How To Get Dog To Stay Still For Grooming?

Dogs are man's best friend. But don't be fooled into thinking that they will have the same passion for grooming as you do.

For your furry friend, it is a challenging task. They will keep getting distracted. Soon the brush becomes an accessory just like dog chew toys, and the clippers look like a gnawing monster ready to cut their coat. Holding your anxious dog down on the grooming table becomes a struggle.

But keeping your dog calm during grooming is essential to make the process easier for everyone; the dog, the dog owner, and the groomer.

Dog grooming can be intimidating for your furry friend. It can make the dog anxious and uncooperative as well as aggressive. Therefore, you must train your furry friend with grooming accessories to stay calm and still while grooming so that you don't make any classic dog grooming mistakes and grooming process can go nice and smooth.

You will find groomers groom difficult dogs, so don't worry about that.

In this article, you will find everything you need to know about the grooming process for dogs.

Why Is Dog Grooming Important?

You should not give up on grooming your dog just because it is a struggle each time. However, as difficult as it is, dog grooming is the most important thing for your furry friend's health and happiness.

When the dog's coat gets too huge, it often becomes a home for fleas. The fleas can cause health issues for your dog and create an unhygienic environment for your pet.

Grooming also ensures your dog's skin can breathe and keeps the level in its coat. Large amounts of oil can block pores, and cause irritation and skin problems.

Methods For Keeping Your Dog Still While Grooming

While it may be challenging to keep your dog calm and restrained while grooming, it is certainly not impossible.

You can use several ways to keep your dog still while grooming. Dog training is critical here. Your dog will only be used to the grooming salon and grooming table if you train it to view this experience as positive.

Here's how you can train a dog to stay still during grooming sessions:

Method 1: The Lift Method

This method lets your dog ease into grooming and relax your scared dog. This method works well even with aggressive dogs. You will need only a few essential grooming tools, such as nail clippers, a brush, etc., to carry out this method.

• Position your dog into a 'sit' or a 'down' state 

  This step will allow the dog to transition smoothly from the 'sit' position into a 'stand' position. This will help the dog transition between different positions while grooming.

• Put your hand palm up underneath your dog's belly

  Giving your dog belly scratches and petting them will help them relax and calm down. Furthermore, it will even make your uncooperative dog have a positive attitude towards grooming and enjoy the process.

• Lift your furry friend into a standing position

  Help your dog stand by using your arm and gently coaxing them in an upward direction.

• Add a command

  Once your dog is standing, say 'stand' to indicate the correct behavior with a command word. They'll eventually begin to associate the word with the behavior. You can encourage this behavior by giving your dog treats whenever you say 'stand.'

  Repeat this process again and again to train your dog. Dog owners should be ready to practice patience since training your dog to do all this can take days.

• Bring in the tools

  Keep your dog in the 'stand' position as the brushing begins. Introduce the clippers to cut their nails.

Method 2: The Association Method

This method allows groomers to groom difficult dogs. You can use both a collar restraint and a restraint system to train your dog effectively.

• Perfect timing

  Timing is key. It is advised to start grooming your dog when it is tired. This is usually after they have gotten ample exercise. This will prevent the dog from moving during the grooming session since it will have only a little energy left.

• Make the dog comfortable

  Whether you are grooming your dog at home or getting it groomed by a professional groomer, you must make them feel comfortable in the space. Take them frequently into these spaces so that they remain calm and composed during grooming.

  You can even allow your dog to associate the environment with positive reinforcement by giving them treats or lots of petting and affection.

• Get your dog used to being touched

  It is essential to make your dog feel comfortable with your touch or the groomer. Give them treats while you pet their belly, touch their face and paws, or handle their tail.

• Introduce the tools one by one

  Dogs do get scared by the look and sound of the tools. Therefore, you must take out the tools one by one, so the dog doesn't get intimidated.

• Keep sessions short

  Keep the grooming session short initially. Once the dog gets comfortable with the process, then gradually increase the time of the sessions.

• Groom with breaks

  Take breaks between using different tools. Allow the dog to relax before introducing a new tool.

Method 3: The Distraction Method

This method may be difficult since it will constantly keep you on your toes because it takes a lot of energy to keep a dog distracted for an extended period.

• Give him Bait

  Give your dog their favorite treats. Dog-safe ice creams and peanut butter are usually loved by most dogs. This will make the experience a divine one for your furry friend.

• Place the treats appropriately

  Ensure you place the treats where it is reachable for the dog. If you have a large dog, you should put the treats at a height, such as a couch; otherwise, the floor works just fine for a small dog.

• Get used to tools

  Only use tools for a short amount of time in one go. Let them focus on the treatment by taking breaks if necessary.

• Work in sections

  If you want to avoid having a stressful time for you and your dog, the best thing to do is work in small patches.

• End on a good note

  Once you are done with the grooming, give your dog more treats to indicate good behavior. This will allow the dog to think that grooming is a good thing.

Grooming Tips That Every Dog Owner Should Know About

You obviously will need some tools to groom your dog. These tools can easily be found in your local market.

Here's what you will need:

• A dog brush: You cannot just buy any brush. It depends on what kind of fur your dog has. For instance, if the fur is long, you will require a detangling brush to remove the knots.
• A slicker brush: This one helps remove dead fur. You will need one if your dog has a thick coat.
• A comb: Comb for dogs with long coats is required to remove knots.
• Dog shampoo: Buy a shampoo for your dog that suits their fur type. For instance, hypoallergenic shampoo should be used for dogs with sensitive skin.
• A pair of scissors: Scissors are needed to trim hair and nails.
• A towel: The towel serves the same purpose on dogs as it does on humans who are drying. Dogs require drying, especially in winter, since they can become vulnerable to catching a cold.
• Dog nail clippers: These are used to cut the nails.
• Cotton balls: You can use cotton buds or cotton balls to clean your dog's eyes.
• Ear cleaner: As the name suggests, this tool cleans the dog's ears.

Final Word

Grooming your dog might sound tedious and challenging since it requires a lot of effort.

However, it is not impossible. You can quickly train your dog to be still while being groomed. There are several methods that you can use to train your dog. All of them are discussed above.

Ultimately, a well-groomed dog is worth all the hassle of grooming.