How to Groom a Tolerant Dog

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How to Groom a Tolerant Dog

Easy

15 - 30 Minutes

1 Week

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Introduction

One of the many wonderful things about having a tolerant dog like Joey is that for the most part, nothing seems to bother him. He doesn't fuss if you come near him while he is eating, he doesn't mind doing just about anything for you. Anything, that is, with the exception of being groomed. He just isn't sure if he is quite ready to accept being groomed. This one still makes him pretty nervous. But if you are willing to put in the extra work and time, you should soon find Joey bringing you his brush for his next grooming session.

Dog's Perspective

Many dogs who are considered tolerant tend to be quite calm and relaxed by nature. The one thing that probably offers cause for concern as far as Joey is concerned, is the various tools you plan to use during the grooming session. On top of this, Joey is of the firm belief that he does a perfectly good job of cleaning himself, but the reality is that he doesn't do as good a job as he thinks he does.

The Time For a Bath Method

Effective

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Slicker Brush

Shampoo

Scissors

Pin Brush

Nail Clipper

Dremel

Nail File

Towel

Step

Choose your grooming room

Before you begin to work on grooming your dog, you need to decide where in your home you plan to groom him. A good choice would be a room with a hardwood, tile, or linoleum floor. An even better choice would be a room like this with access to a radio and TV.

Step

Time to get rid of the dog smell

Start by running a bath; keep the water at about the same temperature as you might use to bathe a baby. Plop your pup in the bath and use a vet-approved shampoo to wash every inch of his body. Do not get any in his ears or eyes. Rinse him thoroughly to remove all traces of the shampoo, along with dirt, dust, fleas, and many other parasites.

Step

Off to the grooming room

Of course, you could just use the bathroom, since it has a tile or linoleum floor, but only if he can see the TV from the room. Let him see the tools you plan to use, give him a treat and let him get used to them before you start using them.

Step

The hard stuff first

Since your dog is already not too happy about being groomed, start by brushing his more sensitive areas first. This includes his paws, legs, tail, private areas, ears, and face. When you are done, give him a treat.

Step

And in the end

Finish the job by brushing his back and sides, then lay him down and brush his belly. Trim the hair between his pads and toes, then trim his nails back to the quick and grind the tips smooth using a file or Dremel-like grinder. Give him plenty of treats and praise, repeat every week until he actually acts like he is looking forward to being groomed and you have won the battle.

The Short Sessions Method

Effective

0 Votes

Slicker Brush

Scissors

Pin Brush

Nail Clipper

Dremel

Nail File

Step

Go slow and steady

If you want your dog to become comfortable with being groomed, you need to be very patient and start out slow and steady. If he should balk, back off, give him a few minutes to regain his calm.

Step

Try again

Then try again, in time he will stop balking at the brush and begin to enjoy how it feels. Be sure to give him a treat when you are done with this step.

Step

Next up

From here the next place to go is his back, sides, and belly. Use short strokes that are no longer than 6 inches in length. If you find any mats, use a sharp pair of shears to cut them out. Do not try to brush through them. This will only rip out the hair, which will cause a lot of pain.

Step

Those sensitive areas

Gently brush your dog's rump, being very careful around his private parts. Trim the hair around his rectum to help him keep the area clean. Roll him onto his back so you can brush his legs, the areas of his belly you couldn't reach before, and his paws.

Step

Nail those toes

This is a good time to trim his nails and grind the tips smooth. Finish up by trimming the hair between his pads and checking them for damage. Give him one last treat and you are all done.

Caution & Considerations

A nice walk will help tire your dog out and calm him down, making grooming that much easier.
Make sure the shears are nice and sharp. They should also feature rounded safety tips to protect your pup's skin.
Always brush in the same direction hair is growing, it makes it easier and less painful for both of you.
Give your dog plenty of time to get used to the tools you plan to use, this too will make things easier.
Make sure you have styptic powder or cornstarch on hand just in case you should accidentally cut into the quick inside of his nails

Conclusion

No matter how tolerant Joey happens to be, when it comes to being groomed, he is likely to be a little skittish at first. Be sure you give him plenty of time to get used to the tools and plenty of treats along the way. Before long the two of you will be having fun and bonding together while you make him look his best.

How to Groom a Tolerant Dog

Introduction

Dog's Perspective

The Time For a Bath Method

The Short Sessions Method

Caution & Considerations

Conclusion

Success Stories and Grooming Questions

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