Older Dogs - Keeping it Golden: Part 2

Beauty is as beauty does: Grooming

to groom or not to groom, that is the question

Most of us have attended a dog show or two and been wowed by the appearance of the dogs there. While it is true that some of them go through a lot of tape-and-feather to achieve super long coats, the majority do not require this type of overachievement in order to look just wonderful. Rather than rubber bands and curl papers, most show dogs undergo a daily brushing, a weekly trim of nails and a cleaning of ears, and are bathed regularly.

Although in the natural world, canids (dogs, foxes, wolves, coyotes and others) live happily without formal grooming, all social animals groom one another to some extent. At the same time, their fur sheds annually, gets pulled out by brush, enters and exits water, and falls out due to changes in light and heat.

Your dog is not likely to have access to a wilderness that allows a natural trim of the coat, and if he is, then bringing the wilderness back in the house with him as mud and brambles probably won't be welcome. He may expect his pack to groom him, however, and - tag, Pack Leader! - you are it.

For many of us just the idea of setting out the shampoo, towels, and water source (don't even mention the toothbrush), and having the dog stay put rather than take off for the farthest reaches of the property, is agony enough. Then to grab Rover up, hold him down, pull out the mats, and dunk him and shampoo him requires a raincoat, a chain, and a pair of scissors at the least. Sounds like something from "Saw II," doesn't it.

But grooming a dog can be easy, fun, and profitable. I am not talking about making money (that is for professional groomers), I am talking about the more valuable but less visible profit of enhancing your relationship with your dog while fulfilling one of his needs.

Everything we do or have to do with a dog is an opportunity to create a bonding experience; therefore, the first consideration in dog grooming is to develop trust between handler and animal. Avoid all harshness and impatience when introducing a dog to any grooming tool. Introductions require patience, patience, patience. (sometimes more patience than that). But the end result, a dog that sits quietly for grooming, or falls asleep while you are primping toenails, or snuggles up to have its head piece brushed out, is so worth the effort.

When grooming dogs, we seek three primary responses: first, that the dog relax to hand, loosening its muscles; second, that the dog becomes so relaxed that it rolls to its side or its back, awaiting the next touch; third, that the dog leave the situation looking good and feeling well.

A number of grooming tools feel harsh and look scary (e.g., dematters, guillotine nail clippers) so we like to start with a simple, gentle brush. Depending on the coat, a boar-bristle (or other  natural bristle) brush and/or a curry brush for horses work wonders. A curry brush has wide teeth and is excellent on a thick coat or a hair coat, without giving discomfort to the animal. Even if there are mats underlying, the curry will run over the top of the coat and allow the animal to get used to the way it feels to be brushed without any pain.  

When developing a grooming habit in yourself and acceptance in the dog, it is essential to go slow. Try to feel what the animal is feeling by observing its responses. You are seeking relaxation of the musculature, especially around the  shoulders, head and neck. The dog should become MORE relaxed as you work with it. If Pal is becoming tense, stop and review what you are doing. Are you being and feeling patient? Do you have time to do this or just a little time (in which case, just plan to do "a little" grooming). Small increments of grooming mount up to a groomed dog in the end, so no worries!

With a boar bristle brush you can do the whole body, cause no discomfort, and get the head piece, especially around the eyes, ears and jowls, without any negative response from the dog. Natural bristle brushes are effective and typically well tolerated by short haired and long haired dogs, as well as many cats.

Again, YOU and how you feel about what you are doing are the most important part of the grooming equation. This is one of those, "it's not where you are going but how you get there" situations. Hands-on time with your dog is an opportune time for you to practice relaxation for yourself as well as the dog. You might want to practice yoga breathing, or just breathing slowly and deeply while you work. If you like to, you can sing softly or hum under your breath, listen to pleasant music (not loud or raucous) or even an audio book while you work. I have noticed that both dogs and cats love a good "OOOOOMMMMMM" (ohm sound) and find it relaxing.

As you develop this grooming habit with your dog, the introduction of the dematting comb, scissors, and any other items that may feel a little less comfortable to the dog, is accomplished in the same way: slowly, patiently, with lots of gentle hands-on. Always allow the mind-body to achieve relaxation before the next step begins. 

When you and your dog unwind together while sharing an activity, the opportunity for your spirits to blend and a deeper understanding to develop is open to you. Pay attention to yourself (you are calm, you are content, you are breathing) and pay attention to the dog!