By Daryl Conner
December 2, 2019
The words that pet owners utilize to communicate info to their groomer can in some cases be a bit amusing. “Tippy can be nippy,” a client may say. The groomer may discover that this phrase equates to, “Tippy will utilize his teeth with bit cautioning as well as he will imply business.”
It is my belief that many dog/groomer bites occur since the canine is uncomfortable. That may imply it is frightened by being handled by a unusual person as well as goes into “fight” mode, or it may imply that some part of its body is painful, as well as the groomer inadvertently triggers discomfort during the grooming process, resulting in the canine attempting or achieving a bite. However, some dogs, because of temperament or even senility, will snap for no obvious reason.
Most grooming market leaders will recommend groomers to turn biting animals away. A canine bite can be serious, life altering as well as even profession ending. however we don’t always understand that a canine is a bite danger up until the groom is well under way. So, what does a groomer do when the canine they are working on tries to bite?
There are essentially two options: put the canine away as well as have the owner come get it, or do your finest to surface the groom without anybody getting hurt. The option is yours, however if you select to try to surface the job, right here are some suggestions to assist you do so:
Use appropriate restraint
A grooming loop connected to a grooming arm acts as a “seat belt” to keep dogs safely on the table. adding an extra restraint system as well as loop to the grooming arm guarantees that the dog’s variety of movement is limited. This easy tool, correctly used, can absolutely avoid numerous bites from happening.
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Enlist the Magic of an Elizabethan Collar
These cone-shaped collars, which dogs commonly should wear to avoid themselves from licking as well as chewing at an injury or surgical wound, can likewise keep their mouths away from a groomer’s hands. Some are stiff plastic, some are softer foam, however either can be extremely helpful in the grooming area. With a correctly sized E-collar in location (one that is somewhat longer than the suggestion of the dog’s nose), the groomer can safely work on all areas of the canine from the ears back. An added bonus is that numerous dogs rapidly recognize that they cannot reach to bite as well as stop even trying.
Grooming the Face
Let’s state you have utilized your grooming loop, your extra restraint system as well as an E-collar, as well as have been able to groom whatever except for the dog’s face. If the canine has the kind of coat that does not requirement brushing, trimming or clipping, you are in great shape. However, if that deal with as well as head need grooming, things can get complicated. This is a great time to reevaluate; do you want to try to continue, or is it time to put the canine away? If you want to try to continue, right here are a few options:
While the E-collar is still in place, you can carefully simplicity one ear each time under its rim to brush, comb as well as trim. depending upon the dog’s habits at this point, you can likewise in some cases slide the E-collar up over part of its skull to trim there, as well as from side to side, subjecting a few of the cheeks to work on them. Likewise, the collar can be slid up, subjecting the underside of the neck to reach a few of the hair in that area so it can be cleaned as well as trimmed.
Muzzles can be utilized to avoid the canine from biting, however they will cover much of the hair that needs to be groomed. In numerous cases, you can slip a muzzle on, eliminate the E-Collar as well as utilize your comb to tease out bits of fur from under the muzzle to groom as needed. ideally you will have somebody assisting you carefully however firmly hold the pet as you do this, since even with a muzzle on, teeth can commonly still get in touch with skin. keep in mind that even if you can get a few of the hair around the mouth out so you can groom it, the result will at finest be neat as well as tidy, however most likely never fantastic looking.
One last ditch effort that I commonly utilize when handling a canine that wishes to bite me while I am grooming its deal with is to wrap a length of panty hose around the dog’s snout. The hose is soft as well as stretchy, as well as if correctly put (I typically encircle the jaws at least twice, snugly) as well as connected behind the dog’s ears, can avoid it from opening its mouth. This works finest with little breeds. I can typically loop the hose on while the routine muzzle is on, then, when the panty hose is in place, I can eliminate the muzzle. working quickly, I comb what hair I can out from under the hose as well as trim it. I never leave the hose on much more than 1-2 minutes, however commonly that is all I requirement to trim up the last few bits of fur that requirement attention. when the hose comes off, the task is typically as done as it’s going to be.
Most owners that have dogs that “nip” are grateful that I have been able to achieve any type of trimming at all, as well as gracefully accept if the completed product is less than perfect.
Dealing with a biting canine is a major challenge. even the bite from a little canine can cause genuine injury. It is my hope that you never requirement to put any type of of these concepts to use, however if you are faced by a nippy Tippy, the above concepts will assist keep both of you safe. ✂️
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