27/02/2026
Tips & Tricks from your Local Groomer!
2. Every breed of dog, needs to be comfortable with baths and nail trims!!
Every indoor cat needs to be comfortable with nail trims at least!
Even if you have a short haired dog that you plan to take care of yourself at home, they need to handle both well for your own sanity as well as your dogs.
Between working at vet clinics and grooming facilities, nothing is more stressful than having to muzzle, bear hug, or have multiple people restrain a dog because trimming their nails is so terrifying for them. Its not only dangerous for us, but for them as well.
Trimming their nails feels weird no doubt, esp dremeling or sanding them down. So start when they are puppies or kittens, so it becomes a routine thing for them. Have someone teach you how to do it at home if nothing else. Not every pet will be carefree about it, of course. My weiner dog still hates it, but the worst she does is pull her foot away. She doesn't scream, bite or desperately try to get away and thats well enough.
Cats are an absolute nightmare with little razor feet when they want to be. Our house cats get regular nail trims, so I can do them myself, but they sure like to talk smack while I do it. 😂 Its so important to get them used to it too. Esp with the risk of cat scratch fever,or cat bites because they can cause extremely nasty infections! They are quick little boogers too, so you're guaranteed a battle wound when dealing with a nasty cat. And of course its super stressful for them, they get scared and lash out or get mad and lash out, so we need to make it an easy experience every time.
Baths, now that can turn into a nightmare as well. Most dogs do just fine, cats not so much 😂, but some dogs will go absolutely bonkers over a bath and that's not healthy. What if they are sprayed by a skunk, get into a huge nasty mess of mud (let's face it, mud is fine, but a bath is torture!! 🙄), or they come down with a skin condition and need regular baths and medicated shampoo to heal it? Your pet needs to be ok with a bath. My daughter's Great Pyrenese, hates baths, even though we've bathed her since she was 8weeks old. I can say that she has definitely improved over the years, she doesnt scream like a husky or claw us to death to escape the tub anymore, but she just hates it and pouts the WHOLE time. But its manageable now because we kept working through it.
All this to say work with your pets from a young age! You'll both be happier for it! And your groomer will definitely thank you as well!
Bless you and every fur baby!
