Behavior Change after grooming....??

[Km]

So Ridley was groomed and b/c we had let him get matted, they pretty much sheered him.  Nothing left on his bod.  He's been groomed twice before in his 18months of life, as our usual routine is letting him grow out real long and then shaving him all down when we can't keep up with the mats anymore.  After this grooming, he came home with VERY different behavior.  Ridley was a super low key dog and has had almost zero behavior issues (other than digging in yard!).  He doesn't jump, counter surf, chew on stuff, bark etc.  Since being home he is ornery, into everything, following us around nonstop and what has changed drastically is that he jumps on everyone.  He jumps up on people who come into the house, the kids, us.... this is totally new.  He was always great at sitting immediately b/c he knew that was what he had to do to get pet.  What could have caused him to change?  Do you think he just feels frisky w/ all the hair gone?  Or the fact that he can probably see now!?  At first I just thought it was unwinding from the stimulation of the groomers, new feel of his body etc.  But it's been two weeks now..... Did we bring home the wrong dog? LOL

[Donna Bay & Buzz]

Our Bay is the same age as your Ridley and I think it may be just a coincidence with the timing of the grooming. Bay is really finding her voice (bark) suddenly and getting somewhat fresh and frisky. I chalk it up to the teenage years and figure she will settle down soon. How did the groomer say he behaved during the visit? Maybe it was a bit painful but I doubt that would alter his personality so much. Would love to see your before and after pix. Good luck!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Maybe he no longer feels in pain due to all those matts and has suddenly found freedom to do all the things he really wanted to do but couldn't ?. Matts pull at the skin and hurt with movement.  That is why many of us spend hours combing and brushing the darned things out before they become a problem. Perhaps have him professionally groomed more often if you are unable to do if yourself? I think he is just jumping for joy!

[Km]

Donna... point taken on this as I think this could very well be true and hadn't considered it!  Groomer said he was "delightful as usual!" during his grooming session.  ???  They did a great job considering the amount that needed to be taken off.  I will post a picture later tonight as it's pretty unreal the difference in length!!  

Nicky- He's not matted for long at all.  We have been experimenting with his coat/length as he's only 18months.  We like it long and we've been able to keep it this way until a very particular length window.  We do brush him every night when it's long and it's manageable using Les Pooch and steel tooth comb (and occasional cowboy magic).  However, we have now isolated the exact length where it becomes unmanageable.  We've found that even with our nightly brushings, at a very specific length he wakes up with mats all over just from sleeping overnight.... after we just brushed them out the night before.  There seems to be a magic length.  As soon as he hits it, we schedule the grooming appt.  At this point we shave b/c it's cruel to me to be "de-matting" that often.  He exists with mats for approximately 1-2 weeks....... and now we know the magic length where it's not combat-able.  So, we can keep him long but under the length that is unmanageable.  

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Apologies then for my misunderstanding. I think they do get a new found freedom when clipped but it must have coincided this time with a stage where he's testing you. It's back to basics with training. Jumping is such a hard one to deal with as I know all to well.

[Km]

Here is before.... day of grooming and a week after....

Sweetest dog.... so in love with him!!! Best part of the new hairdo is that he gets under the covers to snuggle with me at night..... :-)

[Camilla and Darwin]

I know that Darwin is always a bit more energetic when we clip him, but it's not an extreme change at all. I think for Darwin, it's because

a) he can see better and b) he doesn't seem to get hot as easily.

I know that it's debatable as to whether shaving them actually makes them cooler. All I can say is that when we shave Darwin, he plays longer, will cuddle on couches and beds (he's usually too hot to do that) and he doesn't lay on the cold tile as much. So it seems that way.

I'm sure it's a coincidence that this is happening right after a groom, I don't see how a shave down could make such a drastic change. Or maybe it's a combination of the shave down, and a behavioral change caused by something else?

[Kelly]

Skeeter is much more frisky after he is shaved down. Much cooler and happier. Sounds like he is testing you a bit. He sure is a cutie with hair and without.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I think it is just a coincidence.  Grooming really doesn't change behavior in the dog, but in our way of looking at the dog. In other words, we behave differently.  For example, when Clancy gets groomed, I cuddle and pet him much more because the fur doesn't fly into my nose and he feels sooooo nice.  That is my behavior change. Clancy always likes to be cuddled.