by Amanda Giannaros

Created on: July 28, 2009

Dog grooming is a booming industry, people care about their pets as if they were children and want to give them the best of everything. In this economy, however, taking a dog to the groomers has become a luxury and not a necessity. Grooming your dog does not have to be an expensive or even a daunting task. My husband was a groomer for years and through him I have learned a few things about grooming my dog that have helped me and can help you too.

Dogs need you to be firm with them. A firm touch while grooming can go a very long way indeed. In the dog world there is the leader of the pack and there are the followers, dogs don't want to be the leaders but the strongest one becomes the lead. A dog will follow someone with whom he feels safe. If you are trying to trim your dogs nails and you are using a very light grasp they are going to pull away from you because you are not showing them that you are stronger than them.

If your dog gets very worked up and wont hold still, take a step back, take a deep breath and try again. If you get tense and stressed your dog is going to sense that and in turn also be tense and stressed. It's important to remain calm and in control, remember you are the leader.

Using a dremmel tool for trimming a dogs nails is a much better option than the clippers that you can buy at the store. A dremmel tool simulates fast erosion of the nail and vibrates the nail in a way that is much more natural than the abrupt chopping of the clippers. It also vibrates the nail causing the quick to recede, this makes it less likely for you to harm your dog by cutting the nail too close.

Noise is probably the biggest stressor for a dog during the grooming process. Desensitizing your dog to the sound of a dremmel tool, a hair dryer, or the sound of snipping scissors will make the whole experience much better for both the dog and yourself. Start off making the noise around them but not aimed at them, use your hand or another person to redirect their focus so they are not fixating on the sound. The sound becomes a psychological obsession and you have to stop that fixation before it gets out of control. Using two or three fingers to simulate the teeth of another dog, firmly "bite" your dog at the neck when you notice him starting to get tense. You have to break that connection between the sound and stress. This biting motion will help to snap your dog out of the state of mind that he is in and help you accomplish your goals. When he is calm and not showing response to the noises reward him, this is great positive reinforcement. Don't try to comfort your dog when he is worked up, by doing this you are supporting the stressed, tense, unstable state of mind.

Grooming doesn't have to be a horrible stressful experience for you and your dog. If you work together, notice how both you and your dog are feeling, and remain patient, it can be quick and pleasant for everyone involved.

Learn more about this author, Amanda Giannaros.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.