Learn more about the five most popular grooming tools that could be harming your dog!
It may come as a surprise to you that some of the most commonly used grooming tools are causing dogs unnecessary discomfort and as such, contributing to stress during grooming tasks!
Understanding which tools to avoid from the very beginning is important since your dog relies on having positive grooming experiences should you want him to enjoy being groomed for many years to come.
Choosing the wrong tools can make the grooming experience for your dog uncomfortable and in some instances, painful so let's prevent this from ever happening by listing the top five I would avoid based on what I know as a professional Level 2 DAATA Groomer.
The top 5 grooming tools to avoid using on your dog are:
#1 - Traditional Style Slicker Brushes
Possibly one of the most common tools for both groomers and dog carers, slicker brushes are often used to help remove dead undercoat and are considered the most important matt-prevention tool for most dogs.
So what's the problem?
Considering that a dog's skin is on average between 3-5 cells thick compared to a human's skin of between 10-15 cells thick, is it any wonder that the sharpness of a slicker brush might damage the skin and hair follicles, not to mention cause pain?
The skin is an animal's largest organ, covered with nerves that can feel and send signals to the brain. When a dog's skin is subjected to trauma, you will notice behaviours associated with discomfort and/or pain including resistance, whining and sometimes even biting.
Even with good technique, the potential risk slicker brushes pose on a dog are, in my opinion, not worth the risk at all and there are better alternatives to choose that offer the same results.
Note: if you are not ready to part with your slicker brushes, why not consider this amazing range of safe slicker brushes that have capped tips to ensure your dog's skin is protected.
#2 - FURminator and Similar Grooming Tools
Basically any de-shedding tool that has been designed to remove hair using a blade has the potential to damage the skin and coat.
Deshedding tools like FURminators have been designed to remove coat by cutting through and catching dead hair but while they are successful at removing undercoat, they are equally successful at removing the healthy guard hair of your dog as well, disrupting the natural growth cycle.
The sharp, cutting edge of these and similar tools can also cause friction and trauma to the skin itself increasing the risk of bald patches, surface burn, grazes, cuts, skin sores and in more advanced cases, infection.
Considering that the skin of a dog is incredibly tender, it would be far safer removing these tools from your grooming caddy and opting for a kinder alternative such as a Rubber Curry or Undercoat DeShedding Comb.
As with every other tool, careful and proper use is essential to avoid damaging the skin and coat, and it is worthwhile reading up on the anatomy and function of a dog's skin and coat prior to picking up a brush.
As a Level 2 DAATA professional, I recommend that all professional groomers take this course as a commitment to their CPD - this will improve your knowledge and ultimately enhance the quality of care a dog receives.
#3 - Drying Cabinets
Thankfully, these are typically a professional tool found in busy dog grooming facilities as a way to make day-to-day more efficient, I'd be surprised if a dog carer had one at home.
Drying cabinets are said to cut down hours in the salon and help with drying nervous/resisting dogs and cats, but there are some major risks that put them on my list of dangerous tools.
There have been various reports (but also unreported incidents) where dogs have died from heat stroke in drying cabinets.
Lets take a brief look:
Trudie the Cocker Spaniel suffered peeling skin, burns and dehydration before being put to sleep as a result of advanced heatstroke. She had been placed in a makeshift drying cabinet by her groomer in Leicestershire, UK in 2012.
Charlie the Golden Retriever died of heat stroke after being left too long in a drying cabinet in Liverpool, UK back in 2015.
Harry the Cockapoo Puppy died shortly after being brought out of a drying cabinet in Ayrshire, UK in 2021.
Bonnie the Chow Chow died of heat stroke and brain damage being left too long in a drying cabinet in Glasgow, UK in 2023.
Proving that even with years of reports of the misuse of these devices, dogs are still at risk of dying as a result of these contraptions. The question is, is the risk worth it?
Practicality aside, the process involved in a dog being dried with a drying cabinet could be considered a breach of the Animal Welfare Acts' Five Freedoms, specifically the 'freedom to exhibit natural behaviours', 'freedom from hunger and thirst' and 'freedom from fear, injury and disease'.
Furthermore, there is also the psychological risk to consider as well - would you feel safe being confined in a small space while hot air was blown directly at you for prolonged periods of time? How safe might you feel when everyone around you doesn't speak your language so cannot understand when you ask for a break or a drink? The truth is, all dogs are different and must be treated using an adaptable approach - while the temperature may be adjusted in drying cabinets, they do not allow a dog to remove himself from the velocity of air nor do they have access to fresh water meaning the risk of overheating is actually high, even under supervision.
#4 - The Groomer's Helper®
The device was inspired by an aversive dog training device known as the 'AlphaLock' which was used in conjunction with Gentle Leaders to help control a dog. Founder of The Groomer's Helper®, Chuck Simons decided to adapt the tool and introduced the updated version in 2001 while attending the N.G.D.A.A, where it was a big success.
The Groomer's Helper is said to work as "an extra pair of hands" eliminating the need for groomer assistants when working with dogs. In an article featuring the "best dog grooming equipment", here is a snippet of why The Groomer's Helper® is widely known as one of the best:
On there website, it is good to see a section where it clearly highlights that groomers should not attempt to groom a dog that is showing signs of stress and/or struggling and to remove the device when an animal is calm yet the reality is that almost every groomer seems to ignore these clear instructions.
The groomer's helper is said to be one of the most valuable tools for professional groomers worldwide but when we advance our knowledge of canine psychology and the link it has to a dog's Autonomic Nervous System, we can begin to identify reasons why the device can do more harm than good...
You can learn more about the purpose and function of a dog's Autonomic Nervous System and the link it has to safety and wellbeing here.
#5 - Calming Cradles or Grooming Hammock's
Similar to The Groomer's Helper device, the calming cradle was designed to help support the professional groomer in carrying out grooming tasks, especially with dogs who are known to fidget. These tools have also became popular in the dog carer community, and I've stumbled upon various photographs of dogs hanging from door frames in make shift body slings on Social Media over the years.
Calming Cradles were designed to elevate a dog in the air during grooming procedures - it is said that the compression felt on the body gives the dog a sense of emotional safety leading to calming behaviours and cooperation.
However, being lifted in the air is not comforting to most dogs because it throws off their proprioception leading to feelings of insecurity and panic.
It's important to understand that a dog's feet are more important than merely being in charge of taking them from A to B - the paws have various nerves that pick up and receive information in the world around them. Feeling the surface below them is crucial to them reading their environment and keeping safe. When a dog cannot feel the ground below him, it can lead to an escalation of stress.
Despite some photos showing dogs looking calm or even sleepy in calming cradles, there is a very high chance that they are in what is referred to as 'emotional shut down' and 'learned helplessness' - these two behavioural terms are used to describe a dog who has been subjected to flooding causing deep-rooted psychological trauma to a specific stimulus or task.
While there are ways to adapt the use of a calming cradle to support specific dogs in a low-stress way (as seen above) there are still far too many groomers actively using these tools in the way they have been advertised. And why wouldn't they? This is a rare exception of where it is perhaps not wise to follow the instruction manual for a tool.
Ultimately, the question we should always be asking ourselves is whether the risk of using and/or misusing certain tools is worth them being recommended tools at all, or whether we could quite easily adapt our grooming processes and learn to live without them entirely...
Further Recommended Resources
For a more detailed breakdown of the skin and coat as per the DAATA Method, why not read my blog post '5 Surprising Ways You Could Be Washing Your Dog Wrong - Based On The DAATA Method'.
Check out my paw and nail care mini-course to learn more about the importance of a dog's paws and nails, and the link it has to feeling safe in the environment.
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