How to Groom a Large, Anxious Dog

No matter how anxious or fearful Bowser happens to be, he needs to be groomed on a regular basis. It not only helps keep him looking his best, but it lets you inspect him for mats, tangles, fleas, ticks, cuts, scrapes and any other sign of injury. Most dogs become anxious for more than one reason, it could be that they were badly scared as a pup or have been injured or mistreated by another person. If the only time Bowser seems to be anxious is when the time comes to groom him, it could be that he has had a bad experience at the groomer's. 

Trying to groom an anxious dog can be a lot like trying to grab a one of those old windup "Mexican Jumping Bean" toys that bounced all over the place. The more anxious Bowser is, the more challenging grooming him can become. Fortunately, the more time you spend working with your dog the less anxious he will become. 

• The sooner you can get started working with your dog, the less his anxieties are likely to have time to take root.
  
• You should plan to groom your dog on a weekly basis, even if it doesn't look like he needs it. This will help keep his coat free of mats, tangles, dirt, dust, and any number of bugs and parasites.
  
• Use this time to check your dog over for signs of injury, infestations, or any other issues that might require a trip to the vet.
  
• If you find thick mats in his coat, use a de-matting tool to remove them or a pair of sharp shears.
  
• If you must use shears, make sure they are sharp and have rounded safety tips. 
  

Anxiety can be a bit challenging to deal with at first. Your goal is to first work with your furry friend to help him overcome his issues and find a way to get him to relax. Eventually, after you go through this process over a period of grooming sessions he should finally see the whole process as enjoyable rather than scary.