Three Things You Can Do to Make a Trip to the Groomer Less Stressful

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You know your dog will be in good hands when you drop them off at the groomer. When they’re finished, they will have been washed, trimmed and generally pampered, and are now looking their best. You may think your responsibility as a dog owner is just to take them to the groomer fairly regularly, but it actually goes further than that. There are steps you can take to better prepare your pup for their trip to the groomer. 



An unprepared pup can make the groomer visit a much more unpleasant experience than it needs to be. It can cause your dog to become anxious and scared, which can be traumatic for them and incredibly difficult for the groomer. Of course, ideally, you want your pet to be as relaxed and happy as possible so the groomer can get the job done quickly and easily.



Here are three things your groomer wished you knew so you can prepare your pup for their visit. 



1. Start grooming early



There are a few steps you should take to get your new puppy ready for their groomer visits. You can take your puppy to the groomer right away to get them used to the trip. You can also start with some basic grooming at home. If you have an older dog, it’s a bit late but it’s better to start with small steps than to not make any effort at all. 



If you’ve decided to start grooming at home, the best actions to do are brushing their fur, brushing their teeth, trimming their nails and cleaning their ears. The idea is to get your dog comfortable with having their paws, mouth and ears touched, and getting them used to being brushed early. That way, when they’re older, they won’t put up a fuss or get stressed out when their paws, mouth and ears are touched. During and after your home grooming session, remember to reward their calm demeanor and good behavior with treats. 



2. Groom regularly



Relying only on your groomer visits and taking care of your dog’s grooming once every few weeks isn’t going to cut it. You should groom regularly, so that the next trip isn’t a nightmare for your pup. Keep your dog’s fur coat in check with regular brushings, and keep an eye on their feet and ears so you can trim their nails when they get too long or clean their ears when they’re dirty. 



If you want to keep your pup’s fur looking its best all the time, regular groomer visits are necessary. You could also take your pup to a groomer like heartandpaw.com, where they offer different grooming packages for different levels of pampering. Give your dog a full groom, a quick refresh, or anything in between. 



3. Remain calm



Your pet picks up on your mood and feelings, so if you’re feeling nervous or anxious when you drop your dog off at the groomer, they can feed off that negative energy. This will make your dog more likely to squirm and become scared. 



Similarly, if you drop in on the groomer before they’re finished, your dog can see you and get overly excited, making it harder to finish the job. It’s best if you wait until they’re finished grooming your dog before you drop by.