In the following weeks or months, it is important to complete these steps in order to get your dog used to the grooming process. These steps cannot be rushed and should move at a pace that is comfortable for your dog.

Step 1

Weekly short visits to the grooming salon to introduce the environment to your dog and create a bank of positive experiences.

Positive experience tips:
Bring treats and give them to your dog or scatter them on the floor. Keep visits short depending on how your dog is coping and give lots of praise.

Step 2

Reward your dog when brushing and drying at home. Reward your dog when their body language is calm and relaxed.

You can mark this behaviour using a clicker or a word such as “good,” followed by a treat. This helps build positive associations with brushing and grooming at home.

Step 3

Once you are happy with the above steps, we encourage you to bring your dog in for a bath and dry appointment only. This helps your dog get used to being in the salon while keeping the visit short and reducing stress.

Step 4

Get your dog used to the sound of clippers by rewarding calm or neutral body language.

At home, you can use an electric toothbrush or electric shaver to mimic the sound of clippers (do not use these on your dog—hold them nearby and reward with treats).

Step 5

Continue with all of the steps above, creating positive associations and praising your dog when they display calm and relaxed behaviour.

Step 6

Work towards introducing new steps of the grooming process. This takes time and dedication from both the owner and groomer but will benefit your dog in the long run.