Taking your dog for regular grooming sessions is nothing short of a necessity. This is particularly true when the weather is hot!
Pups are somewhat like human babies. Grooming sessions can make them very uncomfortable and even sad!
In fact, it’s not at all unusual to see your pup cowering from you or just looking very sad each time you bring him back from a grooming session.
Here are a few reasons that can help you understand why your dog acts strange after a grooming session.
If you are the owner of a poodle and you take this poodle for a grooming session, it shouldn’t be strange for you then to see that your pup might act unlike his usual self for the rest of the day.
A poodle typically has a whole bunch of hair. After a haircut, a poodle can feel a bit too airy. This airy feeling can be unsettling for the simple reason that your pup isn’t used to feeling airy.
This feeling can be somewhat relatable. If you’ve ever had long hair and you decide to get it cut to a short length, you might just feel pretty strange and unsettled for at least a few days after the haircut.
This isn’t because you don’t like your new haircut, but only because you aren’t used to the new length. So you might not necessarily have to worry if you feel as though your pup is avoiding you. He probably isn’t.
He’s only just getting used to his new fur!
Imagine if someone took you for a haircut without once asking you if you even want one. Sitting in the salon chair while the stylist chops off the locks you love so much can be nothing short of distressing.
Thankfully, the one perk of being human is that no one can typically make us do things we don’t want to do! But as far as our pups are concerned, they don’t actually have the power to talk. So you can’t seek their consent before taking them to the grooming salon.
Because of this feeling of powerlessness, it is okay for your pup to feel slightly confused for the rest of the day or even a few days after his grooming session.
Now that you better understand why your pup might be acting strange after his grooming session, it can be useful to consider ways in which you can make your pup feel less afraid and less confused each time he gets his much-required grooming!
One way in which you can prepare your dog in advance to ward off the anxiety he might feel earlier is through counter conditioning. For example, if you can feel that your pup is already tense on the way to the groomer’s, try to make his car ride as pleasant and as enjoyable as you possibly can.
If your pup likes the windows open, then roll them down. Even calming your pup and making sure that he is comfortable prior to the grooming session. It’s similar to having pre-emptive anxiety before a big interview. It can prove useful to make sure you are calm and that you feel good before you even decide to step in for the interview.
An overall calmer temperament naturally implies that the interview is more likely to be a success! The same principle applies here. Your pup is far more likely to be calm after the grooming session if his levels of anxiety are low anyways.
Any groomer you end up taking your pup to will almost certainly have to touch your pup in various locations on his body.
This can be very disconcerting for your pup especially if he has never experienced anything like this before.
So before you think your pup is ready for his first grooming session, perhaps get him used to being touched in these specific locations.
Additionally, the groomer will most likely use certain tools on your pup during the session.
It can be even more important to perhaps introduce your pup to these tools well in advance of his grooming session.
Even if you take pre-emptive measures to calm your pup, it can still be really distressing for him to sit through the grooming session. You can make this process a whole lot easier by giving him treats for being a good boy throughout the session. For example, if your pup sits patiently and quietly for about fifteen minutes, you can reward him with a treat.
This will motivate your pup to continue being a good boy throughout the session. Another useful tactic to keep your pup entertained and on his best behavior throughout the session is to take his favorite toy with him to the groomer’s. His favorite toy can significantly help keep him calm and distracted throughout the session.
These were some of the reasons why your dog acts strange after a grooming session and how you can avoid this to the best of your ability. It might take a little bit of time for your pup to be his usual bubbly self again, but there are ways you can help by showing you pup a whole lot of affection, such as by giving him lots and lots of hugs!
by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ .
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