When we understand cognition, emotion, and the autonomic nervous system, we stop seeing behaviour as “difficult” and we start seeing it as communication.
One of the most common causes of dog bites in grooming is unidentified, unresolved fear or pain.
Have you ever came across those “Guess the Breed?” social media posts that attempt to kickstart a conversation on typical dog breeds to bite in the grooming salon? I have, and make no mistake – they aren’t educational tools that can help you evade potential bite incidents in your salon. These posts will only instil fear, reinforce dangerous stereotypes, ridicule certain breeds, and encourage you to judge dogs based on their appearance before ever meeting them as individual.
You’ve just started clipping when you notice some strange gestures: a lip lick, the white’s of the dog’s eyes, a paw lift, and maybe even raised hackles. Are these just random behaviours, or is your canine client trying to tell you something important?
If you’re a professional groomer or pet carer attempting at-home grooming, understanding what stress signals are isn’t just helpful, it’s essential for ethical, welfare-focused care, and safety. Yet surprisingly, many of these subtle signs go misinterpreted and/or ignored until a dog escalates to more severe stress behaviours like growling, lunging and/or snapping. In many cases, the dog may be blamed for being “naughty”, unhinged even, when the reality is that they have been pushed to the point they have no other option but to respond more severely.
Your dog approaches and begins licking your hand, face, or arm, and the immediate assumption is,...
Grooming is often regarded as a routine part of canine care, yet beneath the surface of many conventional practices lies a cycle of escalating stress, tension, and ultimately pain for countless dogs. As the pet care industry evolves, it’s time to challenge outdated approach and embrace a welfare-first one instead – one that recognises complex interplay between behaviour, physical health, and emotional well-being.
As professional groomers, we’re often faced with a difficult decision: should we attempt to de-matt a matted coat, or should we recommend clipping it off? Whilst the temptation to “save” the coat can be strong, especially when faced with an insistent carer, the reality is that de-matting can cause significant harm to dogs. It’s time we had an honest conversation about why welfare must always triumph over vanity.
I'd put money on every canine caregiver requesting and expecting their dog to come out of a...
Let’s be honest, grooming isn’t for the faint-hearted. Whether you’re kneeling on the floor, perched at awkward angles, or standing at a grooming table for prolonged periods of time, your body takes a beating. And whilst we’re all passionate about giving our best to every dog, it’s far too easy to neglect our own wellbeing until aches, pains, or even injuries force us to finally take notice. The truth? Your body is your most valuable grooming tool. Unlike another tool that may be replaced if it becomes broken, you cannot be replaced. In this post I want to unpack the science behind repetitive strain, share practical exercises you can do between appointments (or even during short breaks), and explore both traditional and holistic therapies to keep you strong, supported, and thriving in your career for many years to come.
Not long ago, I worked with a lovely rescue spaniel called Daisy who used to panic at the very sight of a brush. As per HGA protocol, I devised a bespoke care plan incorporating desensitisation exercises into the salon environment, meanwhile her carer was tasked to try the same methods at home in between.
After a couple of weeks Daisy was making great progress in the salon and I was able to brush almost every area of her body without signs of unreasonable stress yet according to her carer, things weren’t improving during their home bonding sessions whatsoever.
Her carer seemed to be doing everything right but even still, Daisy would try everything to avoid being brushed at home.
I decided to visit Daisy in her home environment to see what was happening myself, and as explained, as soon as the brush came out she was hiding under tables and chairs to avoid the session. I looked at the space around us.
Welcoming a new dog into your grooming salon is a big deal for all involved.
To make sure every pup has the best possible experience from the get-go, it’s essential to get to know them before their first appointment. My pre-grooming session questionnaire is an amazing tool to help professional groomers prepare for their very first appointment with a prospective dog by ensuring that expectations are realistic, important health and behavioural needs are disclosed and that the groomer is comfortable with accepting this new client.
In a recent post, a groomer shared the tale of the ‘Christmas Doodle’ – a scenario many of us will recognise all too well. A desperate carer, having left their booking far too late, frantically seeks help for a “one-off” groom before the festivities. But here’s the plot twist: this isn’t one of your regular clients and as it happens, the dog hasn’t been groomed in months and arrives at your salon severely matted. Despite failing to answer any pre-appointment questions, your conscience won’t allow you to refuse the dog your services and so you welcome them in nonetheless. The carer however now expects a festive miracle when they insist that their dog’s coat remains intact and in full breed standard glory!
For many years now, we’ve been hearing that drying cabinets are a really great way to successfully dry nervous dogs but also to free up time and hands in a busy grooming environment. In fact, just the other day, I came across an advertisement for a new brand of drying cabinet, selling the same pitch but to the dog carer community. This particular company was using words like “relaxation” and “happy dog”, to convince people that their device was not only convenient but also an enjoyable experience for dogs (this was despite the dog in the advert looking completely traumatised while placed in one to demonstrate).
Conventional grooming processes often encourage the use of neck nooses when working with dogs on grooming tables and during bath time, as well as the use of slip leads for transporting dogs from one post to another, as physical safety devices in place to keep dogs free from injury and/or harm. Meanwhile, The Holistic Grooming & Behaviour Protocol goes against this tradition and encourages students to ditch the neck devices entirely and opt for harnesses and/or cooperative methods of handling instead. Conventional grooming processes often encourage the use of neck nooses when working with dogs on grooming tables and during bath time, as well as the use of slip leads for transporting dogs from one post to another, as physical safety devices in place to keep dogs free from injury and/or harm.
We've all heard someone dismiss another person's struggles with a casual, "Well, it could have...
All right friends, it’s myth-slaying time! I can’t count the number of times I’ve come across a...
It’s easy to assume that the responsibility is solely on your professional groomer to ensure that...
The grooming environment is far more influential than most people realise. Before a single clipper...