Grooming your dog is essential for their overall health and welfare, and owners should get their pets used to brushing and clipping as early as possible - ideally when they are a puppy. Early and regular maintenance can help to reduce the likeliness of your pooch developing a fear of the groomers down the line.
Though Sarah Mackay, dog groomer and co-founder of the iPET Network, says it's not just pet parents' responsibility to ensure their pup is groomed - but to make it a positive experience too. Sarah told the Mirror: "From the moment your dog enters the salon, everything needs to be a positive experience. Many people put a lot of human emotions into grooming.
"Statements like, 'my dog doesn't like coming' or 'my dog doesn't like being brushed' compounds the dog's behaviour and senses before they even enter the grooming salon.
"Most dogs do not behave in the same way with their owners as they do in a salon. So when a dog comes in with an owner, it should be positive - despite what the owner feels or thinks about their dog.
"They should act confident with the dog as soon as they enter the salon.
"Likewise, at the end of the groom, if it isn't to the particular liking of the owner, the negative reaction will affect the dog's experience of returning in the future."
Sarah stresses that communicating and working with the groomer to build a relationship between them and the dog is so important.
"Adding human emotion which the dog doesn't really understand just emphasises the negative interaction between the groomer and pet," she furthered.
"It is our job to 'blow out all the candles' before we start the groom to ensure the dog has a stress-free and positive experience and the bond of trust is formed.
"Good groomers only ever want the best for dogs and their welfare always comes first."
Sarah explains that she always does what is right for the dog based on behaviour, coat condition, sensitivities of particular areas and the owner's commitments to grooming at home.
She adds: "Please think ahead about these points before your next trip to the salon."
A veterinary nurse recently shared her emotional plea to pet parents who have to euthanise their pooches, urging them to talk to their pup while it happens.
Rachel Bean told the Mirror: "Your dog will take a tremendous amount of comfort from seeing you, hearing your voice and feeling soothing gentle strokes from you in this unusual environment.
"In the room make sure that your dog can see your face, and see that you are there. Talk to them and tell them how loved they are.
"Research shows that dogs understand the words 'I love you' so tell your dog how much you care about them, and thank them for sharing their precious life with you."
Have you had an experience at the groomers that you'd like to share? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
