Look, I know you're probably not new to dog grooming processes, but sometimes when you have been so used to dropping your dog off at the local grooming salon every 6-8 weeks, it's easy to assume that the responsibility is solely on them to ensure that your dog enjoys it and maintains a healthy skin and coat.
Next thing you know, your groomer is sitting you down to explain all of the ways your dog struggles and you're feeling confused, frustrated and perhaps a little embarrassed that you decide to go elsewhere.
Don't worry, it's totally ok to feel like you are being attacked for something you feel is not your responsibility to do however, brace yourself for the reality check here, it actually is your responsibility too.
I will explain all of the reasons why grooming is a community effort and why you need to know all about it to succeed in helping your dog get the very most out of each session without it having a negative impact on their health and wellbeing.
What are the benefits of taking on some responsibility when it comes to helping dogs with a fear of grooming?
Well, having an element of responsibility towards how successful a grooming session goes for your dog is not only an incredibly empowering feeling, but it's also a feeling of pride.
Knowing that you have played a key role in helping your dog to overcome grooming-related fears can be such a rewarding thing, and I have watched hundreds of dog carers just like you, embrace homework tasks, notice a significant positive difference in their overall relationships with their dogs as a result and feel amazing for it.
At its most basic, taking some of the responsibility is your way of saying, "I acknowledge how beneficial a cooperative grooming experience is for my dog, and I am willing to do all that I can to help the groomer and most importantly, my dog get there".
Let's add a little more depth to that - working alongside your holistic groomer not only shows them your commitment to safeguarding the wellbeing of your dog, but it also sets the standard for other dog owners with dogs who struggle as well.
If YOU can do it, why can't they?
Sadly, there are thousands upon thousands of dog carers who still believe that the responsibility in grooming their dog falls solely on their chosen groomer.
This damaging belief means that over time, thousands upon thousands of dogs will eventually suffer due to a lack of synchronised care.
Let's make it clear, failing to reinforce positive experiences to grooming tasks at home will either bring progress for your dog to a monumental halt, or it will result in them finding the process progressively more scary as time goes on due to negative experiences out-with the holistic grooming environment.
A good example of this would be:
A dog who attends a bi-weekly grooming appointment with a HGA Approved Groomer where he is introduced to various grooming tasks using a positive and carefully devised plan.
The dog carer has booked a caravan stay with their dog and during a walk, the dog gets incredibly mucky. Having no choice but to bath the dog, the dog carer gets a hose and attempts to clean the dirt off their dog's coat - their dog struggles meanwhile the dog carer is exhausted.
At the next grooming appointment, the holistic groomer attempts to carry on where they left off last time and takes the dog through to the room where the bath is. The dog notices the shower hose immediately and panics before a frenzy ensues.
The groomer was shocked and feels very confused only to be told what happened at the Caravan just a few days prior. As a result of this negative experience with the dog carer, the dog has taken 10 steps back and the holistic groomer must start the desensitisation process all over again.
If you would like to learn more about how you can support your groomer why not let them know you are ready to help! And if you want to discuss your dog's specific grooming needs with me, feel free to check out my list of available services here.
Why Should You Care About Supporting Holistic Grooming Processes?
I'm all about 'all for one and one for all', yet I can't make you care about wanting to help support your holistic groomer, but let me give you some significant reasons to hopefully get you seeing things from my perspective.
Holistic Grooming is important because:
#1 - It ensures your dog receives a bespoke care plan that considers his/her needs over and above any aesthetic-based goal.
#2 - It gives your dog the opportunity to overcome some significant and often chronic, emotional and/or psychological fears, in a positive and dog-centred way.
#3 - It provides your dog with a safe space to thrive while also helping to make other high-stress scenarios more low-stress.
Important: Don't make the mistake in thinking that HGA Approved Groomers are trying to pull the wool over your eyes, they are specialised professionals with a lot of knowledge in canine behaviour and psychology. The truth is, ALL dogs could benefit from their expertise even confident dogs but mostly dogs with grooming-related fears.
Holistic Grooming At Home Through A Synchronised Approach
How your support at home affects your dog is just as important as understanding what exactly holistic grooming is and why it's essential.
Let me give you a real-world example:
Snoopy is terrified of running water and cannot bear to be washed in a bathtub.
The sight of the shower hose is enough to escalate his emotions way over threshold and he begins to thrash around helplessly in an attempt to escape what he perceives to be a threat.
The HGA Approved Groomer decides that she needs to begin desensitising Snoopy to the sight of a shower hose, the noise of running water and eventually them both combined.
However, between scheduled desensitisation sessions at the groomer, Snoopy is exposed to various encounters with flowing water which sets his progress back substantially since his last session with the groomer.
To help prevent such a set back going forward, Snoopy's carer can be shown how to perform the specific desensitisation exercise at home and as homework, can work on introducing the sight and sound of flowing water using this approach instead.
Snoopy's dog carer commits to the homework assigned, and they both notice great progress at the next grooming session when Snoopy is able to stand next to the shower hose while the water is running.
The groomer above applies a very common desensitisation exercise that combines counter-conditioning with positive reinforcement whenever the dog is in the presence of running water, and the dog carer does the same at home - this is synchronised care and approach.
While the dog carer may not have initially thought it was ever possible to help their dog overcome such a deep-rooted phobia, team effort has proved to be effective in the rehabilitation of their dog.
Check Out:
HGA Graduate, Daniella Stewart's business page, 'Woody's Holistic Dog Grooming' is a brilliant place to watch this sort of process in action since she actively posts her 'behind the scenes' for everyone to see. Have a look over here for how she achieves the same successes every day.
HGA Student, Clare Hudson's amazing blog post discussing her amazing holistic grooming journey with Odie here.
3 Ways To Support Your Holistic Groomer and Dog
Raise your hand if you are still feeling a little unconvinced or unsure of where to even begin contributing. Be honest! 🙋♀️
That's no problem; here are some extra hints and tips to get you on your way to successfully supporting your HGA Approved Groomer, and subsequently contribute to how much progress your dog makes in overcoming his/her grooming-related fears:
Tip #1: Stop 'groomer-hopping' when things get tough or trying to avoid paying what your holistic groomer is truly worth. A HGA Approved Groomer has invested over 320 hours of dedicated and specialised training covering a broad range of science-backed theory and approach (that's over and above their official and traditional grooming training by the way). They have invested thousands of pounds on their continual professional development just so that they can support your dog without contributing to their stress and trauma.
HGA Approved Groomers are not "just groomers" - they are specialists with a very niched set of skills and therefore should, and need to, charge more for their expertise. Truth be told, they are a rare kind of groomer and deserve to be respected so please do not make the mistake of belittling them or trying to haggle with them re their pricing. If they are genuinely too expensive for you, move on but be aware that if your dog is a dog who is genuinely struggling with grooming processes, going to a more conventional groomer might just make things a whole bunch worse, and more expensive for you longer-term.
Tip #2: Be willing to listen and take on advice even when it's uncomfortable. Sometimes things change and in the pet care world, standards change all the time! That means, what was once the "status-quo" five years ago may very well be outdated and debunked today. If your HGA Approved Groomer is advising you to stop doing something and instead trying to show you an alternative approach, try to keep an open mind and at least give it a chance! Remember, these groomers have been specially trained to ensure that they are equipped with the most modern and science-backed approach to dog care, and as such are fully competent in providing you with the best advice when it comes to helping your dog overcome grooming-related fears. A conflict of ethics is understandable at times whether it's down to culture, age or something else, but understanding that your HGA Approved Groomer is only offering you advice to help safeguard the wellbeing of your dog will help you to see things from a different perspective and hopefully, put a little faith in the groomer.
Tip #3: Be willing to get involved and see the benefits of the HGA Protocol for yourself. As I've mentioned, much of the success of your dog's rehabilitation relies on your willingness to do homework to help reinforce learning. Don't look at a regular professional grooming schedule as an alternative to grooming at home, but instead use time at home to further support all that your dog is covering during a professional grooming session. The more time you put in to providing your dog with additional opportunities to learn in a positive way, the more quickly your dog will progress and overcome any fears. What's more, be honest and transparent about how grooming sessions at home are going and don't be afraid to contact your groomer and ask for further support and/or guidance. Many HGA Approved Groomers offer 'Grooming Masterclasses' where dog carers can receive practical training to help ensure they know how to safely groom their dog using various grooming tools.
Key Takeaways
Let's wrap this up, shall we? The key takeaways to remember from this post are that your dog relies on your support and a synchronised approach to grooming tasks. This means it's crucial that you listen and respect your holistic groomer, and resist belittling them when they are trying to help you.
The Holistic Grooming Academy's mission is to raise awareness of the importance of our Holistic Grooming Protocol, and explain the difference between it and other holistic grooming practices, as well as, conventional grooming processes.
Our HGA Approved Groomers really are a different kettle of fish when it comes to their competence and knowledge in helping dogs with grooming-related fears, and we strongly encourage both dog carers and pet professionals to respect their specialised set of skills, and be open to working with them in the rehabilitation of dogs.
If you would like to learn more about the Holistic Grooming Protocol, you can visit The Holistic Grooming Academy website here. And if you would like to see where your closest HGA Approved Groomer is you can check out The Holistic Groomer's Directory.
Oh, and come say hi on Facebook and join the community there!
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