If my dog has behavior problems, will they be welcomed by a groomer?

That depends on the grooming facility. So we try our best to cater more to that type of patient, given that we're the only Fear Free certified practice in Fort Worth, and our groomers are Fear Free certified. Behavioral problems are a challenge and something that the groomer has to be willing to work with. We have some things in place to help make that process as comfortable as possible. If we have a highly anxious pet, we recommend that you have a doctor visit first to discuss that and give any medication that might be helpful. Starting in February of 2021, we're going to have an additional staff member with training credentials to help these types of situations and come up with plans. This person will help work with the pet in a more structured way to get them acclimated to grooming.
And so the answer to that is, yes, a pet can receive grooming care if they have behavior issues, but it takes patience, diligence, and working with them at their comfort level. 
Also, one more thing on the flea and tick prevention that was asked earlier is that we require certain vaccines to be current at our facility. We don't require flea prevention, but it's highly recommended because fleas are very often present, even when the owner doesn't know it. And we can't guarantee that your pet will not pick up a flea being in an environment where many dogs are coming in and out.
 

That really depends on the groomer. We certainly have a list of groomers that we feel confident can handle minor behavior or anxiety-related concerns while being groomed. Give us a call if you are looking for recommendations. But also, if you're finding that your dog is having consistent issues with grooming, it's worth talking to us and maybe setting up some counterconditioning plans so that we can prevent or reduce these problems in the future.

Usually so. The groomers are professionals. They have managed a lot of different behavioral problems, whether the animal is just young and is new to getting groomed, whether they are maybe sensitive about their feet being touched, etc. Some of them are probably a little bit nervous and groomers are very used to that. And they're usually soft-spoken, they go slow, and they're gentle and they can get your dog groomed.

This is another good question that we often run into. Some dogs get very nervous or anxious in those situations. Sometimes we need medical intervention to help them calm down with their anxiety. Sometimes here at Good Vets, we try to do some fear-free practicing. Each dog has specific things and requirements they may need. Talk to your veterinarian and with the groomer to find the best answer for your dog and situation.

Great question. Sometimes we need to use sedatives or an anti-anxiety medication when dogs with behavior problems come here for their grooming or nail trims. The dog should be sedated versus to be struggling and potentially bite somebody. We don't want it to be a stressful experience for them. We want it to be pleasant, just like we wouldn't want to be stressed going to get our hair cut or something like that. So you'd have to talk with your vet about that and decide what's necessary or what would be recommended to take the edge off for some patients. Not everybody's going to need that. But you'd have to talk with your vet and your groomer about what the dog is doing. So are they trying to bite? Are they just really fearful? Are they wiggly? And then, we can make a plan on what would be best for that pet.

So that's very dependent on each groomer. I have a groomer that I use, and I work with personally, and she takes each pet as they come. We offer sedated grooms here. That could be something that an owner feels like their pet needs to be groomed, as their pet gets a little stressed out, or maybe they get a little nippy, and sedation is the best way to go. But there are also some safe medications that your veterinarian can prescribe that your dog can take maybe an hour or two before going to the groomer to make it a more enjoyable experience and make it safer for everybody.

Absolutely. Most dogs' behavior issues stem from fear. My biggest concern is to make sure they are as fear-free as they can be. I take many steps to try and eliminate fear to the best of my ability. I'll go as far as talking to the veterinarians here to see what they recommend and potentially make use of their skills as well. There's a lot we can do to make sure your dog feels comfortable.

It depends on your groomer, and I mean that sincerely. In most cases, depending on the degree or the nature of the behavior problem, if it's an aggression problem, then yes. That's going to be a huge challenge for groomers. They are not trained for that. They're groomers. What I would suggest, however, is some veterinary clinics that do have some in-house grooming and would be the best resource. The reason is that at those veterinary clinics, they can provide some supervised sedation for those pets. Whereas that's not the case at your typical grooming facility, veterinary clinics can do it. Trying to find a veterinary clinic that also offers grooming might be a little bit of a challenge, but that would be a discussion to have with your groomer prior to bringing a new dog. Don't let them discover that your dog is aggressive the hard way.

That depends on the dog, the severity, and the groomer. We do have some behavioral modification medications that calm their anxieties and maybe sedate them just a little bit to help some dogs because we don't want to have a negative experience that they are scared of. That will make it harder and harder for them to be groomed in the future. So that's something that you definitely want to bring to light with your groomer. Talk to them, and see what their comfort is. Maybe do a meet and greet session between your dog and the groomer and see what we can get.

The answer to this question depends on the specific behavior problems your dog exhibits. If your dog is simply nervous or anxious, which is not uncommon for many dogs during grooming appointments, they should not be refused grooming services. You can also ask your veterinarian for calming therapy options to help them through the appointment. However, if your dog has more significant behavioral issues, such as aggression or biting, you should consult with your veterinarian before attempting to have them groomed. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your groomer ahead of time.

Most groomers are trained to work with dogs that have behavioral issues or nervousness, so they should be able to handle such situations. In some cases, dogs may need oral anxiety medication for grooming appointments or vet visits. Talk to your veterinarian about this option. In more extreme cases, some pets may require light sedative medication to make them sleepy for grooming.