Reducing Stress in Dogs
The Dog Buzz Difference.
At The Dog Buzz, our groomers are very experienced with dogs that may be prone to stress and anxiety and can help to soothe their worries by using a comforting tone when speaking to them, as well as by offering treats if they are allowed to have them. We utilize special tools to help muffle loud dryer sounds that may scare some dogs, and dogs are free to roam our grooming rooms without the stress of being crated. You can rest assured that you and your dog will not have to experience any anxiety about crate drying.
Another way that we actively work to reduce stress and anxiety during the grooming experience is by only utilizing “straight through” grooming appointments—we don’t want your dog to be anxiously waiting or left alone for an extended period of time. This is also why we have a 30 minute pickup policy; we don’t want your dog won’t be waiting for too long! We hope these tips and tricks will prove to be helpful, and we can’t wait to see you for your next grooming appointment!
Here are some tips to help reduce your dogs stress before a grooming appointment.
Do you ever wonder if your dog is feeling a little stressed? Just like us, our furry friends can get stressed out when they face new or different challenges, such as a grooming appointment. Dogs can sense when their owners are stressed and it can in turn stress them out, but they can also become stressed due to boredom, frustration, fear or anxiety. You’ll know your dog is feeling stressed when they yawn without being tired, pant with the tip of their tongue curled up, pace around the room, lick their lips, have their ears pinned back, have dilated pupils, redness around the eyes or have the whites of their eyes showing.
In addition to these signs, some dogs will show their stress through the following symptoms or actions: loss of appetite, backing away from a certain person or situation, tucking their tail between their legs, cowering, having sudden diarrhea or a change in bowel movements or trembling. Although it can be upsetting to witness your dog feeling stressed and anxious, rest assured that there are certain tried and true techniques that can help your furry pal relax and feel at ease.
Often times, we have found that an anxious dog will experience stress when they arrive for their grooming appointment. We know that this can be difficult for dogs as well as their owners, so how can we help our best friends to feel more at ease and less stressed before their appointment? There are several tips and techniques that have been proven to help an anxious pup—one of our favorite options is providing your dog with ample exercise and activity, especially if your dog suffers from separation anxiety. Before your grooming appointment, it might be helpful to take your anxious dog out for a long walk or to play at a dog park since anxiety can sometimes cause excess energy in dogs.
A few other suggestions that we have found to be helpful if your dog finds grooming to stressful include: giving your dog a treat with anti-anxiety properties before they come in, putting soothing music on during the car ride over, giving your dog a special doggy massage before you head over and making sure you select a groomer that knows how to soothe a nervous dog’s nerves. When massaging your dog, make sure to show them some love and massage their paws and behind their ears . Your dog will surely appreciate the special attention and be more relaxed during their grooming!