooming there, in fact. Your dog may need some valium or something to relax in those kinds of situations.
What about making an appointment and staying while she’s groomed? Bring a book and wait there with her instead of dropping off/picking up.
I don’t think I’ll take her back to that groomer. They do a pretty nice job and they’re close but I might ask around and see if I can find a place where I can stay while she’s groomed.
Yeah, I agree with this. I wouldn’t take my dogs anywhere that I wasn’t welcome to stay and watch.
Grooming can be a traumatic experience for dogs, especially if the groomer uses a dryer cage. (It’s a cage where the dryers are positioned all around the sides where the dog can’t escape the blowing air. I call it the Cage of Learned Helplessness.) My groomer has one of these and my dogs absolutely despise it and always tremble for a while when released.
See if you can try making grooming a positive experience for her. Make a bowl of popcorn before you go and feed it to her one piece at a time while she’s being groomed (chicken pieces boiled in water are even better.). Talk to her in your happiest voice and try to have the most relaxed, calm demeanor that you can. After you leave, reward her with a favorite toy or an ultra-yummy treat.
She’ll probably never like being groomed, but you might be able to get her to the point where she thinks, “All right. I’ve got to be washed with that stinky stuff and then combed, but if I stand still, the female human will give me treats and pet me. Then afterwards, I get to play with my tennis ball!”
My dog once HATED to have a bath. What I did was smear some canned dogfood on the edge of the tub for her to lick while she was being washed. Soon, it seemed like she wasn’t even noticing the washing part because she was so intent on getting every little particle of food off the tub. Afterwards, she goes right downstairs to her treat box because she knows there will be a reward.
What great ideas, I love the bathtub idea. I do bring a kong with peanut butter to the groomer, not that it helps. The dryer thing gives me nightmares. A dog in our area caught on fire from a faulty dryer that way and died. The groomer told me they don’t do that but who knows. I’m going to check into different groomers and see if I can stay. Thanks Lissa.
