Dog grooming for very anxious dog. Please help.

[Fushia123]

Our lovely cocker spaniel is 11 and regularly went happily to the local groomers for wash, cut etc. until about a year ago. For some reason he wouldn’t let them touch his front legs and often came home groomed but not on the legs. We can stroke his legs at home no problem. He is strong and really fights and struggles to get away when he goes to the groomers. We’ve tried other dog groomers, mild sedation and even the vet who had to eventually put him under to clip all excess hair. They told us they wouldn’t do it again as his heart rate went slower during the procedure.
We have a Belfast sink at home and we put him in there to try and contain him - one of us distracts with food whilst the other clips quickly with sharp scissors. We have ‘quiet’ clippers but we can’t get near him with them. I’ve tried to find a groomer that could come into the house to do it together but have had no luck.
We wash and dry his legs and feet after walks but are at a loss about how to proceed now. Any advice please - it’s hot and he’s walking around with a long, fluffy furry coat and boots.

Hi there, I hope I can help you, maybe .....
I'm a trained hairdresser/barber and I own a giant breed with two tons of hair! Originally I took her to the groomers down my road as it belonged to a friend of a friend and I wanted to support their business. However, my dog suffered a tiny nick to her lady bits 🤬 and quite rightly, she wouldn't go near the place again. They were mortified, and I told them that they should be checking their clipper blades before every client. If the blades slip, which invariably they do over time, they can easily nick the dog. (Safer if a comb attachment is used, but for many areas they need to be used without). So I have learned through trial and error to do it myself. Without doubt, the right tools help.

If you are willing to give it a go at home I'd suggest the following:

• get him secure - use a harness and decide where you want to groom him - sink doesn't sound ideal? (I have had a handyman build me a wooden grooming table outside with hooks to secure dog) and to wind my hosepipe round cost: £50
• use scissors rather than any form of electrical trimmers to help his fear. I did take a few weeks of just letting my dog hear the noise before using, but she is young and didn't have a terrible fear of them.
• purchase very good scissors; cheap ones are hopeless - sharp ones glide through the coat and make a difficult job so much easier - I love these and use the 7" length (curved) but you could probably get away with 6" (straight) for legs only.
• you need both straight scissors and blending (thinning) scissors- the ones with the teeth). The thinning scissors are used to feather the ends of the fur after you've cut the length off with the straight (they can also be used to take 'scissor marks' out of the fur as straight scissors can leave lines and marks, so you go over with the thinners and it corrects this) these particular brand of scissors are so sharp, they glide through the tats (and I mean solid knots) that my Newf has. I sometimes use them to break the tats down before pulling at my dog with a slicker brush as its less stressful for her, (pins are really sharp on a slicker) but again, you won't need the slicker for what you are doing.
• Cut slowly with scissors pointing downwards- never cut towards the skin, and try and keep your hand holding and eyes on, the flesh in case of sudden movement. Watch your fingers as they are SO sharp!
• a licky mat (or two or three) with frozen gravy or something your dogs LOVES, to help keep him still.
• If you really need/want to use clippers, try with some beard trimmers (again good quality so they are quiet and sharp). They are smaller than the larger clippers, cordless are what I tend to go for, and I have WAHL. I only use these to trim tats under my dogs belly when she's decided to roll upside down and is fairly relaxed. More often than not I just use scissors for this, but they're permanently on in my living room incase she decides to relax upside down and I can grab them in the 'moment'! I don't chase her if she doesn't want me to pursue it - but she's ok if she's in the mood. When using any clipper or trimmer, you MUST know every lump and bump if clipping down to the skin, and for females the nipples, or you can cause a lot of damage.
• if he's constantly getting muddy, the best thing I ever did, was to make a ramshackle doggy showering area outside - my grooming table is next to the outdoor cold tap and I got a plumber to install a hot tap (obviously set to tepid) - cost £70 a few years ago, and I have a hose with a shower head that contains a shampoo/conditioner canister with it like in the pics, permanently attached - it can switch from WATER to SOAP with one turn. Really easy to use (about £20 from Amazon) and I use it several times a week so never have to think about where we are walking. It's not really that the dogs need the tepid water tbh, it's my hands in the winter!

Hope this helps - and good luck!

*sorry scissors are a brand called Topaz, I think I've selected the 6" link here for you - and possibly the thinners may only come in 7" (they're often larger) oh, and I forgot you need to open and close them quickly when using or they drag/pull on the hair. The bull nosed (short ones with a round end) are great for round the face and/or if you are really struggling as they are safer, but way too small for a full groom unless you have all week 😃
https://www.groomers-online.com/search/topaz-scissors-6

If he used to be fine and now he's not then something has happened.

Either at the groomers that you weren't told about, or he has pain in his legs. I would get a full vet check and just brush him at home.

There is a small but growing number of groomers who are focusing more on behaviour in grooming rather than aesthetics. Have a look at this website, from Sue Williamson - founder of Taking the Grrr out of Grooming. If you are on Facebook and join her group you may find a groomer in your area who is willing to work with your dog to desensitise him to having his front legs groomed. Unfortunately this could be a long process.

As a previous poster has mentioned, the issue could well be pain, especially as he is an older dog. If you are grooming him yourself, do be very careful if he tends to fight and pull away suddenly. It will be very easy to accidentally cut him that way. Wishing you luck, I groom a number of nervous dogs. Progress can be made but it is not usual easy or quick.

www.happypawswithsue.co.uk/taking-the-grrr/

Thank you so much everyone for your very comprehensive advice! So grateful for you taking the time to offer me help. We’ll try everything suggested. X