How to Calm a Caucasian Ovcharka Before Grooming

Hard
10 - 20 Minutes
2 Weeks

Introduction

By description, the Caucasian Ovcharka is a very intelligent, spirited, and strong-willed dog that can be a fiercely loyal family pet. However, they are very powerful and require an owner whose own strong will and sense of leadership is sufficient to assume the Alpha role. However, in the case of grooming, this may not be enough. You need to find a way to calm your big fella down first. One thing to keep in mind is that the younger you start grooming your Caucasian Ovcharka, the easier it will be to get him used to it and the less fuss he is likely to put up. 

Dog's Perspective

Around his family, your pup should be relatively laid back and relaxed, but around grooming tools he may be more than a bit nervous. The best thing you can do for this, is to start "grooming" him the day you bring him home from the breeder. This will start him out being groomed by you, which should help him remain calm as he gets older and reaches a point where he actually needs to be groomed. 

The Get Used to Being Touched Method

Effective
0 Votes
Step
1
Wear him down first
Even a Caucasian Ovcharka puppy can be hard to groom if he is not used to it. Start out the process by taking your pup for a nice long, tiring walk.
Step
2
Create a calming environment
Choose a nice quiet room in your house and set up the tools you plan to use there.
Step
3
Make it smell nice
There is more to aromatherapy than just making the room smell nice. Use lavender, it has a nice calming effect on your pup.
Step
4
Talk to your dog
Talk to your pup as you slowly touch his body all over. Use a nice soothing voice. This will help him get used to being touched.
Step
5
Take your time
Most of all, never be in a hurry. Take your time, massage and touch every inch of his body, give him a treat from time to time. In time he will learn to be calm and relaxed at grooming time.
Recommend grooming method?

The Spend Time Method

Effective
0 Votes
Step
1
Take your pup out
Since you are going to be doing your own grooming, start out right from the beginning spending a lot of time with him.
Step
2
Walkies
Take your pup for a nice long walk to help calm him down and tire him out.
Step
3
Playtime
When you get back home, spend a little time playing and bonding with your pup. Not only will this tire him out a little more, it will help him learn to trust you more.
Step
4
Get used to it
Take him into the room where you plan to groom him, have all the tools you need laid out where he can see them, sniff them, and get used to them. Handle them in front of him, let him see them, and hear them (especially clippers and shears).
Step
5
Start slow
Introduce grooming, one tool at a time, to get your do familiar with the sensation each one brings.
Step
6
Slow down, take it easy
The most important thing of all when trying to keep your Caucasian Ovcharka calm enough to groom, is to take your time and go slow. In time he will learn to love being groomed.
Recommend grooming method?

Caution & Considerations

  • First and foremost, these methods may not work for all dogs.
  • If, no matter what you try, you cannot calm your pup down to be groomed, you may want to talk to your vet about options for sedation.
  • Your Caucasian Ovcharka's coat needs to be groomed no less than once every two weeks or it will become so tangled you may need to take him to a professional groomer.
  • If your pup becomes aggressive and tries to bite you, you may need to use a muzzle and assistant to get through grooming.
  • The younger you start getting your pup used to being groomed, the easier it will be for him to get comfortable with being touched. 

Conclusion

Given that an adult Caucasian Ovcharka can reach up to 200 lbs in weight and up to 30 inches tall, you need to train him to remain calm for grooming from the outset. The last thing you or the groomer wants is to have to fight a dog this big just to groom him. Despite the fact they are very intelligent, they are also very stubborn, so reaching this point is going to take a lot of time and patience. 

Success Stories and Grooming Questions

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