Best Practices for Handling Dogs with Grooming Anxiety

Increasing your dog daycare's revenue is always in the back of the mind of most dog daycare owners. What's something that comes to mind as a way to earn more revenue? Grooming! As a dog daycare owner, it's important to understand and accommodate the needs of all dogs in your care, including those with grooming anxiety. Grooming anxiety is extremely commonplace at grooming studios, so it's something that you need to be ready to deal with if you provide grooming services at your dog daycare. Here are some best practices to keep in mind when handling dogs with grooming anxiety at your daycare:

Gradual Desensitization

Start by simply letting the dog smell and get used to the grooming tools and equipment. Gradually increase the level of contact and interaction until the dog is comfortable with the grooming process. You can't expect most dogs to jump up onto the grooming table, happy as a clam. I clearly remember our terrier, Libby, and how she would shake so much when you lifted her up onto the metal grooming table. I'm not sure what it was that scared her, but she was terrified. Luckily, our groomer, Belinda, had the gift. She could get Libby calmed and groomed in a jiffy.

Gentle Touch

Use a gentle touch when handling and grooming dogs with anxiety. This can help reduce their stress levels and make the grooming process more enjoyable for both you and the dog. Make it a point to have your groomers interact with each dog for at least 5 minutes so that the dog can become more comfortable with the groomer. There's nothing worse for a dog that getting dropped off with a new groomer that they've never had the chance to sniff.

Calming Aids

Consider using calming aids, such as calming sprays, to help reduce the dog's stress during the grooming process. It has also been shown that dogs relax when they hear classical music, so you might want to consider streaming some classical music in the background so that your grooming clients are a bit more relaxed.

Provide a Safe Space

Offer a quiet and safe space for dogs with grooming anxiety to relax in before and after grooming sessions. This can help them feel more secure and reduce their stress levels. If your client brings their dog in on the leash and it is instantly lifted onto the grooming table, you're just asking for anxiety. However, if you were to create a separate room where the dog could acclimate to the new smells of the area, that might work in calming them down a bit before the start of the grooming session.

Communication with Owners

It's important to communicate with the owners of dogs with grooming anxiety to understand their specific needs and concerns. This can help you better tailor the grooming experience to their dog's comfort and well-being. On your new client intake forms, you can include a question about grooming anxiety. This way, when a client submits their information, they can mention that Fido has grooming anxiety. This way, you'll know to contact the owner before the groom and give them any special instructions to help calm down Fido before his groom.

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