How to speak dog:

Energy Dos and Don’ts for a Calm Groom

Dog behavior can be subtle & has many

variations. These are general tips for
grooming everyday pups.

*This is not meant to help with aggressive dogs*

 Do!

Look for behavioral clues to respond to:

Dogs are constantly communicating with us

as we groom them. Their behavioral clues
can show us what they’re trying to say.
There are many variations on these
behaviors, but the biggest ones I’ve seen as a
groomer for 20+ years are: being avoidant,
untrusting, panicked, unsure, passive,
trusting, or distracted. Once we understand
what the dog is communicating, we can
answer through our energy, actions and
touch.
 Do!
Show the dog that they’re
seen, taken care of and understood.

Once you learn the behavioral clues dogs are giving you
as you work, you can start to communicate with them
by showing them you’re on their side. It’s just like
human psychology: once a person feels seen and heard,
they calm down. Have you ever been in an argument
with someone and they begin to understand what your
point of view is? It calms you down. Same with dogs!
That’s why if a dog wants to explore my tools, I notice
their curiosity right away (I’m always on alert for
opportunities where I can connect with them) and take
a moment to respond by allowing it, or if a dog whips its
head over and looks/sniffs at what I’m doing, I know it
either isn’t trusting of what I’m doing, or I did
something that was uncomfortable/painful.
I can then slow down in that moment or let go of my
tool to show I see them.
 Do!
Regain trust once you’ve lost it.

Every groomer has accidentally snagged a mat or done

something that unintentionally hurts the pup or makes
them on edge. And it can happen multiple times with the
same dog. Once that happens, it’s up to us to rebuild the
trust we lost. They may be more tense while you’re
brushing, or fighting more or just freaked out.
You have to prove to the dog that you:
a) understand that you hurt them &
b) won’t do it again.
You can always find a way to get the dog to trust you again.
Try letting go of the tool and rubbing the spot you hurt. If
the dog doesn’t trust the brush on the feet, try "brushing"
using the back of the brush (no bristles) until the dog
realizes it doesn’t hurt and then slowly incorporate the
bristles again. If the brushing was snagging, try using a
conditioning mist to help ease the brush through the coat
and using gentle, slow strokes.
 Don't!

Rush through the process, ignoring the dog’s

behavior.

Sometimes we need to just get the job done. The

owners are coming, we haven’t had a moment to
think, and we feel like we just have to finish. I get
it, but if you are able to take a moment (which you
are) to show the dog they’re seen, they will start
to associate you with someone they can trust.
Sometimes we need to take a step back when
moving forward.
 Don't!

Have an opinion or judgment about their

behavior.
I once worked with a groomer who was convinced
that the dog on her table was fighting her just to
fight. She was using a comb on a mat (something I
teach students never to do), and of course snagged a
tangle. The dog yelped and she said “That didn’t even
hurt, you’re being dramatic.” Dogs don’t yelp out
unless they are hurt or panicked. They aren’t human
children with reasoning. The key is to keep a neutral
calm and confident energy. Once we judge or have an
opinion about the dog’s behavior, we open ourselves
up to becoming frustrated, angry, stressed,
overwhelmed, etc. Take the feelings out of it and lead
your dogs through the grooming process with
empathy, confidence and love.
 Don't!

Neglect self care.

Because dogs are energy readers, the energy you
put out in your day to day matters. It’s so
important to have some sort of calming practice.
Box breathing, guided meditation, gratitude
practice, prayer, silent meditation, journaling,
or anything that connects you with the quiet
divine part of yourself. Life is crazy and keeping
up with a regular mindfulness practice can be
hard sometimes. But if it’s something you pay
attention to and create space for (like, putting
time for self care in your calendar), you can
incorporate it into your daily routine. (There is
a calming guided meditation in the JRenerG full
course).
 Balancing a calm neutral energy without judgment or
opinions on a dog's behavior while also having a confident
or gentle touch can be tough. It took me years to truly
understand It, so be patient with yourself and have grace
as you navigate these new techniques. If you’re a new
groomer that’s not super confident yet, fake it!

When we create space for self awareness and regular

mindfulness, we show up in our lives with a calm, secure,
loving energy that is our most authentic self. This will
affect the dogs you groom.

It may seem like these techniques take a lot of time, and

that's because sometimes they do! But this is an investment
in the relationship between you and the dog. Putting in the
time early on will cultivate a calm, cozy and trusting
connection for all future grooming visits.
 Let's stay
in touch!
To learn more of my energy secrets, make
sure you enroll in my new online course:

www.JessRonaCourses.com