Does Taking Your Pet To Be Groomed...

[calypso*a*go-go]

Make you feel like the executioner?

My dog is always so scruffy looking but it's not because I'm too cheap or busy to take her to the groomer. It's because she is scared to death! She shakes, she shivers, she digs her feet in the ground. I have to pick her up and carry her in and it makes me feel so bad. I've even tried to groom her myself but I just don't have the talent. And yes, I'm sure the groomers are not abusive in anyway. Does everyone else's pet act this way or is it just my neurotic Schnauzer? (We have an appointment for Wednesday and I'm already feeling guilty!)

 

[Jolie C]

My dog does this, only it's with the vet's office, not the groomer.

 

[niks81]

YES!!!!!!

My yorkie shakes so hard all the other pets yelping and carrying on makes her extremely nervous! She clings to me for dear life LOL I hate leaving her there. But she always looks so dang cute when she gets out!

Then you have my maltese, who is so NEEDY He is such a lap dog and follows me everywhere anyways....so he freaks out even more. Heck, its not even just the groomer---I can't leave him anywhere LOL He's such a wimp!

So no, you are not alone. We HATE taking our dogs to the groomer and to the vet when they get shots. It royally sucks. But look at the good side...its fun to get to pick them up because they are so happy to see you

 

[missyc]

Do Yorkie's shed? I know the kids will talk me into a puppy soon, but I can't stand dog hair on everything!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

niks81 -- Your pups sure are cute!

missyc -- Purina has a really nice feature on their website. I think it's called Pet Finder and it allows you to answer questions about what you are looking for in a dog and then gives recommendations on which breeds match your requirements. You should be able to find several "non-shedders" to choose from!

 

[Cindy B]

My minituare poodle is such a "fashion dog" that he LOVES the groomer! He doesnt yelp or cry or anything like that. Apparently he stays still, and happily moves all the time for the groomer. The groomers tell me that he doesnt even bark! (Strange, isn't it!)

They both like the vet too! (The Lab and the poodle!)

 

[Pooh's Pal]

I adopted my Shih Tzu, Beethoven when he was 6. When "I" took him for his 1st "fluff & puff" treatment he was horrible...tried to bite etc. Always wondered if he'd had a bad experience before, must have!
I called the vet and got him some "doggie drugs". We used them for about 9 more visits till he got used to the grommer. Now he shakes upon entering the shop, but the groommer says he is well behaved, even being drug free. She uses a new type of clipper, it's a suction type thingy. Works well and he gets a "puppy" cut and looks great.
I'm about to adopt a second dog, a 3yr.old female....this ought to make him shake again and he's now 13!!

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Niks81, your dogs look EXTREMELY similar to my dogs...wish I could post a picture but can't. It's eerie.

Penny, my yorkie, enjoys going anywhere....she shivers but it's out of excitement. It's my Maltese Amelia who hates going anywhere...even out on walks. She is a completely different dog in a public setting (shy, nervous) than at home. Very neurotic.

However, there are way too many benefits to being professionally groomed...for one they have the best equipment and supplies and the most skill. No regular dog shampoo...no matter how expensive that I buy gives me the same soft tangle-free results. Amelia's coat is also very dry, so if it mats, then her skin is in danger of rashes and irritation. It's just healthier to have a groomer do it.

Have you thought of trying to find a mobile groomer...someone who could come to your house? I'm thinking about that currently. That way you could be there.

To the person who asked the question about shedding...neither of my dogs sheds, but more importantly, I am not allergic to their hair...because they have hair, not fur. Other dogs who don't shed are bichon frises and poodles.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Nope. My 1 year old dog (Jack Russell "terror") is a weirdo and he loves the groomer. He loves the vet. He loves the kennel. He LOVES the car.

He even likes getting shots at the vet because the needle is shiny. He's a spaz.

He doesn't require a lot of grooming , mostly just nails being trimmed once every few weeks and a monthly bath (sometimes we just do the bath at home). He hates the nail trimming but he only fusses when we try to do it ourselves.

Here's some pictures :

http://www.esmespage.homestead.com/TheMontyGallery.html

Monty Dog, 5 months

Monty Dog, 10 months

 

[stamper]

No, I don't have that problem...I do my own grooming.

But something that might help your dog is to take him into the groomers just for a visit(ask the groomer if that's ok first). Just go in and say "hi" to the groomer and leave. Next time go in, walk around a bit, talk a little to the groomer and leave. Take some REALLY tasty snacks to reward for any "good" behavior and ignore any signs of fear/shyness. If you tell him "oh it's ok" etc., you are reinforcing the wrong behavior and it will continue. Help your dog to learn that the groomer is fun and no one will hurt him there. Since you have an appointment for this week, you may not be able to get a "visit" in this time. But ask while there if it is something you could do before the next one. Once you have had a few "walk in, talk, walk out" trips, see if you might be able to leave him for say 1/2 hour with no grooming and then just come and pick him up. You would probably have to pay a little for that one, but it would be worth it to have a happy and confident pup!

Good luck!

 

[niks81]

Originally posted by missyc
Do Yorkie's shed? I know the kids will talk me into a puppy soon, but I can't stand dog hair on everything!

Heck no they don't shed! We buzz ours though....as you can probably see. We don't leave it long at all. She looks like a little peanut with it short!

niks81 -- Your pups sure are cute!

Thanks

Niks81, your dogs look EXTREMELY similar to my dogs...wish I could post a picture but can't. It's eerie.

That is eerie! Wish I could see....if you get one up, PM me

Nope. My 1 year old dog (Jack Russell "terror") is a weirdo and he loves the groomer.

Funny!! He's cute!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by niks81

Funny!! He's cute!

He knows it too. I swear he practices the cute stare when we aren't home. You know the pathetic give me a cookie look.

 

[niks81]

You know the pathetic give me a cookie look.

....as I hand both dogs one

Spoiled rotten

 

[Bichon Barb]

Yes, they make me feel very guilty--they also make me feel very poor.