GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Does your dog get anxious at the groomers?
You’re in luck, because a local dog training school offers "fear-free grooming" for those furry friends who get stressed when they hear the sound of hair clippers, nail trimmers or the blow dryer.
A Pleasant Dog started service about a year ago in Grand Rapids.
“We were seeing a lot of dogs come in who were having to be fully sedated by their veterinarian for a groom, or who had a history of biting the groomer, or who simply could not be groomed," said Jennifer Gavin, founder and head trainer at A Pleasant Dog.
The growth of services like this is all part of the fear-free movement.
"There are fear-free veterinarians, fear-free groomers, fear-free trainers, and they help to ensure that we're taking into account the dog's emotions and trying to set them up for the least scary experience possible,” Gavin said.
Jennifer Lotterman has been a groomer for 30 years.
She also took a course to become fear-free certified.
“That means that when you are a fear-free groomer, you create a happy, fun, safe environment for the dog, and you make sure that they are okay with everything that we do," Lotterman said.
Your dog may first need to work with a trainer to get used to the grooming tools and noises.
“It is a marathon, not a sprint. It does take time and it will also take some commitment from the pet owners as well,” Lotterman said.
Your pet gets plenty of treats throughout the process.
“We're going to start in little increments, teaching the dog to consent to being groomed, to being touched. We're going to teach the dog that it's fun," Gavin said.
Since the service started, the founder said they’ve had a lot of success.
“We have dogs who could never be touched, who were badly matted, who could only be groomed through sedation, come in and be happy to be groomed," Gavin said.
Experts recommend getting your dog used to grooming when they’re young.
If you would like to learn more about A Pleasant Dog’s fear-free grooming services or to book an appointment click, here.
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