Good grooming of dogs promotes a healthy coat and minimizes nasty pests and matting. Although some people subscribe to at-home grooming, others take their pets to a professional.

Dogs register different behaviors after grooming. That includes assuming a calm posture, restlessness, and depression.

Others also tend to avoid associating with people and disappear for a while. And so many wonders, do dogs feel better after grooming?

Therefore, How Do Dogs Feel After Grooming?

Not all dogs register the same pattern of behavior during and after the grooming session. Some dogs feel better and more relaxed after grooming. Some even become energetic and playful.

On the other side, other canines get nervous about the process and feel sad or traumatized after the grooming session for a while.

For a first-time pet owner, it isn’t easy to predict how your dog is going to react after grooming. It’s thus vital to learn the possible reasons why dogs react differently to coat and nail trimming.

Why Dogs React Differently After Grooming

Here are the possible reasons why some pets seem to enjoy the habit and others don’t;

Used to the Habit from Tender Age

The timing when you introduce grooming to your pet may influence her reaction. Most often, when you start trimming your pet’s nails and coat from a younger age, she gets used to it. Such an animal seems to understand every step and thus isn’t scared.

On the contrary, an adult dog subjected to grooming for the first time may not easily understand what’s going on. As such, she is more likely to feel stressed, depressed, or uneasy during and after the service.

Often such animals offer stiff resistance, bark, and struggle to get free.

Professional Service

A professional dog groomer is more likely to provide quality service to your pet than an unskilful person. Such a pro knows how far to trim the nails and coat and when to be gentle or give the pet a break.

Such professionalism reduces the chances of nicking or over-trimming. As a result, the dog is more likely to feel relaxed and enjoy moments even after cleaning.

If a dog has always visited kind and gentle groomers, the animal has a high chance of building a positive attitude toward grooming.

But when you get an unskilled groomer to handle your pet, he may not understand the animal-coded language. Forceful and unpleasant grooming procedures may then produce resistance and even harm the pet.

And no animal may feel relaxed or love such an experience.

Fear Factor

Your relationship with your pet influences how he relates to other people. A dog that has known abuse and ill-treatment all her life can’t feel calm around human beings.

Such pets may thus associate grooming with another form of ill-treatment. Still, due to genetics, some animals have an inborn fear of man.

Dog grooming is a regular and essential service. There are steps you can take to help your dog feel better and relaxed after grooming.

How to Help Your Dog Feel Relaxed After Grooming

Use a Qualified Groomer Only

How a groomer handles your pet, especially the initial time counts. Following that experience, the dog may develop a positive or negative attitude toward the exercise.

It’s thus essential to settle only for the services of a qualified groomer. Such personnel have quality equipment, exercise gentleness, and are experienced with pets.

Take your time to research different groomers and read about past user experiences. You can even take a pre-visit to his facility, have a talk with him, and watch him handle other dogs.

If you don’t have experience in grooming pets, don’t gamble. Either leave it to the experts or team up with one.

Exercise Patience

 Some dogs are just nervous about unfamiliar tools, persons, or treatments. As a pet owner, understand your dog and help her recover from the nervousness.

Instead of forcing, punishing, or rushing the animal into the grooming process, taking it slow is the best solution.

Introduce the dog to the pieces of equipment, let her bond and get used to them. Even if it takes a couple of days of letting her sniff the brush and clipping tool, it’s worth it.

Next, proceed to touch or massage her paws for some time. Remember it may take several attempts.

Offer Rewards and Treats

Rewards can also bring success in forging a positive attitude with grooming. Know the treat your dog likes most and reserve it for grooming time.

In addition, you can reward your dog for every successful step he makes. Has she remained calm for a few minutes and allowed you to stroke her back briefly? Don’t hesitate to give a pat on the belly, a treat, or introduce her favorite toy.

Carrying out a mock grooming session prepares the animal for the real exercise. Let the animal get used to being touched on the ears, tail, paws, and other areas the groomer will handle.

Prepare in Advance

On a material day, make adequate preparations. Particularly the following can help:

• Brief the groomer on the exact services you would wish to get from him
• Provide any vital background information about your dog to the groomer
• Before grooming time, tire your dog with exercises by running or playing. That helps to keep him relaxed.
• You can bring along the pet’s favorite toys, treats, and vet-approved calming aid.

So, Do Dogs Feel Better After Grooming?

Yes, some canines feel better soon after grooming. The clipping of overgrown paws, removal of matted fur, and washing award them a fresh feeling.

For others, it’s a traumatizing experience that takes them a while to get over.

How your dog feels after being groomed depends on several factors. The expertise of the groomer, your level of preparedness, and the dog’s experience matter.

So if you can introduce your pet to grooming at the puppy stage. Be gentle with her or hire a professional.

However for adult dogs, follow the tips above, and help your dog cheer up after grooming.