Getting a nervous dog ready for their first groom

Plenty of dogs find their first groom a lot to take in. There is a new place, a new person, the smell of other dogs, running water, a dryer and someone touching their paws. For a rescue dog, a puppy, or a dog who had a bad experience somewhere else, that can feel like too much.

The good news is that a little practice at home goes a long way. None of this needs special kit, just a few minutes a day and plenty of treats.

Practise being handled

Most of a groom is touching: paws, ears, face and tail. While your dog is relaxed on the sofa, gently hold a paw for a second, then give a treat. Lift an ear, treat. Touch the base of the tail, treat. Keep it short and stop before they pull away. Over a week or two, hold for a little longer.

Get them used to noise

Clippers buzz and dryers blow. An electric toothbrush held near (not on) your dog, followed by a treat, is a good stand-in for clippers. A hairdryer on its lowest, coolest setting, pointed away from them across the room, helps with the dryer. Move it closer over several days.

Make brushing a good thing

If brushing always means tugging at a knot, your dog will learn to hate the brush. Brush little and often, in the places they like first (the chest and back), and finish with something nice. If there are knots, leave them for us rather than pulling.

Start small

For a really worried dog, a bath and brush is a gentler first visit than a full groom. It is shorter, there is no clipping, and your dog learns that coming to us ends with a fuss and going home.

On the day

• Go for a walk first. A dog who has stretched their legs and been to the toilet is calmer on the table.
• Tell us everything. What worries them, what helps, any sore spots, and anything that has gone wrong before. There is a space for notes when you book online.
• Keep the handover short and cheerful. Long, worried goodbyes tell your dog something is wrong. A pat and a happy "see you soon" is best.
• Do not rush the collection. We will tell you how it went and what we would do next time.

How we help

We take nervous dogs at their own pace: time to sniff around and settle, breaks whenever they are needed, and quiet tools before noisy ones. If a full groom would be too much in one go, we will tell you, and we will plan it with you. You can read more about how we look after nervous dogs.