What is “holistic” grooming?
“Holistic dog grooming” is painted across my grooming bus, along with flowers and a 70s inspired swirl of colors. Whether I’m filling up at the gas station or sitting in traffic, one thing I’m always asked is “What’s the holistic part?” sometimes followed by, “does that mean you get them high?” (for the record, I do not use any sedatives!)
Holistic means to focus on the whole dog, rather than a single part. Holistic grooming focuses on both physical and emotional wellbeing, including behavior.
Behavior is a form of communication. Because dogs can’t talk, they use behavior to communicate their needs and express their feelings. When I first started grooming, understanding behavior wasn’t a part of our training. If a dog was being “difficult” we used an array of straps, loops, muzzles, and extra hands to hold dogs down and get the job done quickly. Sometimes, grooming would turn into a full blown wrestling match and usually, someone got hurt.
When we ignore the green, dogs escalate to orange and red. This is why pushing a dog through grooming does more harm than good.
These dogs learned that grooming was a scary and stressful process. They required more hands, more equipment until grooming was so unsafe they had to be sedated at a vet’s office for grooming. Some dogs gave up the fight and experienced something called “learned helplessness,” which isn’t good either. To make things even more confusing, we usually told clients the groom went great, leaving no room for improvement between appointments!
What to expect
As a “holistic groomer,” a big part of my job is to help your dog feel calm, comfortable, and cooperative for grooming. This means:
Stopping and assessing the situation if your pet becomes anxious, overwhelmed, or uncomfortable
Using positive reinforcement, gentle handling, short intervals, and taking breaks rather than using restraints or corrections
Modifying the service or ending the service early if your pet continues to struggle (we will charge based on the time spent with your pet)
Creating a plan with the client to practice co-operative care at home between regular grooming appointments
There is no such thing as “bad behavior,” but I will not force your dog through grooming if they are showing signs of fear, stress, or anxiety. We may need to work on core skills before we attempt another grooming service.
I totally understand it may be frustrating to not get the perfect haircut or short smooth toenails at your dog’s first appointment, but slow and steady wins the race. Dogs need grooming for their entire lives, and it’s so much easier to create a positive experience than undo all the scary ones. Look what can happen when animals are comfortable with each step of grooming…
A hippopotamus named Tucker gets his teeth filed. Notice how he isn’t restrained or sedated, and he’s choosing to participate! This is a great example of co-operative care!
Many clients are surprised to hear what I do and ask me, “you mean it’s not supposed to be stressful? my dog can get better for grooming?”
I love using Tucker as an example. If a 4,000 lb wild animal can be trained to comfortably accept grooming, why couldn’t your pup? The cool thing about “holistic” care is that it isn’t just about good vibes and energy. It’s rooted in science and being used by animal professionals worldwide! Dog grooming (and guardianship) just has some catching up to do.
