There are many reasons why some dogs are sensitive to the grooming process. Some may be touch sensitive, may have health issues that make it uncomfortable to be groomed, may be a rescue dog, may have had a previous poor grooming experience or they could be a puppy that is coming for their first groom. However, the reason really is not the priority to me, the priority is to find a way to allow each dog to feel safe in my salon, build confidence and trust with me, to find which technique works best for each dog to allow a groom to be completed causing the minimum distress. This does not happen overnight, and does need commitment from the guardian to attend regular sessions and often work at home in between appointment.
The majority of dogs I now groom have either been referred to me from other groomers who are concerns about the dogs wellbeing or behaviour during the grooming process, or guardians who want their dogs to be given more choices during grooming and are not so concerned with the “perfect” looking finish, but just want their dogs to be relaxed. My background in Tellington TTouch Training, Animal Centred Education, Low Stress Grooming and Dog Behaviour puts me in the ideal position to be enable these grooming anxious dogs to cope better.
However, I don’t have a magic wand and although progress with some dogs can be made within a couple of visits, some can take much longer. I will keep you updated throughout and help to keep costs reasonable as much as possible. My fees for Grooming Behaviour Modification is well below average for others offering other canine issue behaviour modification because I believe it should be affordable for as many guardians as possible.
Each dog is an individual and will require a different plan, so I will not be able to give you a timescale for how long the modification programme will take before we can move on to full grooms. Some of the dogs I now groom took a couple of sessions, others are still a work in progress. I will never give up on a dog without giving you other options to consider. However, if you decide that my style of grooming is not for you, please let me know and I would be happy to pass on details to another groomer.
As I am a behaviourist as well as a groomer, the sessions will also include some advice on a range of other aspects which may or may not impact on the grooming process. For example, I may notice that your dog struggles to have the harness put on and taken off, so I will be able to give you some training to help with that, so you don’t just get grooming modification for your money but other science based advice to help your dog day to day. You will also learn some general dog behaviour that will help you understand your dog better.
For some dogs it may be necessary to recommend a vet sedated clip off in the first instance. The decision to advise this is never taken lightly but in many cases can be highly advisable so that we can start working on a dog with very little coat, so we don’t risk catching small mats, or having to clip claws before they are ready. Desensitising grooming when there are mats can make progress extremely slow, because we are working with discomfort.
My Canine qualifications are as follows:
- Diploma in Dog Grooming (L.A. Spa & Groom, Leicester)
- ISCP Diploma in Dog Behaviour & Psychology
- Tellington Ttouch Practitioner (Level 2)
- Animal Centred Education Advanced Tutor
- Family Dog Mediator©
- Canine Reiki Practioner (Level 2)
- Low Stress Handling Silver Certified©
- Foundational Posture Analyst
The following prices will give you an idea of my fees:
FEES
My fees for grooming modification are as below:
I ask that all clients commit to four sessions. From experience, four sessions gives me a good amount of time to get to know your dog, be able to identify issues, design and review a plan, and make progress.
INTRODUCTORY PACKAGE – £225(*)
This package includes the first four sessions.
If you decide that you no longer wish to use my services before the four sessions have been completed, no refund will be available. However, in the extremely rare case that I feel that I cannot help your dog then any remaining balance will be refunded.
If you cannot afford £225 in one payment, please do contact me to discuss.
The four sessions will follow the seven steps listed below, these do not necessarily relate to sessions, as some dogs will require to repeat some steps for several sessions, or some dogs can cope with more than one step during a session. I will not progress to the next step until I feel your dog is able to cope otherwise progress and trust will be compromised.
These first four sessions must be taken within 6-8 weeks of the first session to get the best out of the programme.
STEP ONE: Compulsory Introductory Session in the salon
During this session, your dog will get to engage in Animal Centred Education Free Work, which includes a range of different types of food on a range of different textured services. This starts to give me lots of important information and helps me to plan the first few sessions. It also gives us an opportunity to have a chat. This also allows your dog to have a first positive experience of my salon, is great to help them to calm, process information, get to know me, my salon and the associated smells, sounds and equipment in a relaxed manner. It is unlikely that I will even stroke your dog during this session. This step is purely for the benefit of your dog, and my interaction will be directed by your dog.
STEP TWO
This step (may be session two, but may be sessions three or four, etc) is where I start interacting with your canine companion. This will take the form of inviting to take treats, some basic training commands, and getting on and off my table.
STEP THREE
This step (which may be combined into session two, depending on how your dog is coping) involved direct contact with your dog, including stroking, light brushing whilst on the table. This is the time they start to learn that whilst they are on the table grooming will take place, but if they step off, grooming stops.
STEP FOUR
Introduction to grooming tools, such as the shower, dryer, clippers, scissors, bath (although no bath will be attempted). If medium or large, they will also be trained to step into the bath themselves. This step helps me identify any sensitivities they have and enables a plan to be put together to deal with this sensitivity.
STEP FIVE
In the bath work, dampened with water and dried (or partially dried). Brushed out
STEP SIX
Full bath, dry, and brush.
STEP SEVEN
Full groom
From experience, each dog progresses through the steps at different paces. Some will get to Step Seven in the four prepaid sessions, others will never get to Step Seven and will always be a work in progress but at the end of each session I will discuss progress, and suggest alternative options.
After the first four prepaid sessions, costs will be as follows:
Additional Grooming Desensitisation Sessions (£45 for upto 1 hour)
These sessions are for dogs that are still working through the steps above
Full Grooms in the Salon
Once I feel that your dog is ready for a full groom, I will discuss pricing with you then. This is dependant on the breed, frequency of sessions, the length of coat, whether I can clip or need to scissor (scissoring takes longer and more skill), etc.
Grooming in the home Introductory Session in the home (90 minutes including Travel) – £95 (If I cannot make the round trip in 90 minutes, and additional 45p per mile will be charge on top of the £60).
This option is for dogs that find it too difficult to participate in Free Work in the Salon AND will not interact with me, I find that coming to the home breaks down their initial fears so that they can start to trust me. I will not force myself on a dog, and I cannot help a dog that doesn’t want to interact with me willingly, so this is an essential part of the process. This is rarely needed, but is on option available in really severe cases.
Grooming in the home (individually prices dependant on location, time taken, etc)
Some dogs just find travelling and being in the salon just too difficult. For these dogs I offer the option to come to your home to groom your dog. However, for grooming in the home I do ask guardians to bath and dry before I arrive (this can be done the day before if you don’t allow your dog to get dirty again!). Bathing before also reduces my time in your home and therefore keep the fees affordable. Fees will depend on the breed of dog, size, coat condition, and distance to travel.
Payment is required prior to the first appointment, bank transfer is preferred but cash accepted.
Sue Williamson, The Canine Grooming Behaviourist, Happy Paws with Sue
‘* In addition to the four initial sessions, this price includes:
- A copy of my book Taking the Grrr out of Grooming Your Dog or Introducing Your Puppy To Grrr-less Grooming
- Pet Remedy Lickimat
- Benefit of my 9 years experience grooming and working with dogs with varying levels of grooming anxieties.
- Benefit of 5 years canine behaviour experience, including significant Continuous Professional Development