First trip to the groomer

[undeterred]

I had to help the groomer because my half malamute was so uncooperative. He was totally wild when she was shaving him and when he was in the bathtub... and those actions don't even hurt. But when she brushed him to get the mats out of his hind quarters he wasn't quite so bad. The whole thing was exhausting, but there's no way one person could have handled him alone. He seemed to think we were torturing him.

He's 4 and he's been resistant to any kind of grooming since he was a puppy. When I use the 'furminator' on him I am incredibly gentle. Nails, forget it. Teeth brushing, forget it.

Just happy to find a groomer who wasn't afraid of him.

[Curmudgeoness]

1. I hope this gets easier on both of you one day.

You certainly are lucky to find a good groomer who was willing to work with an uncooperative dog.

[undeterred]

2. Well, she normally has people drop the dog off and then pick them up again

in a couple of hours. I told her I would stay and that was not what she usually does- but she was glad I stayed. I hope hes better if we have to do this again. But he's a lunatic if I try to bathe him myself, without even picking up a brush.

Loves to swim. Absolutely hates a bath.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. Isn't that odd...loves water, hates baths.

I have never had a dog----always cats, so I don't know how common that is. I know that groomers normally do not want the owners to stay. Seems that the animal settles down more with the owner out of the picture, but I guess that it worked out if you have a clean and fresh dog now!

[TorchTheWitch]

7. mine is just the opposite

He loves the bath (and I often fill the tub after a show so he can amuse himself in there or have a drink without having to go alllllllll the way downstairs, but no way no how will he go in the pool, and he only likes the creek as long as he doesn't go in till the water reaches his belly. And the garden hose? Oh HELL no! If he sees me start to uncoil it he runs in the house and hides though if I put the leash on him and tie it to the fence even with a lot of slack he will stand quietly while being rinsed with it (thank all the gods for that because he LOVES dirt and mud!). Yet I can't take a shower of bath on my own because he gets indignant that I'm playing in the tubby without him, and there definitely isn't enough room in there for both of us. Even if I just go in the bathroom to use the potty or the sink, he runs in and jumps in the tub, and if there's no water in it he sits down and waits for me to turn the faucet on for him. If I take too long for him (he has no patience at all) he turns the faucet on himself. The only problem I have with him taking a bath is trying to get him OUT of the tub.

[Curmudgeoness]

8. LOL, what a funny story.

You have quite the silly boy!

[TorchTheWitch]

9. I kid you not, he's dozed off in there a few times

He'll be sitting in the water and start doing the sleepy head bob, then he'll lay down in it, rest his chin on the rim of the tub and have a little nap. He always seems to do this when I want to use the tub, and I'm standing there already undressed and ask him if I can use the shower now... and he slooooowly opens his eyes, gives me the stink eye and the big explosive sigh, and then really slooooowly gets out of the tub (and just to be a prick, shakes about five gallons of water all over me and everything in the bathroom). If he's really irritated that I interrupted his watery nap he'll go flop his soaking wet self in my bed - right smack in the middle. One of these days I'll remember to keep the bedroom door closed.

Oh, he's goofy all right! Akitas seem to be that way though. All of mine have had really bizarre and scary intelligent quirks, but I think that's a big part of why I like them so much. It's like living with a really sneaky and crafty naughty young child with teeth and fur and several tons bigger.

I knew from the first day I brought Yoshi home he'd be no exception when after checking out the house when he arrived he discovered the lid to the trash can in the kitchen pops up when you press your foot on the peddle. He cheerfully spent a ridiculous amount of time in the kitchen for days continually stamping on the peddle and furiously wagging his tail just to see the lid of the trash can jump up and down though he's never had one iota of interest in what's IN the trash can. He still does the trash can trick once in awhile I guess just to prove to himself it still works, but I think the novelty has finally worn off for the most part.

[canoeist52]

4. My daughter works as a bather and nails person.

She tells so many stories about the sweetest little lambs turning into Tasmanian Devils in the bath and on the table. It can be a dangerous job for just one person alone. She did get bitten once and luckily didn't need surgery. The punctures missed the tendons in her hand. Sometimes the have to refuse dogs and recommend they have them sedated at the vet's. Glad you got a successful groom, though.
It's funny, our dog love to swim too, but can't stand to get her feet wet from the morning dew in the grass.

[undeterred]

5. Its kind of like when he sees the vet-

he starts out friendly and happy, but when someone tries to invade his body space he goes crazy trying to resist it. For drawing his blood they ask me to leave the room or they take him in the back. The dog will be trying to get the owner to rescue them and they put on an even bigger show of resistance.

She told me she has been bitten and refused dogs too... but she really didn't think my dog was that bad. She was firm with him, and she worked quickly. If she hadn't done that it would have taken forever.

I guess I didn't realize it was such a dangerous profession.

[Walk away]

6. I used to specialize in giant breed dogs and would often have to endure grooming secessions....

with them when their owners couldn't stand to. Most "Big Guys" are sweet and easy to handle but if a dog hasn't grown up going to a groomer it can be a nightmare. Unlike little dogs who will turn around and throw a bite, most giants are too nice to do anything but struggle like crazy and cover you with bruises, water and dog hair.

Then I found the "Uber Groomer" in my area. Not the classiest, not the most expensive but a wonderful man who was actually born in a grooming salon. His Mom was a groomer and his family lived over her shop. Kevin can just touch a dog and it calms right down. My days of having to pick up 100 lb dog to get the through the front door were over. One session with him and dogs would jump on the table at the second visit.

Now that I work mostly with small dog his calming skills have translated quite well to there needs. I advise you to look for a groomer who can handle your dog without you. That relationship is very different. I groom my own dogs but when Henry starts to give me a hard time I take him to Kevin, go out in the garden and peek through the window to watch my dog acting like a perfect gentleman as he gets bathed and clipped. This sets him up for good behavior for about 3 or 4 home grooms.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. I need to get my cat to the groomer again.

She gets mats in her coat that she won't let me cut out. So we go to the groomer - one of the few around here that will deal with cats.

The cat in question, a small, cute, fluffy critter with a sweet disposition, morphs into a creature whose behavior is not unlike that of a rabid wolverine when grooming is attempted.

The groomer isn't afraid of her, but I am.