How to Groom a Scared Dog

Nothing can be harder than trying to groom a scared dog; they may try to bite, nip, scratch, and are constantly in motion. While not all dogs are afraid of being groomed, the number that are might surprise you. The level of fear can range from mild fear all the way up to and including a full-out panic attack. No matter what form your pup's fear happens to manifest itself, you need to be the one to address his anxiety before it has a chance to become an aggression problem.

There are several reasons why your dog might not enjoy being groomed and becomes fidgety and nervous when it's time for his grooming session. He might not have had enough time to get used to the tools you need to use and the noises they make. On the other hand, maybe your pup had a bad experience the last time he was groomed. The hard part is determining why your pup has a problem being groomed. 

From your dog's perspective, the tools used (scissors, brushes, combs, and electric clippers) can be pretty scary. They are shiny, noisy, and something he is not used to having in his world. What you may not realize is that this type of fear is quite normal, but with the right training and plenty of patience, you can teach him that this type of behavior is neither necessary or acceptable and get him to the point at which he is comfortable with being groomed by you or a professional groomer. Just remember, it is going to take time, effort, and patience to reach your goal. 

• Give your pup plenty of time to get used to the tools you plan to use before trying to use them. This is vital--the more time you take doing this, the less stressed your dog will be during grooming time. Also, be sure to buy high-quality tools. For example, a top-quality set of electric clippers are likely to be far quieter than a cheap set.
  
• Start getting your pup used to the grooming tools long before the time for grooming arrives. This way, when it does, he won't be scared of the process.
  
• Never force your dog to be groomed, this will only make the problem worse and could lead to many other problems further down the road.
  
• If you have tried everything, try talking to your vet as there are several different medications on the market that can be used to help calm him down.
  
• Consider using aromatherapy. You might be surprised at how many groomers use scented candles and natural oils in vaporizers to create a calming atmosphere that will help your dog to relax. 
  

It is very important for you to do your best to determine the cause of your pup's anxiety in order to help reduce it to the point at which he will allow you to groom him without becoming anxious. This process can be challenging at times--it will take time to reach the point at which he is relaxed and calm during the grooming process. Relax and have fun. If you make grooming fun, your dog is far more likely to relax and enjoy it himself.