Preparing your dog for grooming

Many dogs are never groomed. They live their lives in unbathed, unbrushed ignorance, while their owners wonder why their dog smells or has fleas. If you have purchased your puppy from a breeder, he may be one of those lucky dogs familiar with bathing, brushing, and other aspects of good grooming.

If your dog is from a shelter or from the home of another pet lover, he might not be so lucky. If your dog runs away when you are holding a brush or towel, don't jump to the conclusion that he has been abused. It is possible that he has never seen either one before! Much of your frustration can be dealt with by proper training. However, your dog needs to be prepared, both mentally and physically, before he can be groomed. Some dogs allow themselves to be groomed right from the moment they go home. Others are forever fearful, necessitating monthly visits to the vet to be anesthetized for nail clipping. It doesn't take much to see which would be the better pet.

Mental Preparation

Do not groom a fearful dog. Grooming a fearful dog will only lead to more fear and may even lead to aggression. There is a legitimate psychological treatment for human beings called "flooding". A fearful individual is exposed to whatever creates the fear, usually in great amounts. The logic behind this treatment is that it faces the individual to face his or her fear and acclimatizes him or her to the stressor. This treatment is valid in human beings, because we can reason in a logical fashion. Although some professional dog trainers may use flooding, in the hands of an untrained pet owner it is tantamount to animal abuse. A far better dog-training tactic is to gradually accustom your dog to the presence of these items, allowing him to overcome his fear of them.

In order for your dog to overcome his fear, he must associate these things with positive events. In order to accustom your dog to a towel, for example, you might want to feed him with a towel under his food bowl. Put a towel in his bed or on your couch for him to lie on, so that he can become familiar with its texture. If you need to, let him watch you dry your dishes, or, better yet yourself to let him know that a towel is not a harmful "creature". The more your do sees a towel being used, sees the way it moves, and hears the noises it makes in use, then the more comfortable he will be with having one used on him. Similar tactics can be used to familiarize your dog with a brush.

You must also establish trust with your dog. We want our pets to trust us as soon as we bring them home. Unfortunately, your dog sees you as a stranger. Some dogs are able to form an immediate bond with their new owners. If you are not the owner of this kind of lucky dog, then you need to take things slowly. Move cautiously around your new dog. Do not make any startling sounds or movements. Never bend over to pet a fearful dog; always crouch or kneel so that you are less threatening. Allow your dog to make the first move, if necessary, so that he feels comfortable coming to you for petting or reassurance.

It is very tempting to declare yourself the "pack leader" and force yourself upon your dog, but just don't do it. Unless it is absolutely necessary to force your attention on your fearful dog, such as the need to give him medication or to prevent him from hurting himself, then give your dog the time he needs to adjust to his new life before grooming him.

Physical Preparation

Once your dog is familiar with all these things, you can prepare him with some pre-grooming. Pre-grooming consists of all the routine tasks that come with owning a dog. Rub your dog down with a towel if he gets wet outside, to prevent unseen mats from forming. Use your fingers to detangle a stray knot or two from a long coat, since knots always tighten in a wet coat. Remove obvious debris from the coat, to keep it from becoming entwined and causing sores or "hot spots".

Your short-coated dog may enjoy pre-grooming in the form of a "grooming glove", since it is so similar to petting. A grooming glove is used to loosen dead hairs from his coat. Grooming gloves, usually canvas gloves inset with little plastic or rubber nubs, also have the added benefit of polishing the dog's coat.

Not all dogs are familiar with grooming. Preparing your dog for grooming can help even a fearful dog enjoy what might otherwise be an arduous and frustrating task.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you are a business owner get listed at Best Dog Care Site, part of Localwin Network.