My old dog has a difficult time going to the vet and groomer. She needs to be muzzled and even then has bit herself during grooming in distress. Besides getting tranquilizers from the vet, how else can I calm her down?
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Hire a trainer, quick! This is definitely a place to spend some money. Or get some good 'nonviolent' training info yourself and start working with her daily. Just a few minutes per day will help. Poor puppy is frantically afraid, that's really sad for your dog to experience this time after time. Regardless of when she developed this behaviour, you don't want to cement it! You'll need to acclimate her slowly, letting her know that only GOOD things come from grooming and going to the vet. Start slow, maybe with a non-slip pad on a low table (your coffee table?), having her get up and stand - then give her a treat fast. Or maybe, because she's old, just 'standing' on a mat on the floor is better. Then work on that for awhile until she can 'stand'. Then work on brushing her with just your hand. Brush, and treat. Brush, and treat. Then move up to a soft brush. Then a wire brush (gently). You can also work on her with allowing you to handle her feet, her ears, etc. that's easy to do when she's just relaxing with you. Praise good behaviour, and don't overdo it, let her set the pace. Don't say 'no' don't do that, just stop if she's acting up, and try again 5 minutes later.
Have you considered doing her grooming yourself? We have a pomeranian and we do all her grooming and cutting ourselves. Besides saving money, I think it's easier on our dog. If she's in a bad mood or stressed out, we can just give up for that moment and try again later. Plus, I tend to do it on the floor with her in my lap, so it's less threatening. We also give her the highest value treat we have after each session, so she is almost accepting of grooming now.
Of course, the first time I cut her fur, my husband came home and I met him at the door by saying, "Dear, our dog was attacked by giant mutant moths." Then, she completed the picture by trotting out to greet him looking decidedly assymetrical. :-) I've gotten much better since then.
I have a young Yorkie he is 5 pounds of fiesty!
I put him on tv table with old towel on it and just
start sniping away with scissors and I rub his ears gently and he lets me. I started this when I got
'bad, hyper MAY NEED Tranquillezers to groom' notes from the groomers so I do it myself and the little puppy calms down and sometimes falls asleep in the middle then after I bathe him and he is happy. Start slowly and they prefer you then some
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