* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
There are easy things about being a pet parent, and there are, well...less easy things about being a pet parent. For many pet moms and dads, at-home grooming falls firmly into the latter category.
Whether you’re bathing your pup, brushing mattes from his coat, or trimming his nails, grooming can be a chore–even when it comes to dogs with the calmest of dispositions. Trying to play groomer to a reactive dog, though? That’s a whole other story. Here’s what you need to know before you embark on an adventure in grooming with a reactive pup.
We have to start with the basics: What is a reactive dog, exactly? The answer isn’t quite that simple, since different dogs can be triggered to reactive behavior in different situations. The one thing to keep in mind that is universal is what reactivity is not–a reactive dog is not, necessarily, an aggressive dog (even though, as the AKC points out, the two are frequently conflated).
In general, a reactive dog is one that overreacts to specific things or situations. Usually, reactivity is caused by a combination of genetics, lack of proper socialization, and fear. In the context of grooming, a reactive dog is often one that is triggered by being on a leash or being otherwise physically constrained. A reactive dog who is triggered by the grooming process will often bark, squirm, and sometimes even nip or bite.
When it comes to grooming a reactive dog, there are several options available, from doing your best to minimize triggers during at-home grooming sessions to enlisting the help of a professional. Here are some solutions to explore if you need to groom your reactive pup.
1. Use positive reinforcements:
As with any form of dog training, using positive reinforcement is key when working with a dog who becomes reactive during grooming. Start slow and reward (with verbal praise and high-value treats) every win, no matter how small.
Patience is vital when training or reinforcing any behavior with a dog. If your dog becomes reactive when you brush his coat, for example, try to start by pulling the brush out and showing it to your dog without approaching him. If he stays calm, great! Praise and reward him. If the mere sight of the brush triggers reactive behavior, backtrack. Can you reach for the drawer where you keep the brush without triggering the behavior? If so, practice that and praise and reward your dog for keeping his cool.
Progress slowly and be ready to backtrack if you move too quickly and find your dog falling into reactive behaviors again.
2. Be smart about timing:
If your dog struggles with reactive behavior when you groom them, try planning grooming activities for times when your pup is feeling sleepy (like after a long walk) or hungry (like before a meal time). Why? Sleepy dogs are generally calmer and hungry dogs tend to be more food-motivated, which focuses their attention during training sessions where treats are involved.
3. Invest in long-handled tools:
If your dog hates being brushed, they might have a tendency to snap during their grooming time–both at the brush itself and (often accidentally) at the hand that’s holding it. For dogs who are triggered by brushing in particular, long-handled brushes, combs, dematters, and other grooming tools can be a great way to protect your own safety and well-being.
4. Use cooperative care:
One relatively new (but incredibly important) training tool you should utilize when training a reactive dog to tolerate grooming is the concept of cooperative care. Like the name implies, cooperative care focuses on training your dog to be a willing participant in grooming (and other forms of handling, like veterinary care or dental treatments). In order for the experience to be truly cooperative, of course, the animal has to be allowed to say “no” to what’s happening. This means that the handler (in this case you, the pet parent) needs to respect non-aggressive, appropriate signals from the dog that the grooming session has become too much to handle.
Debbie Martin, a vet tech in Texas, has some great videos to check out if you’re looking for more information on cooperative care and how to appropriately use restraints and muzzles, if they’re absolutely needed before cooperative care techniques are mastered.
5. Consider CBD or other medications to reduce puppy anxiety:
Some pet parents look to dog sedatives for grooming. If you want to explore sedating your reactive dog during grooming (with CBD or other anxiety-reducing medications), do your research and schedule an appointment with your vet before administering the first dose.
You should always consult your vet before starting your pup on any new medication, even those available over-the-counter, but many of the most effective and recommended anxiety medications (like dog-appeasing pheromone, also known as DAP) will require a prescription from your vet, so it’s smart to get them involved in the discussion right away.
6. Talk to a professional trainer about muzzle training:
If none of the above solutions work, you may decide that muzzling is the only option left. A muzzle is a device that goes over the dog’s nose and mouth and makes it impossible for the animal to bite. While a muzzle will stop a reactive dog from biting during a grooming session, it won’t do anything to make the dog calmer–and, in fact, may increase or trigger other reactive behaviors.
We recommend talking to a professional, positive-only trainer before beginning any kind of muzzle training program.
If you decide that grooming your reactive pup at home isn’t right for you, there are definitely lots of caring, dedicated professionals out there who are ready to take on the task. You’ll want to do your research, though, and make sure you take your dog to a groomer with experience working with reactive dogs.
Search websites like Yelp, Thumbtack, and Care.com to find groomers in your area. Look for profiles that specifically mention work with reactive or aggressive dogs and a commitment to positive-only techniques. Search the reviews for testimonials from pet parents who stayed to watch the groomer at work and pay attention to any descriptions of restraints or rough handling from the groomer. Finally, you can call the groomer and ask for information about their handling philosophy and about the equipment they use.
Another fantastic resource to take advantage of when you’re looking for a new groomer is Fear Free, an organization that focuses on pets’ emotional wellbeing and on educating pet professionals about reducing fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. The group now certifies groomers, so definitely add it to your checklist.
As many tips as we can offer for making the process of grooming a reactive dog more productive (and safer) for pets and their parents alike, it’s just as important to know what not to do. Here are a few things to put on your never-do list for grooming a reactive dog:
Raising a happy, healthy dog takes a lot of work–especially if that dog has emotional triggers and issues of its own. With a little research, the right tools, and a lot of patience, however, you and your reactive pup can become a grooming dream team.
There is so much misinformation out there, we want to make sure we only provide the highest quality information to our community. We have all of our articles reviewed by qualified, positive-only trainers.
This is the trainer that reviewed this article:
Danette Johnston
Owner - Dog's Day Out, Ballard, WA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
Licensed AKC CGC Evaluator
NW Coordinator, Doggone Safe
Discover the Jack Russell Terrier, a breed celebrated for its intelligent and affectionate nature. Recognized as a small dog, Jack Russell Terriers have their origins in England, where they were initially bred for fox hunting and vermin control starting in the 19th century.
Discover the Dalmatian, a breed celebrated for its affectionate, trainable, and loyal nature. Recognized as a medium-sized dog, Dalmatians have their origins in Croatia, where they were initially bred for coaching (running along carriages), guarding, and hunting starting in the 16th century.
Discover the Bernese Mountain Dog, a breed celebrated for its affectionate, loyal, and playful nature. Recognized as a large dog, Bernese Mountain Dogs have their origins in Switzerland, where they were initially bred for guarding livestock and droving work starting in the 1st century.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Albuquerque? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks and plan for your next adventure in Duke City.
44.5 percent of all American households share life with a canine companion. Pet professionals like dog trainers, veterinarians, and veterinary behaviorists are more important than ever as our modern society becomes increasingly difficult for four-legged friends to navigate—dog reactivity, anxiety, and general stress from lack of proper enrichment are on the rise in domestic dogs.
Does your dog ever growl when you walk by their food dish? Maybe they get possessive of treats, carrying them far away and giving you side-eye when you start to approach — or snarling at your other pets or children if they get too close.
As almost every dog owner is aware, the nose of a dog is an amazing thing. Just as they can pick up sounds we can’t hear, their sense of smell and ability to pick up scents is well beyond ours. In fact, dogs have 40 times the number of olfactory receptors as humans.
More than 80 million Americans rely on their service dogs to help them navigate the world. Task-trained assistance animals perform a huge range of life-changing—in many cases, life-saving—services: These dogs act as eyes for visually impaired handlers, provide mobility support, alert to seizures and blood sugar crashes, interrupt anxiety attacks, remind their people to take medications, and so much more.
You thought your dog was house trained. Your home was clean from puddles of pee, those dreaded middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks were behind you, and you loved every minute of dog ownership… until your four-legged best friend started using the bathroom inside again. What’s going on?
Ah, poop. We humans think it’s disgusting… but many of our dogs seem to love the stuff. If you’re wondering why your canine companion tries to eat feces (either their own or that of other animals) you’re not alone!
Do you have a water-loving dog looking to burn some energy? There are countless dog parks to visit throughout our country — but some of them become far too hot in the midday sun to be safe for your pets to play. That’s why we’ve put together a list of some of the best dog water parks throughout the United States! At these locations, your pup can frolic, splash, and swim to their heart’s content.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Does your dog destroy every toy you give them? Is your house littered with remnants of fabric and stuffing of all different sizes? Are you tired of investing in “indestructible” toys only for your pup to still dismantle—or worse, get bored of—them in just a few days?
You’ve been told your dog needs regular exercise. There’s a reason “walking the dog” is a classic daily activity: Frequent excursions give your pup a chance to experience the world, maintain a healthy weight, and — most importantly — spend time with you! Consistent physical activity can also improve their strength, muscle tone, coordination, and mental ability over time.
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
Many dogs have gotten a bad reputation over the years for being "dangerous breeds." Rottweilers are among them. Like pit bulls and other large, blocky-headed types of dogs, these powerful and beautiful animals are often assumed to be aggressive.
Your dog is reactive. They’ll see another dog, person, or other stimulus in the environment (like a car or bike) while out on a walk and suddenly go crazy at the end of their leash. The barking, lunging, and growling feels embarrassing for you — and it’s clear that your pup isn’t having a great time either.
Does your dog display reactivity to other pets or people? Maybe they’re a new rescue pup and are still settling into your home. Or they were sick growing up, so you missed their critical socialization period. Possibly they’ve had a bad experience after being raised as a normal puppy.
Do you have a reactive dog or suspect you may have one? You’re not alone!
* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
From 2009 to 2020, there was a 40 percent increase in the development of public dog parks. Designated spots for canine exercise have become commonplace in every major city in North America — many pet owners won’t even consider renting an apartment that doesn’t have its own fenced-in pet area for their canine companions.
Thousand Oaks, California has been a safe haven for Sniffspot host, Jen, since childhood. Having grown up in busy Santa Barbara, Jen, an introvert from an early age, would seek out solitude and serenity away from tourists attractions and droves of people visiting from elsewhere. “My grandparents own 60 acres about a 30 minute drive from here, and I grew up spending every summer and every holiday visiting them on the ranch,” Jen explained. “In Santa Barbara, we wouldn't go to the beach on the weekend because that's where everybody was, so you'd find places off the beaten path where the tourists weren't. For me, the ranch was just my happy place.”
Ellen is the host of Country Pasture Getaway, one of Sniffspot's most popular sniff spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great sniff spot host.
Just 20 minutes outside of the busy city of Portland, Oregon, and settled right on the banks of the Columbia River, you’ll find what countless visitors have flocked to the area in search of – mountain views, crisp, clean air, and running water for miles. What you might not expect to find, however, is a hidden oasis designed just for dogs and their people, owned and operated by a farming couple and enjoyed by visitors on two legs, and four.
Fran is the host of Ranch Setting, one of Sniffspot's most popular spots. She has taken the time to write up the lessons she has learned about how to be a great Sniffspot host.
Looking for a space to play with your dog no matter what the weather’s like outside? Look no further than our list of the best indoor dog parks in the United States! These climate-controlled spaces are growing in popularity as pet ownership increases throughout the country. As a bonus, many of them also offer dog training, boarding, grooming, or daycare services on the premises.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered! It’s hard to narrow down, but we’ve put together some of the best off-leash dog parks throughout the country so you can plan your next adventure — along with a checklist of what to bring, what to know beforehand, and some frequently asked questions.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Las Vegas? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks to plan for your next adventure in Sin City.
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog? We’ve got you covered!
Looking for the perfect place to play with your dog in Portland? We’ve got you covered! Take a look at the best local dog parks and plan for your next adventure in the City of Roses.
Discover the German Shepherd Dog, a breed celebrated for its intelligence, loyalty, and versatility. Known for its impressive size and smooth, graceful movements, German Shepherds excel in various roles, including as guide, therapy, bomb detection, and police dogs, while being a devoted family companion.
Discover the Labrador Retriever, a breed celebrated for its playful nature, affectionate temperament, and trainability. Labradors are known for their friendly demeanor and adaptability, making them perfect family companions and versatile working dogs.
Discover the Golden Retriever, a breed celebrated for its affectionate, playful, and trainable nature. Considered a large dog, Golden Retrievers were originally bred in Scotland for hunting and retrieving game beginning in the 1860s.
Discover the American Staffordshire Terrier, a breed celebrated for its playful, friendly, and loyal nature. Considered a medium-sized dog, American Staffordshire Terriers were originally bred in the United Kingdom for baiting bulls, fighting, and hunting beginning in the 1800s — though they're known as gentle, playful lovers today.
Discover the Australian Shepherd, a breed celebrated for its trainable, playful, and affectionate nature. Considered a medium dog, Australian Shepherds were originally bred in the United States for herding beginning in the 1950s.