I would love to find someone who could goom an extremely nervous shih zuh. I have vet who uses sedation, but i read about the goomer's helper and i think it would work for her. Any suggestions, i live in NC.

Originally Posted by shih tzu owner

I would love to find someone who could goom an extremely nervous shih zuh. I have vet who uses sedation, but i read about the goomer's helper and i think it would work for her. Any suggestions, i live in NC.

Please let me know of alternatives to sedation.

[mightymite]

Hi! Sorry it's take awhile for someone to get back to you. I don't know what the "groomers helper is" to be perfectly honest but sedation is a drastic step. Let's take a few steps back - when you say your dog is difficult to groom, what exactly do you mean? Please desribe your dogs behavior. It would also be helpful for us to get some background on both you and your dog. How long have you had this dog? Did he/she grow up with you or is this a rehome/rescue? Have you ever had a coated bread before? Are you new to dog ownership? Can you describe the coat you are dealing with? Are you keeping your dog's hair long or is it pet trimmed? Do you do all the grooming yourself or does your dog go to a pet groomer?

I'll be able to give you more specific advice when you provide this information. My first gut reaction is to tell you about training. I show Yorkies and Poodles. My dogs are taught to lay down on command - just like you would in obedience school, only in this instance it is teaching them to lay down on the grooming table. I make it a point that my dogs get positive associations with the grooming table away from actual grooming. When they are young, I actually feed them their dinners while they stand on the table set up in the kitchen. I take my table outside and practice staking and feeding them on it. If your dog has a particular fear of a piece of grooming equipment or of a bath, you will also need to "desensitize" your dog to these issues. I can explain that process in detail if you need the information on how to do it. However, it would be helpful to know what it is your dog is fearful of first

imagine your dog would have to be sedated everytime she visits the groomer! Definitely not a long-term solution.

I would advise you try a different groomer!

I use the Groomer's Helper, and it is an amazing device. I have been using it for about 6 years now, and find very few dogs who cannot be safely groomed with it. Even dogs who are vicious, dogs who fight and fuss during the whole process, dogs who have previously required sedation, and dogs who have been traumatized by other groomers. It is a humane training device AND a safety restraint. Every groomer should use one, IMO.

Unfortunately, I am in Illinois, not NC. I'd suggest you check out Petgroomer.com to find a groomer in your area that uses the Groomer's Helper.

Any groomer who reads this, and is unfamiliar with the Groomer's Helper, please do a search and learn about what it is, how it works, and how it can keep you and the dogs (and cats!) you groom safer and calmer. If you decide to call and speak to Chuck, tell him Helly sent you.