Acting differently after grooming???

[L.M.]

There have been a ton of hair cut/ grooming questions posted lately.....but mine is a bit different.

My 2 doods got groomed within the past 2 days.  Seamus went Thursday and Stella Friday.  I have noticed that when Seamus returns home after grooming he is tired and all (which I'm sure is normal) but he also acts a little bit off.  On Thursday evening, he got a huge burst of energy so we let him run it off outside.  I went out to get him and he went crazy at me!  Like barking and kind of antagonizing me to run after him, but almost aggressively!  Then, yesterday after Stella returned home, they both settled quickly to nap.  He was laying on the floor....she walked by (nothing more than literally passing by him) and he shot his head up, barked at her, growled, snarled, and literally went to snap at her.  My husband was right there and he screamed at him so nothing happened.....but I was a little scared!  (My only explanation is that he may have been asleep and she startled him...but still....) What's the deal??  He is always a bit "off" for a while when he returns from the groomer......anyone else's the same way?? I'm afraid to say it, but is it possible my groomer is using sedatives or something?  (I've used her for years now, since day 1 with my doods and she's good...I've specifically asked about sedatives before we took them and of course she said absolutely not.)  I'm just trying to make sense of the temporary behavior changes we experience with Seamus when he returns from the groomer because this time kind of scared me!!  

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

How many dogs does the groomer have going on at one time.  Countless times I've seen groomers working on 3 dogs at a time and they have them "tied" up in between their turn.  Could other dogs be being aggressive to Seamus at the groomers and he feels he has to stick up for himself?  Then it carries over to home?  Rooney gets done by a mobile groomer who only has one dog at a time, he is so relaxed with her that he actually falls asleep while she works on him.  He doesn't come back to me tired or with a change in behavior.  I would be concerned about Seamus' behavior - he is telling you that something is not right.

[Charlene and Buster Dudley]

I don't have this issue but I'm very interested in the advise to come.  Buster had his first "real" grooming experience  (which was pretty pricey) he seemed happy but his poop turned to pudding pops.  which kind of defeats the purpose if I have to wash the rear the same day!!! 

I think what Jane does-using a mobile groomer is a very smart move.  you can make sure Seamus is safe and well cared for as well as learn some tricks of the trade.   

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think sometimes the grooming experience can be pretty stressful for some dogs.  I was taking my guys to Petco, and they always came home "off" which I think was due to the fact that they were caged with lots of other dogs barking and whining.  Both guys always had diarrhea for the next day or two which I believe was stress induced.  I did change groomers to one where they are not crated.  She only has a few dogs at a time and they are allowed to be free in her shop.  She stops working on them and gives them a break whenever she senses that they are getting upset during the grooming process.  There has been a huge difference since I made the switch.  I'd talk to the groomer about exactly what is happening while they are there and if she has observed any signals that they are uncomfortable.  If you don't get answers that you're satisfied with, I'd look for a new groomer.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

One thing that I did was when Rooney came home at 11.5 weeks, the groomer came the following week.  Just to give him a bath, clip his little nails and run clippers or whatever near him.  I wanted him to get used to it from the time he was little so that it would never be scary.  Rooney runs to his groomer when she shows up!  Stuart has had a bath we her and will get a mini baby grooming again this next week.  New puppy owners - start early!!!!!

[L.M.]

I never thought about the fact that there are other dogs in the shop......when Seamus goes, she clears her day because he's so big.  She also, however, brings her own dogs with her into the shop when she grooms.....she has at least 5 little dogs who roam the shop.

I know she crates Seamus when he's done, but she also immediately calls us, so if he's in there for 30 minutes maybe? Maybe it's just the stress of grooming....he doesn't like being on a table (I know this from the vet...he kind of freezes up.) Poor guy...the groomer does such a good job with both of my dogs.  Stella doesn't have the same reaction to grooming.....I think my big boy is Mr. Sensitive, but nonetheless, maybe I will look into a mobile groomer so I know there's no other dogs there.  

[Jess and Pippin]

I used to take my previous dog to Petsmart.  Just did it once because he was stressed when he came home.  Too many dogs, dryers, noise etc etc.  We now use a groomer in a small shop, has 2 dogs in her place at a time (one coming in and one waiting to be picked up) and the atmosphere is spa like... quiet music, not much outside noise.  She has a very calm manner with the dogs as well so I think that really helps.  She is very realistic in giving herself enough time to groom and also allows for breaks if the dogs need it.  Sam developed epilepsy, so this was a fantastic calming environment for him.  I used to give Sam a dose of Bach's rescue remedy (homeopathic, anti stress remedy) prior to grooming and that really seemed to help as well (we used this remedy to help calm him post seizure).  Pippin goes for his first full groom on Tuesday.  I'm expecting to see a massive zoomie when he comes home!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Charli goes to PetSmart. The grooming manager and I have a deal - early appointment (7-8am), she is the only dog that Jamie schedules for 3 hours. Going so early in the morning there usually are not other dogs there. Charli is not allowed to be in a cage, ever. She gets hand blown dy, no sticking her in a cage with the blow dryer on her. I get a phone call 1/2 hour before she is done, I usually have to wait awhile before she is done - that is just fine with me!

she comes home with lots of energy but no issues. What is interesting is Samantha's reaction when Charli comes home. She air snaps at her and growls until she gets to smell her butt and she realizes that even though she smells differently, it is her Charli.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

We go to PetSmart with Myla but we wait in store for to get done and since she is terrified of the dryers and the barking, she also doesn't go in the back (we bathe them at home) if something comes up she can call for halp or call her cell # and we can go watch her until she's caught up again. It's affordable for us to go there, I would love to go to a private groomer/boutique but it's so pricey. Myla falls asleep in the car on the way home and then has the zoomies and then falls asleep again.We haven't tried the mobile groomer but may in the future. I agree it's probably all the dogs and people coming and going and the waiting and grooming that causes the stress to make him act this way.

[Heather & Brinkley]

I've finally found a groomer that I like.  She's at a new doggy daycare place that just opened up and it's WONDERFUL!  So Brinkley plays all day... and then they groom him right before I pick him up... so he's never crated.  It's the first time he's come home a happy dog after grooming.  Good luck. I'd ask what the day is like when he's at the groomers... and I wouldn't be opposed to saying that you want to watch.  

 

You just can't be too careful with your fur babies!