Dog Training Help: How to Introduce Basic Grooming at Home
I tricked her into the tub, then I lost my grip and I had to chase a shampoo covered dog all over both floors of my house.
I clipped one nail and he screamed and hid from me.
I took out the brush and she just ran away from me. Isn’t brushing supposed to feel good?
The laments are all similar and they indicate just how difficult at home grooming can be. Think about all the behaviors listed above. They include escape, avoidance, fear vocalizations - all of which indicate that some dogs fear or are uncomfortable with grooming tasks. For dogs that have never experienced grooming at home, there are a few steps to take to set them up for success. And for dogs that have already developed fear behaviors in conjunction with grooming, we can take extra special care to improve their feelings about the process.
Check out this video which gives an overview of getting your dog (and you!) comfortable with grooming.
Have a Special Spot
First off, pick a spot that you are comfortable undertaking grooming tasks. This can be a low bench that your dog can stand on, a special mat that you lay down on the floor, or a grooming table you’ve purchased. For the first week, spend time making sure our dog knows that good things happen in that spot. To do this, encourage your dog into position, or if they are tolerant you can lift them onto the surface you’ve chosen. Once they are there, slowly feed them small pieces of their favorite foods. I recommend things like real meat or cheese or their favorite moist meaty dog treat to start out.
Take five to ten minutes a day to just let them relax in the position of their choice on that spot and receive good food. Do this for the first week and you should see them get excited about going to that space. Make sure you are keeping safety in mind. If you are using a grooming table, make sure your dog doesn’t excitedly leap off the table and injure themselves.
After the first few days, introduce slow and gentle touching with your hands as you feed them good treats. This will start to introduce your dog to the idea that there will be some handling while they are on the special spot. Start by handling areas you know your dog enjoys such as slowly stroking down their back and sides.
Once your pet is relishing this experience, add in handling areas that are not on their normal petting menu. This might be their legs and feet or their tail. Do not move to this step if they are showing any body language that indicates discomfort with the prior step. That might look like lip licking unrelated to eating behaviors, head lowering unrelated to relaxation behavior, whale eye where an abnormal amount of the whites of their eyes show, or any growling or teeth baring. To add in new areas to handle, slowly move your hand down their back and without lifting your hand, let it travel with the same pressure and motion down their legs. Continue to feed as you gently handle their legs and even move to their feet if they seem comfortable.
Introduce Tools Slowly and Kindly
Once your dog loves their new grooming spot and they relish the time that you are handling them, grooming tools can slowly be introduced. If your dog previously has had a negative experience with the tools, introduce the tools away from their grooming spot first by bringing out the tool and then feeding your dog while you hold the tool without touching them with it. Do this step over the course of a week or two and expect to see your dog visibly brighten after you take out the tool.
If your dog has never seen their grooming tools before or if they have been neutral to them at this point, it is okay to introduce them on their special spot. Bring a tool out and let your dog have a sniff! We should allow them to experience the tools that we will be using on them, as long as that is safe. When your dog looks at the tool or leans toward it to sniff, give them a treat.
With a slow introduction, nail trims can be hassle free and pleasant. How many treats do you think it took to get Ellie this comfortable?
If your dog is comfortably sniffing and looking at the tool without backing away or showing any of the previously mentioned stress signals, we can start adding them into the handling protocol. With the non-bristle side of a brush (or nail clippers safely closed with cutting edges not accessible, etc) hold the tool in your hand as you gently go about your normal handling routine. The brush should be contacting their side (again, only with the non-bristle smooth side at first). Allow your dog to turn and look at the brush if they’d like. Pause to feed them after doing a nice repetition of handling.
Repeat this daily for a few days and hopefully your dog will either love the tools or remain neutral to them! At that point, you can start using the bristled side of the brush to gently stroke areas where your dog is comfortable. Similarly, you can start to move your nail clippers down their legs and add in paw handling if your dog is comfortable with the nail clippers.
When in Doubt, Ask a Professional
Which tools work best for the job? This is a great question for your veterinarian, your groomer, or your breeder. Chances are you may get differing opinions on the internet, but people with experience generally know which tools will be most handy to have. Consider asking for a tutorial from a groomer for home brushing care between appointments for more high maintenance coat types. Ask your favorite veterinary technician for their at home nail trimming tips. Remember to reach out to professionals when you have questions!
Always Pair With Great Things
There hasn’t yet been a point in this protocol where treats have stopped flowing. I want my dog to enjoy grooming procedures for life, especially in times of emergency. To make this happen, I want the beginning stages to be an extremely positive experience for them. Pair every brush stroke with a treat at this stage. Later when your dog obviously is in love with grooming, we can pare down on treats and offer them intermittently and with less frequency.
Start Early
Don’t wait until they need grooming, start this immediately on your dog’s arrival into your home. Make sure that all the members of the family are up to speed on the process and are willing to take things slow and introduce grooming positively. If you are purchasing a puppy through a breeder, ask your breeder to start introducing grooming tools such as nail clippers and brushes early, especially for high maintenance coat types as typically seen in poodle mixes.
Be aware of any special considerations when bringing home your new pet. If you are adopting a dog, ask about prior grooming history. If your dog has any history of fear regarding grooming procedures, consult a professional to get help getting started. The sooner you start on at home grooming skills, the better. If you’re reading this and you have a 12 year old dog with major bed head, it can’t hurt to start there too!
Aubrey Sperry CPDT-KA is the owner and head trainer of Sit Pretty Dog Training. She is certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) and by Fear Free as a Fear Free Certified Trainer. Aubrey is a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the Pet Professional Guild, and she has worked professionally with animals since 2007.
As a veterinary technician and avid participant in dog sports, Aubrey has worked with many different dog breeds, and knows how to tailor training regimens to suit different temperaments of individual dogs. She believes that many dogs can adapt to fit a lifestyle that suits a city dweller with the right training and mental stimulation.
Aubrey lives in Jamaica Plain with her two dogs, Eleanor and Jolene.