Aggression is a common behavior that is shown in many dogs. Almost all wild animals are instinctively aggressive when it comes to defending themselves, protecting their young, and guarding their territories.
But, when animals are adopted as pets, it is important that they are tame and trainable so that aggression is not a concern. Aggression covers a variety of behaviors and can lead to an attack if not handled properly. Signs of aggression in dogs are:
- Fierce bark that sounds threatening
- Becoming still and not obeying the owner’s instructions
- Mouthing a person, against his/her wishes, in a move to control him/her
- Baring teeth and growling, otherwise referred to as snarling
- Growling when things do not go according to the dog’s wishes
- A quick bite that leaves a mark on or tears the skin
- A bite that causes a bruise or wound
- Quick succession of bites
- Biting followed by shaking
Aggressive dogs can display any one of these symptoms or many of these behaviors simultaneously.
Problems in Grooming Aggressive Dogs
An aggressive dog could bite or exhibit other disruptive behavior during grooming. This could be due to various reasons- anxiety, fear, confusion, or bad previous experiences while being groomed.
If your dog had a bad previous experience with groomers, they may become extra defensive the next time they enter a grooming salon. The dog could bite anyone who approaches or tries to touch it.
How to Groom an Aggressive Dog Successfully
Since grooming is a necessary part of keeping a pet dog, you want to train your canine friend so that they can tolerate grooming. At Wags & Whiskers, we are extra gentle and patient so the dog is not afraid and we make sure that the pet trusts us. Experienced groomers know that the less stress a pet is in, the more cooperative and calm they will be
Begin Grooming When Your Dog Is Young
You should begin taking your dog to a groomer when it is still young. Puppies enjoy experiencing new things and are open to learning new behavior. This makes it easier to train them to be more disciplined and tolerant with regular grooming. This does not mean that it is impossible to groom an older dog with a bad prior experience. In case of older dogs, you just need to invest more time in training and use patience.
Use Positive Reinforcements
One of the best grooming methods is positive reinforcement. Reward dogs for their good behavior, this encourages them to continue to be well behaved in the future.
A treat before going on a trip to the groomers might help and when your dog stands patiently during its bath and grooming, you may want to give it a treat and some praise.
Familiarize Your Dog with The Grooming Equipment and Procedures
Keep grooming sessions short until a dog is comfortable in the new surroundings. To eliminate your dog’s sense of uneasiness, it is important to make them grow comfortable with the groomer and grooming equipment. Let them sniff the grooming area for a while followed by a reward and praise.
Once the dog understands that the equipment isn’t going to hurt them, grooming will be a smoother process for everyone.
Use Preventive Measures in Emergency Situations
There are times when a dog might not calm down, but they still need to be groomed. Some solutions are muzzles, medications, or special anxiety reducing jackets.
- Muzzles: If your dog tends to snap and bite during grooming, putting the muzzle over it can make the task easier. Some muzzles are padded to avoid discomfort for your dog. There are muzzles that enable your dog to eat and drink while wearing the device. The muzzle must fit according to the size of the dog’s head so that the pet can breathe properly. You could put the muzzle on the dog before the grooming procedure and take it off immediately after.
- Medications: It is best to use organic and all natural medications for your pet to avoid side effects. But, talk to your pet’s vet about what is best for them.
- Anxiety reducing jackets: Some dogs might do well while wearing an anxiety jacket while getting their nails trimmed. Like swaddling an infant these jackets help the pets feels secure, less stressed out and to stay calm.
If you think something like these might help your pet, talk to a vet and see what works best.
The task of grooming an aggressive dog is quite challenging. However, it is not impossible to master your pet. The important thing is to identify the problem and then take appropriate measures. Violent and unruly behavior can be successfully tamed to make regular grooming an easy part of your pet’s routine. You only need to be kind and patient. At Wags & Whiskers, we understand that it is essential to take care of your pet with utmost love. Get in touch with us today at (520)405-0077 if you want more information about grooming your aggressive pet!