Shannon Duggan – Owner & Head Groomer
Four Paws Only, Dracut, MA

I would like to talk about what Fear Free Grooming is and how we can better obtain that experience for our pets. How can we set our dogs up for the best possible outcome? The term ‘Fear Free’ can mean different things to different people. Interpretation is everything. My explanation would be the least amount of discomfort emotionally, physically and mentally experienced by a pet. I could also extend that same benefit to the animal caretaker.  Fear Free can be achieved in two forms, prevention (proper introduction, meet and greets, regular grooming) and through recovery (repairing how a pet feels about the experience from trauma, lack of experience or special accommodations due to the innate temperament of some breeds).

There are times when I see owners struggle more than their pets when leaving them for grooming. Sometimes, they’ve had a bad experience prior. Other times, they’ve had no experience and do not know what to expect when dropping their dog off at a brand-new facility, full of strangers. I sit back and think about how that might feel, as I am my dogs’ primary caretaker. As their mom and groomer, the only time I ever entrust them to another human is during vet care. Otherwise, I’m always in their presence. So, I certainly do not take for granted the amount of trust that is put into me, my staff and in my facility when people do choose to trust us with their loved one.

There are many steps to what is put into a groom. Safety is always our top priority. Next, is comfort, creating a positive experience. Then there is an aesthetic piece of course. That is very important, we certainly want the dogs leaving our facility looking their best. In order for that to happen, we need proper conditions and good behavior to be successful. That being said, how can we set our dogs up for success?

Puppies undergo a critical socialization period from 6 to 16 weeks of age, which significantly impacts their lifelong behavior. During this period, their brains are like tiny sponges – soaking up everything they experience and filing it away for the future. It’s worth noting that some experts believe the socialization period can end as early as 12 weeks! Beyond this time frame, something happens. Our puppies enter a fear period. New things, which before were accepted with cheerful curiosity and a wagging tail, are now met with suspicion. Anything that the pup has not already encountered is automatically assumed to be dangerous. You may have met adult dogs who are fearful of everyday objects or unfamiliar people. In many cases, this is the end result of poor socialization during this all-important period. This is actually a pretty staggering fact – nothing “bad” has to happen at all. A simple lack of exposure at the right time can result in an adult dog who is unable to cope with normal life.

So when should you start actively socializing your puppy? Right now. As soon as possible. From the very first day your new pup comes home, the clock is ticking.

In order for us to lock in a great experience during puppies’ early socialization phases, we offer something we call a Meet Greet and Treat Session. It’s exactly how it sounds. We schedule a time for the dog and owner to come in for us to meet them both, greet them and treat them. This session does not include any grooming or handling. We generally do not take the pet out of view of the owner for a couple of reasons. One, we want the owner to be comfortable but most importantly want the pet to be comfortable. These sessions are ideal for brand-new baby puppies but also benefit new clients, dogs that have never had a grooming experience and adult dogs that have had bad experiences. They may have fear towards new experiences, new people, the general grooming experience or even a nail trim. But you can read more about this in Part Two.

 I would like to introduce you to my friend Jenny and her dog Reina. A wonderful example of what early socialization and positive reinforcement can do! At the moment, Reina is a one-year old Standard Poodle puppy. I have known Reina since she was about 13 weeks old. Jenny is a dog trainer. She also has a background with previous dogs that had struggled with fear and anxiety. Therefore, Jenny has a lot of experience, knowledge and compassion for Fear Free experiences all around. She decided to bring a puppy into her home about a year ago. She had done her research, chose a breeder and Reina joined their family!

The Zen Grooming: Shannon Duggan, Featured With Standard Poodle Reina

Jenny had contacted me weeks before bringing Reina home. We discussed arranging a ‘Meet, Greet, and Treat Session’ to start building a foundation in grooming. Once she got Reina settled into her new home, she visited the shop during a quieter time. What a delight! What’s cuter than a brand-new bouncing puppy? It was love at first sight. We were able to get to know each other without jumping into the whole grooming process, and started building a relationship.

Reina came from a great breeder. They offered her a good foundation and Jenny had started on her social skills from the moment she picked up the puppy. She enrolled in our daycare program shortly after. She has stayed on a weekly schedule for camp and a monthly schedule for grooming. I’m using her as an example of an early socialization case that has made grooming an absolute pleasure for both Reina and myself. She squeals and runs in the salon door as if it’s heaven! We have built a relationship on trust and we worked on consent. Jenny and I have always agreed, if she had a hard time with something to pause. And that’s all we have ever had to do, just pause, give her a moment to process and try again. Having a social skill set is also knowing when not to introduce a puppy to a certain experience. I have to be able to identify when they’re overstimulated and have had enough. Sometimes you need to know when to call it quits.

Our relationship has transferred over to her being comfortable with anybody in the salon handling her, not just me. All my staff is trained to work on animals in the same manner. Each dog will always know what step is next, regardless of who is caring for them. This is an important step in helping them through the entire process. We all like to know what’s next, dogs are no different.

My best advice is this: if you want grooming to be a pleasant experience for all parties involved – the pet, groomer, and caretaker – start them young and with a positive approach! It is best to build a relationship when there are zero expectations. I encourage everybody to consider setting up an early socialization session with their groomer when they get a new puppy. Oftentimes people wait until they’re four, five or sometimes even ten months old to start them in grooming. Although at this age there may be things you can do at home or do yourself, it is so important that they establish a relationship with those who are going to play a role as a caretaker, earlier.

Have you noticed that you’re more willing to take advice from somebody that you resonate with? Willing to trust someone you have a relationship or a really good rapport with? Somebody perhaps that you share a common interest with? Sometimes you might disregard information from a particular source simply because you don’t resonate with it. Well, dogs feel that way too!

Sounds like a lot of work huh? The truth is it is! Raising puppies is serious business. But, if you spend the time in the beginning, following guidelines and addressing concerns as they arise (rather than allowing them to become a larger problem) it’s well worth the effort. It’s the extra time, effort, education, and patience that I hope make all the difference for the pets in our care. These small differences make or break a successful grooming session. It’s a collaborative effort and the more we work together and communicate the more positive the result is.