14 Tips For A Stress-Free Visit To The Dog Groomer

Maybe you've adopted a long-haired dog you already know will need special grooming throughout its life, or perhaps your dog just won't sit still enough to let you trim its claws at home. Regardless of your exact situation, a professional dog groomer can — and should — become your and your pooch's best friend.

That doesn't mean you have to blow your entire budget on grooming services, but if you notice your dog's fur becoming dull, matted, or tangled; its claws getting overly long; or evidence of parasites or impacted anal glands, you're finding clear indicators that it's time to seek a groomer's help. Some dogs genuinely need your help to keep their naturally long fur out of their eyes, too.

Regardless of the reasons for your visit, the unfamiliar sights and sounds of a groomer's clinic, from buzzing clippers to roaring hair dryers and unexpected baths, can be stressful for both you and your dog. Thankfully, the following 14 tips can help the process go more smoothly. 

Some dog breeds are better than others at adapting to new experiences. Still, a groomer will be working around sensitive body parts like your dog's face, paws, belly, and hind end, all of which would make any pooch nervous if it's not been through the process before. You can help by gently desensitizing your dog to as much of the process as you're able to simulate at home. 

For example, practice bathing and brushing your dog, starting gradually and giving it lots of treats so it already has a positive association with some of the nuts and bolts of grooming before going for its first appointment. If that's too much, just practice handling its paws and, again, rewarding even a single moment of calmness with treats. Another element you can practice ahead of time is letting your dog be around the noise of a hair dryer and feeling the air currents on its fur. Don't reward whining and other acting out with treats, but do reward moments of calm and quiet. As long as you're using jackpot treats (whether especially nice ones or a more copious amount) that your dog loves, it should make the connection quickly. 

What if you have one of the rare pups who isn't terribly food-motivated? First, try a few different treats to make sure the food you're offering isn't the issue. If your dog still isn't interested, find out what else makes it tick, and use that as a reward. Often, dogs who aren't very food-motivated will respond favorably to praise or a short play session with a favorite toy.

You won't always have the chance to desensitize your dog to handling when it's young, but puppies are cute little sponges designed to soak up new stimuli and experiences. So, the sooner you can introduce your pup to the basic elements of grooming and even take it to the groomer for the first time — all while taking care to be sure you're building bridges of positive associations between those new experiences — the easier it will be for it to accept that this is simply how the world works. Even if your puppy doesn't need to be groomed yet, it's good to help it get used to both the groomer and their tools before any needs become urgent.

What if you're getting a late start? Better late than never, as they say, and both you and your dog will still benefit from starting desensitization as soon as possible. That early start also gives you the time to progress slowly at your dog's pace and to accommodate your own learning curve as you figure out how your dog prefers to be handled.

Unless you find the rare mobile groomer that can come to you or you live in a place where you can get around by public transit, car rides are an inescapable element of the grooming process. And despite the positive cliché of dogs who freaking love going for car rides with their head hanging out of the car window, not all dogs love loading up for a ride. Although you may not convince a car-reluctant dog to truly enjoy a car ride, there's a lot you can do to help it make peace with the idea.

The first trick up your sleeve is gentle, ongoing exposure that gives your dog an opportunity to develop positive associations with being in the car. As with everything else, progressing slowly is key. You might start simply with loading into and out of the car, accompanied by rewards. If there's a carrier involved, practice loading in and out of the carrier, too. Once you've accomplished that, get your dog used to being in the car with it running. Finally, try short trips, and gradually progress to longer ones.

These practice runs also give you an opportunity to clue in to whatever might be causing your dog's discomfort. Perhaps your small dog's discomfort has nothing to do with being in the car but is all about its carrier. Or, maybe your big dog is fine with sitting in the car at a standstill but gets genuinely sick when the car is in motion. If that's the case, your vet might be able to prescribe anti-motion-sickness medication to help. Other tricks you can try to help make the car environment more comfortable include keeping the car interior cool, limiting food and water for a few hours before the trip, and giving your dog a good workout before you get in the car to help it rest.

This one is less about your dog and more about you: Have you ever been to a dog groomer or seen one at work? Do you understand the grooming procedures that your dog will need? The calmer you are, the calmer your dog will be. So, if you're feeling any stress or fear of the unknown, resolving it beforehand will be better for everybody involved.

That can look a few different ways. It might mean asking a few questions over the phone or by email or meeting the groomer ahead of time to feel out their vibe and ask questions in person. You might also deep-dive into the topic, chasing down everything from how to pick the right brush for your dog to what makes it easier to trim your dog's nails. 

This sort of "pre-gaming" approach is also an opportunity to make sure you know what you need to bring to the grooming appointment. At a minimum, most groomers will want you to have your dog's leash and collar, a carrier if it's small, and proof of up-to-date vaccinations (especially rabies).

You can help your dog be on its best behavior at the grooming clinic — and make the process of getting there easy for yourself, too — if you help it get some energy out beforehand. Choose something you know that you and your dog can enjoy together, whether that be going for a long walk, having a nice play session, or even practicing training and obedience, to help tire it out so it'll be more mellow during the grooming appointment. Some pet owners use calming treats like the StrellaLab Calming Hemp Chews to help their dog mellow out, but even in that case, there's nothing like a good play session to take the edge off your pup's energy levels.

If you've checked all the boxes for training, acclimation, and treats but still can't help your dog relax enough to get through the grooming process, it's time to check in with your vet. They might be able to offer you medications to make the process easier or screen your dog for any physical conditions that might be making the grooming process more difficult. Seize the opportunity to make sure your dog is current on vaccinations, too, as showing up with an unvaccinated pet is a deal-breaker at many grooming clinics. 

Finally, if the vet gives your dog a clean bill of health but leaves you still hunting for solutions, consider consulting a dog trainer or behaviorist. Despite the moniker, dog trainers often spend a lot of their time training the human in the equation — you! — in how best to support your dog. If you've been unknowingly communicating your own stress about grooming appointments (or life in general) to your dog, a good trainer will be able to help you identify that and give you some cues on how to get everyone onto a more even keel.

Don't wait until your dog is in dire need of a groomer's attention before you take it in. Ideally, you want to take your dog in for a gentle getting-to-know-you grooming appointment before it really needs anything so that it can build a positive association with the experience and the groomer. This is also an opportunity to expose your dog to the groomer's tools, including those noisy and notoriously scary hair dryers, without any of the pain and discomfort that might be associated with, say, clipping mats and tangles out of its fur.

This quick, easy appointment is also an opportunity to see if the groomer and your dog are a good fit, as well as to get a solid idea of what sort of periodic grooming or ongoing home maintenance your dog may need. 

Our pets are all perfect angels at home, of course, but navigating a new and stressful situation with a stranger handling your paws and face, bathing you, and probably even blow-drying you is enough to bring out the quirks in anyone. If you have any idea what those quirks might be for your dog — ranging from aggression to fearful reactivity and other stress-induced behaviors, including nipping — be open with your groomer so they know what to expect. 

Just as importantly, be honest with the groomer about your dog's grooming condition and which services it needs. You groomer will be able to figure it out, but you might be able to save everyone a lot of time. And if you're dealing with a rescue dog and don't have any idea of how it might react, be up front about that, too. A seasoned groomer will have dealt with almost any dog behavior you can imagine, but the more they know about your dog and its behaviors in advance, the more successful the encounter will be for everybody. 

Our pets react differently when we're in their space as opposed to when they're on their own, and they especially tune in to any elevated stress on your part. Unless you're the calmest person on the planet (and possibly even then), it'll be easier for your dog if you resist the urge to check in on it during the grooming appointment. 

As helpful as that might feel for you, it can disrupt your dog's opportunity to bond with the groomer and might even lead to injuries if your presence inspires your dog to move around while the groomer is wielding sharp scissors. Being really anxious about leaving your dog could be an indicator that you haven't yet found the right groomer for your dog's needs.

Once your dog's grooming appointment is complete, the groomer might send you home with some instructions for upkeep between appointments. Odds are good that daily or near-daily brushings will be on the list because it's one of the best ways to prevent mats and tangles. Let those snarls take hold in your dogs fur, and you might find it destined for a full shave instead of the cute trim you were looking forward to.

Your groomer might also send you home with a list of things not to do. One of the most likely no-go items is giving your dog frequent baths, as they can dry out its skin to the point of hair loss in extreme cases. But the groomer might also instruct you to not clean your dog's ears on your own or to not trim around its face due to the hazard of using sharp scissors near your pup's eyes (or scissors that aren't sharp enough to cut cleanly through your dog's fur).

This might seem like a no-brainer, but being on time is one of the most-frequent requests you'll see from groomers. Think about it: A timely drop-off and pick-up is less stressful for you, your dog, and your groomer, as it ensures your dog gets the full appointment time you paid for and minimizes the time it spends waiting for its turn in a carrier, crate, or pen. And, of course, dropping your dog off on time increases your odds of making a timely pick-up, too.

Even if you're hoping for a quick, in-and-out experience, you should make sure your dog is toileted just before you go to the groomer. That'll make the whole experience more comfortable for your dog and reduce the chances of your groomer having to deal with a messy accident if your pup gets too nervous while on the grooming table. 

Have you ever gone in to the barber or hairdresser with a clear picture of what you want in your mind's eye and then walked back out with something very different on your head? The same breakdown in communication can happen with your dog groomer, so help them help you by being very specific about what you want done to your dog. 

If you're not entirely sure what that entails, start by asking questions. Your groomer should be able to offer you a menu of procedures that your pet might need done depending on its breed and condition, such as shaving fur around the mouth and eyes for particularly thick-coated dogs or, in what is absolutely not every groomer's favorite task, expressing your dog's anal glands. 

Lastly — and this is very important — if you want a specific cut or look, bring pictures of that look with you to help everyone be on the same page before the scissors and clippers come out. This better ensures that your dog's new hairdo will actually be what you were hoping for.

Not every groomer is going to be the right fit for every dog, and since you're the one with Internet access, it's up to you to research to find the best fit. That could include reading online reviews, researching which services the groomer offers, or calling, emailing, and even brainstorming up some questions to ask the groomer before you leave your dog with them. Always check with the groomer before paying an in-person visit since not all of them will welcome this, but if you do manage a quick meet and greet, that is one of the best ways to make sure the groomer's vibes and working space mesh with your dog's needs. 

You get major bonus points if you can bring your dog along for the visit, as its reaction to the groomer will tell you everything you need to know. Also, this is an opportunity for the groomer to give you an estimate of which services your dog needs and their accompanying costs.

Congratulations on making it through the landmark experience of getting your dog groomed. That said, this sort of thing is rarely a one-and-done experience. Instead, have a chat with your groomer about what sort of continuing care your dog needs, and make advance grooming appointments to help you stay ahead of any issues or upkeep needs. 

You'll have to balance your dog's needs with the costs of grooming appointments, but don't forget that there are options for saving money on dog grooming, including not neglecting ear care at home and seeking out local groomers rather than ones at nationwide chains. Moreover, some dogs just need more (or less) upkeep than others. Either way, your spidey sense should clue you in pretty quickly as to whether the groomer is really describing a genuine need or just trying to sell you a package of appointments. In general, and to whatever extent your means allow, having slightly more frequent but easier grooming appointments is preferable to waiting until the next appointment becomes a stressful — and potentially traumatizing — endeavor.