05/28/2026
Marvin is one of those dogs who is incredibly loving… but very challenging to groom. Even with sedation, grooming has always been difficult for him. He strongly dislikes having his face, ears, legs, paws, tail, or back end handled, and guiding him during grooming used to be nearly impossible.
At his first appointment, Marvin was heavily matted and needed a full pre-shave that alone took almost two hours. There was a lot of growling, fighting, and big feelings. I stayed calm and worked carefully through it, even though I was definitely nervous myself.
By his second groom, something had already started to change. He came into the salon more excited, jumped onto my table, and greeted me with hugs and kisses. He still needed a muzzle for everyone’s safety, but he seemed a little less fearful and a little more trusting.
Now, after many appointments and lots of small wins, Marvin runs into the salon, drags his mom to my table, and starts grooming without hesitation. He still comes in matted sometimes... he’s a swimming-loving doodle who isn’t a huge fan of brushing. We keep him short and leave his p**f.
This groom, I was able to shave every part of him with full cooperation and no fear. I only used the muzzle briefly for ear hair removal, and honestly, I probably didn’t even need it.
What makes me most proud is that Marvin still communicates when he’s uncomfortable, but now it’s through calm, subtle cues instead of fear and quick reactions.
I truly love grooming this boy. Watching his trust grow over time has been incredibly rewarding.💚
