as a person who's actually a little afraid of dogs (im a small person and most dogs around here are huge and excitable or untrained) that line earned a good laugh out of me lol. her confidence is admirable.
@@citrus7745 I'm actually more afraid of small dogs. I've been attacked by small ones (entirely my fault; I didn't listen to what the dogs were telling me), but the big ones never have. If they don't want pets I give them space and they leave me be. The small ones are often so afraid. I rode in the elevator with a chihuahua today and he was very much, "THIS IS *MY* ELEVATOR!! FLUFF OFF!!". So I ignored the dog so I didn't accidentally reinforce the behaviour. His owner apologized repeatedly and said that sometimes he's okay, but sometimes he's like this. I said, "the world is a scary place when you're so small". I have a dwarf rabbit and he's taught me a lot about living in a huge world as a small being.
She actually talked to him, gave him constant reassurance, acknowledged and respected his boundaries and was kind, patient and gentle but firm. Excellent groomer! That's how it's done.
Bravo! What a wonderfully skilled and patient groomer! I appreciated how you put the animal first and were determined to successfully groom Winnie and make it a positive experience for him. A true professional! 👏👏👏
@@renatamoris578 it is what the dog likes that matters. When you show respect and no fear, the people we call dogs respond to that and allow us latitude to help them.
Yes. I don't think it's a matter of technique or equipment but just the vibes she puts out that helped keep the dog calm. My guess is that the other groomers, after being warned, went on high alert and the dog picked up on it.
@@mikeroman5208 I agree. She doesn't let the dog dictate her emotions. She stays calm and assertive. Some people have it and others don't. She has it in spades.
@@lauratait oh man. I have had to demite barn cats...Holy hell that is fun to flush and medicate them. I drug them slightly, then make them into a purrito with a towel, then de-mite. Added: ear mites
As a groomer who grooms incredibly difficult dogs as well she did literally everything right with this dog. I am amazed how many dogs come in and I’m told they were told by the last groomer they needed to be sedated. I wish groomers would just say the dog is too difficult for them. That is 100% acceptable. I applaud her for making this as stress-free and positive as possible for Winnie.
I suspect it’s hard for too many professionals to admit weakness. I have a lot of respect for those groomers who outright told me my born-feral dog was beyond their comfort level than I do for groomers that literally fight an 18-pound all-American pup into submission (or who knows what other methods). I admire you and your honesty. I’ll bet you are excellent at your job! ❤️
Is it possible that some dogs have a time limit? My dog had different amounts of time allotted for different activities. I had 8 min to bathe him, 30 min to go shopping with him before he climbed out of the cart, 15 min for my own shower before he opened the shower, and unlimited time for visiting the dog park and super walks.
@@lynnlynn9124 yes absolutely. Especially cats. I have 20 minutes to get 99% of cats done or it’s game over. Grooming is stressful to every animal and they all have a threshold where they decide they’re done
@@brendag.3384 Lol, 20 minutes for cats to do anything except for what they like, seems generous. I would think more like 5 unless it includes treats, nip, and good super brushies for the rest of the day.
I was expecting an actual vicious dog, but he was actually really tame. he was just uncomfortable with some things and gave warning signs that he didn’t like it lol, what a good boy! He was so brave through all that scary stuff
“People are scared of you? That’s embarrassing” I’m so sorry, that that had me in stitches! But in all honesty, Winnie was a super good boy and you handled his groom so professionally Vanessa!
Going from what I saw in the video it looks like Winnie might not like the pull/tug of the equipment. Specifically he reacted badly to a Brush and the Clipper. My guess is someone was maybe too rough during the clipping process and didn't let Winnie adjust to the feeling. If I had tatty hair and someone just jammed a hairbrush through it I'd be cranky when other people came at me with a brush!
Can totally relate. I have curly hair and as a little girl I hated getting my hair brushed or done in anyway because people kept yanking and tugging. I had someone cut all of my hair off when I was 7 and kept it that way until I was a teenager. I am still super particular about who does my hair.
Yessssss! Another person here who had hair trauma as a child. As an adult I've learned how to manage my hair so it can be long without pain... Very frequent brushing. Like three or four times a day. If it doesn't get tangled enough to pull then no pulling. Detangle before bath. Once it's wet the hair is more stretchy so it will catch and pulllllll instead of detangling. Even with the dryer, that's usually not enough to get it bone dry, plus the dryer adds tangles, so you want to start with detangled hair. The right kind of brush. I wonder if he also doesn't like the bristles on his skin. There's about a million types of brush to try and it might be hard to distinguish him not liking a specific brush from learned dislike of all brushes, but finding the right brush made a huge difference for my own comfort level. Clipping at home. Frequently. At home clip may not always be the prettiest but just like the brushing if you can do it very frequently then it never needs to be a Thing.
I have hair trauma too! I have to brush it before and after showers and like to keep it in a braid because it knots less. Can't blow dry my hair at all. Hate the wind.
I had similar thoughts. He actually has a pretty long fuse for a pup with such a reactive reputation. He was quite tolerant for the bath and the dryer, it was the brush that got his hackles up. I relate so hard to hair trauma.
My last little dog (has since passed) was rejected by multiple groomers. I told every single one that as long as you just told her she was amazing the whole time she tolerated it. The two that did got her done with no issues and never complained and said how much if a sweetheart she was. I love how you contantly give the dog reassurance. It truly makes a difference!
Talking with dogs is a form of hypnosis and they are calm. I groom my own dog and I constantly talk to her and sometimes sing to her, she was never aggressive (rescue dog) but used to pant and be very stressed. I am still not able to do her nails though cause she starts screaming like I am trying to stab her but she does not really need that since we have long walks.
His nervous lip licking was so sad. I wonder if he had some bad experiences with grooming. He was clearly fearful. You're so kind - thanks for helping Winnie and his family!
@@toomanymarys7355 it probably isn't the wheelchair then, it probably the fact he doesn't understand how they are moving. A lot of dogs are highly defensive and perceive people on wheels (cars and bikes included) as a threat. Obviously idk your dog, but he also goes crazy over bikes, motorcycles, and even cars then it's not the wheel chair it's the movement.
@@Chaos_Senpai In the case of the dog constantly having to be under anesthesia to be groomed, it IS life changing. Like she said, it's damaging to a dog's health to have to be regularly put under just to be groomed.
@@dabreener My vet always told me that there's a significant risk that the dog won't come out of it when they're put under general anaesthesia. So anything that avoids having to use anaesthesia is clearly a good thing.
I can only imagine how appreciative his owners are that you have the knowledge and patience to groom him without sedation or medication! You’re amazing.
As the owner of a Lhasa Apso with similar behavior issues, I have to say I so appreciate this video. We are so appreciative of our groomers and have explained our pup's issues in detail so that they can take whatever precautions that they need to while grooming him. He is cuter than a little teddy bear but he is short-tempered and when he bites, he goes for blood and, without warning. We've raised him from a puppy and had him seen by experts. They just tell us it's his nature. We'll never have another and we adore him, but we realize he's difficult and I'm sure this baby's owner heartily appreciates all the groomer's kind attention. We sure would!
@@adrianbrown2957 That’s what a muzzle is for. Any good groomer should be able to read a dog’s behaviour and body language enough to know if they should use one before the bite happens.
As I was watching this video, I was gently brushing my mini poodle who was traumatized by one groomer and needs to be retrained to let me brush him daily. Your voice and constant good boy relaxed my dog so much, that he allowed me to brush him completely! I’m saving this video for future brushing 😂😍😍
That’s definitely what was going on. My dog is anxious about grooming as well and will lash out when my mom and I try. She’s a total sweetheart but grooming makes her very nervous.
No, he was ready to bite...My old Shitzu was exact same..A sweet boy turns into a monster when grooming. Not sure where that came from since I had that dog from previous owner.
Kudos to you for giving this dog a chance. Sounds like previous groomers gave up at the first growl. You definitely used the right techniques to complete the groom without incident. Have never heard of using “go for a walk” as a way to distract but it really worked. I’m sure the owner was happy to learn an unmedicated groom is possible for this little guy. Well done!
I'm assumiing the phrase "go for a walk" is good and positive for dogs because animals enjoy movement, activities, progression, etc. The mind is very impressionalbke by positive activities. Just like people use Affirmations. Animals are about life living strife and otherwise. We are to affirmative to place human emotions onto an animal do to lack of willingness to understand ANIMAL behavior. This is an amazing and thoughtful groomer.
@@honeybunch5765 Yes, I think Vanessa's attitude is the key here. She approaches him with confidence, zero nervousness. She knows that she knows her stuff, so she can expect a positive outcome. And Voilá, things turned out great!
I've groomed for 46 years and have encountered the same mis interpretation of a dog's behavior. Always loved the challenge of a dog that is considered not groomable. You did a great job explaining and your technique was spot on. It's incredibly rewarding to complete the groom and to have a new grooming friend.
@@babymama406 I've been nicked here and there, but not frequently. Most often those times were while doing nails. There are different behaviors and body language of dogs that tell an intuitive and experienced groomer when is an appropriate time to muzzle. Most dogs can sense a competent groomer by the way a groomer speaks to and handles a dog. No baby talk necessary. No need for force. I have never used a noose. I train a groom to be still and comfortable on my table. Never turn my back or walk away from my table. I've needed stitches twice in my life from dog bites. The first time: 2 of my own dogs got into a spat 3 ft away from my 2 yr old daughter at the time. I was afraid the fight would inadvertently include my daughter and stepped in to seperate the 2 lg dogs. Only 7 stitches on my arm. One dog was a disfunctional rescue and the other was a non fighter. Never a good situation, but mamaged to keep them seperated for the rest of the rescue's life with us. Not a situation I recommend. The other time was a cocker spaniel. Just into his senior years. First groom with me, should have asked why, owned by an elderly man. He shared that the dog didn't like kids. NP, no kids in shop. Did all pre groom work: nails, pre clipping, brushing and de matting. The dog was perfect for everything, he was sitting on grooming table, his bath was next. My brush was on the table, I reached to pick it up and he turned and flash bit my face, then just sat there. Zero provocation. I felt around my mouth where he nailed me, my hand was covered in blood. I thought, "wow, he really bit me good". Picked him up and put him in a cage, he didn't even flinch. Looked in mirror and knew it was a hospital visit. Literally pulled half my upper lip off and some lower. 52 stitches outside mouth 25 inside mouth. I finished the groom a week later, muzzled the dog from start. The cocker was not going to win! Dog was fine. Owner shared he was just bitten by his dog....and before also. A little to late to share that info. Never apologized but gave me a $10 tip. Did not groom that dog again and explained to owner that his senior dog is a liability and he needed to address the unpredictable behavior. Every now and then when my husband kisses me I remind him my lips are worth 10 bucks! Anyway, if you are knowledgeable about breeds and behavior and you've been trained by a true dog person, not one who thinks they are, you will not get bitten often. It is an occupational hazard. Breed and size make no difference. If a dog is socialized, trained properly and healthy you generally have no problems. Dogs with problems are generally the result of human misunderstanding dog. I think there are some breeds more unpredictable than others. Generally, they are smaller breeds. But, all in all I've had a very rewarding career.
@@cherylepavlakis1081 thank you for answering. That’s really interesting to me. It sucks that one of the few bites was so harmful. You’re a good person to still groom the dog after a bite like that. Personally, I don’t think I’d have made the same choice. I probably would’ve been pretty salty about it.
@@stevenanthony199 lol Steven do you know Cheryle or are you just shooting your shot in the comment section of a dog grooming RUclips video 😂 Genuinely curious…
I am so glad that you proved Winnie didn't need sedation. I think previous groomers stressed the poor guy out but you're so patient and communicative that even the dogs with behavioral issues at least try to remain calm. Thank you so much!!
I agree! I think groomers get so overwhelmed and busy that they don't have the time to show patience to stressed pets. My dog is very reactive so I have never considered asking anyone else to groom her. I would probably have to pay double so the groomer could take the time to be more gentle.
RUBBISH!! According to a very successful so-called 'remedial dog trainer' I met, "There is no such thing as a dog with 'behavioural issues' - only BLOODY STUPID owners who MAKE their dogs that way! Which is why I do NOT train 'problem dogs' - I train problem OWNERS!"
@@1964drc I was thinking the same thing.... The other groomers must of been in a rush and stressed him out so bad... Poor little guy needing drugs to get cleaned up as we can clearly see given time he ok with it and will only be better more of the trust is built up with the groomer... Just though of this.. The other groomers may take the snaps as him trying to bite rather then scare as she pointed out he is not biting the brush just snapping at the air...
This baby didn't need to be anesthetized! He just needed constant reassurance, a gentle hand, and a kind heart. He needed someone to work WITH him. You gave him all of that. You obviously love your job, and the animals you care for. You know exactly how to handle them. Much respect to you. The world needs more people like you. Wonderful video.
@@kaiseramadeus233 I don’t know what you mean. I’ve been involved in animal welfare for 12 years and I’ve seen lots of animal, cruelty, and neglect. I know animal behavior. It’s possible he has been abused. It may not have been his owner now, but possibly a previous owner, you gotta remember, dogs learn aggression by being abused. I hope all is well for this pup. By the way, I’m not a “bruh”. Not everyone is!
Always sad when people say aggression, when alot of it is usually fear, I honestly think his first experiences being groomed were likely rushed and they didn't take into account whether it was stressing him or not Groomers like you really restore peoples faith in the industry ❤
Winnie was so adorable. You could see his ears go up every time you said “walk”. Excellent video! “ that is not necessary.” is a line I use on my dogs when they are misbehaving lol.
I'm not an expert, but I think your general attitude and demeanor helped a lot here. Dogs are very reactive to the emotions of people around them, so a tense groomer would make him anxious in return.
@sbuggbot Exactly! Her energy is justso calm and "matter of fact". Grooming is just an ordinary thing and no big deal so the dog doesn't ramp up emotionally. When he snaps she gives him a beat but doesn't back off, nor does she try to force him. Very instructional video.❤😊
I think the trick to giving this little guy a bath is because the groomer kept talking in nice even tones reassuring this baby all the time. Way to go lady.
As an owner of a Shih Tzu that has an abusive background, I really, really appreciate the time and care you gave to this boy. I worked really hard to get my boy socialized and civilized and couldn't have done it without groomers and trainers like you to help.
Hugs to you and your pup! I have a long-haired GSD who was neglected, practically 24/7 in a crate, for his entire first year of life after being purchased. So many of Winnie's responses to grooming are ones I see in my boy. It's obvious that mine was only brushed out when matted (ow!), and if he had his claws trimmed he probably got quicked more than a few times. That stuck with him. A little reassurance and some patience, however, goes a long way.
@@georgiar3995 Mine too, Georgia. My little guy was neglected in the back yard, never groomed, and bullied by two chow chows. He was then fostered in a home with another dog that didn't like him, plus neuter surgery and shaved down to the skin in a space with total strangers. I was his 3rd foster after his rescue. He dislocated my thumb which led to training classes. It turned out he's super smart and really wanted to be a good boy, he just didn't know how! He's now house trained, enjoys grooming, and he even has doggy friends. I love him so much. I'm so glad I took the time he needed instead of pushing him onto another foster.
@@mirabai305 Really, congrats to you both and spectacular job working so hard for him. Sometimes, people can get discouraged by difficult behavior and give up. Or they just want an "easy" dog and will turn up their nose at the first hint of a problem! Meanwhile, the "problem" dogs are often easy to train once you find what motivates them and learn the appropriate training methods. It can feel like a miracle but it really is just doggy science with a heaping serving of love and dedication 😊
I love how surprised Winnie looked at the end when you were talking about him being "a groomable dog". He tilted his head like, "I am. Then why'd those other people say I was vicious." 🥺
He did as well as he could. He really tried. There's just certain things that make him anxious. He's not vicious. He's just sensitive to certain things and areas. Looks like his previous groomers just weren't willing to work with him and his sensitive areas. I'm actually wondering since he was primarily triggered by the brushing part if maybe they had been too rough and it caused him to react and become fearful. Good job on his part and yours❤
It seems to me that if he’s reactive to being brushed, that maybe he had some mats that did not come out easily, and a groomer early in his life pulled to hard and hurt him, and when he snapped, he was probably hit with whatever implement was being used. The groomer was then angry and rough with him the rest of the grooming just to get him finished. He’s probably been reactive since then. I bet if she were to work with him more, he would become much more tolerant of the whole process, as she is gentle yet firm, and he knows she will not hurt him. In one grooming session, she was already gaining his trust! She is a marvel!
I expected him to act so much worse honestly seeing this and then hearing that people were really putting him to sleep was wild to me. I’m glad u were able to help him though. He really seems like a sweet dog.
Maybe it's me, but if you watch his eyes, it seems like the times he growled was when he was looking at the camera. So maybe that person was getting to close and the camera was what was unsetting him.
i had a dog just like this, he was a mix of a Shih Tzu and a bichon Frese and was super aggressive when trying to pick him up, sneaking up on him, and had certain triggers like if he was laying by your feet in bed and you moved your legs he would try to bite you because he would get scared. but he was such a sweet soul and genuinely loved us, especially my dad. he had major separation anxiety with him. the most personality iv ever seen in a dog. he just had very very bad anxiety and considering we were his only owners it was very confusing how he got the anxiety. my heart breaks for dogs like him who struggle with aggression. it’s usually out of self defensive and they’re scared/ or very anxious.
"They're scared of you? That's embarrassing." I chortled. I've always loved dogs and animals of all sorts. People have always been amazed at my intuition when it comes to animals and finding your channel has inspired me to seek out more knowledge and training about grooming. I need to do what you do!
18:03 when Winnie gives us the “oh? I AM the goodest boy?” look with that ADORABLE crooked smile… I started crying. I couldn’t help it. He looks so beautiful and it just seems like he was actually proud of himself. You work wonders (even though it scares me every time you use the scissors and shaver LOL). I definitely couldn’t handle what Winnie just championed through!
THANK YOU!!! Thank you for taking the time to show us/other groomers that Winnie did NOT have to be put under!!! You have EVERY GREAT quality of a WONDERFUL groomer!!! Hands down the BEST!!! That dog should NOT have ever been put under, and you show cased that. Love you and the great job you do!! ❤️
I feel so sad for the owner. They didn't come to that conclusion on their own. The guilt of having to care for their dog, knowing the stress it causes, must be heartbreaking. 🙏 thank gawd they found someone who saw their dog as a living being and not a hazard
I feel sad for the dog having been put under anesthesia unnecessarily several times a year most likely affected his health and decreased life expectancy! The owner trusted the previous groomers who were most likely too impatient or lacked the passion and compassion this groomer obviously has a great deal of and they should be ashamed and sued.
Not only do I feel sad for the owner that they were duped, but also for their POCKETBOOKS! Sedating a dog isn’t cheap, and having to pay for that several times a year just so your dog can get a shave down and nail trim?? That’s pathetic of the groomers who clearly didn’t mind ripping this owner off.
Yea and people with opinions like yours are why it’s so damn hard to come by a good groomer nowadays- because of sue- happy attitudes like yours! Who wants to put your heart and soul into a career only to have someone turn around and sue the pants off them because they weren’t quick enough to dodge a biting dog?! I was bitten today and had to send the dog home and it’s not because I’m a “bad groomer”- it’s because the owner decided to bring him in the DAY HE CAME TO HIS NEW HOME FROM A SHELTER. He bit me 4 times in a matter of seconds, and you know what I did? Kept trying to finish his bath and brush (thank God it wasn’t a haircut). I even used a muzzle, he took it off and was so stressed out that I stopped the process and didn’t finish his brush out because it was a hazard to me and it was going to give the dog a bad experience! Every situation is not so black and white and some dogs do have to be sedated, especially when it comes to how stressed the animal gets. Not every groomer has the time to spend with their dogs, unfortunately; I commend those who do- but this takes TIME and when you’ve got 6-8 grooms to complete in 8 hours, you just don’t have the time to do this. I didn’t personally recommend that the dog I sent home be sedated at the vet, but I did refer the new pet owner to a quality dog trainer and I told her to be careful with him especially around children. He was very sweet when he wasn’t attacking me, he actually gave me a kiss right before the bath when I was holding him. But these animals have to be respected, and sometimes if the circumstances are appropriate- they do have to be sedated and a groomer shouldn’t ever be SUED for recommending so!!! The final call is on the veterinarian, I don’t know if this is common knowledge or not, but groomers can’t administer sedatives…you have to be a DVM to do so. And they can always refuse. Point your lawsuits there.
@@lalala123loverwithag I’m sorry, but who are you talking to? Only one person on this feed has said anything about suing anybody, and that sentiment was NOT repeated by anyone else. In fact, I’m pretty sure everyone knows that the groomers don’t have the license or ability to prescribe or administer anesthesia OR medications. I think the issue is that many groomers - not all, but there are many - who don’t want to risk getting bitten. And there’s nothing wrong with that. However, that’s when they should be able to refer the owner to a groomer who is more experienced with aggressive dogs. Sedating the dog versus putting a dog under to be groomed are not the same. Using a sedative can be done safely, and is no different from a person taking Benadryl to sleep at night. An anti-anxiety medication is another good option for that. But anesthesia is serious, and to do so multiple times a year is dangerous to the dog’s long term health. And sometimes, even to the short term health as well.
@@Thi-Nguyen oops, I was referring to @shotzee36 ‘s comment, where it clearly states at the bottom that the groomers who recommend that a dog be sedated or put under (I understand there is a difference, but to most folks the terms are synonymous and mean that you take the dog to the vet who would make the ultimate call on whether to sedate or use general anesthesia) should be sued. That person obviously doesn’t understand where scope of practice for a groomer ends- they can only recommend to go to the vet for the animal’s health. It isn’t good for a dog to be sedated or to be put under, especially multiple times a year and especially if they have contraindications to the drugs used for such purposes (e.g., liver enzyme elevations, abnormal kidney values, etc. which can tend to be abnormal as an animal ages). But you have to understand also that when a groomer recommends that a dog go to the vet to be groomed, it isn’t only to make sure the dog gets groomed safely (sometimes dogs get so worked up they can hurt themselves during the grooming process) but it is also to protect other groomers from being seriously injured. Sorry, but pet parents tend to downplay how aggressive their dogs can be- so they don’t get turned down by yet another groomer who doesn’t want to be mauled by their dog. By recommending they go to the vet, that groomer is essentially protecting other groomers who might not know what they’re getting into. I’ve been bitten multiple times, I don’t care! I’ll still do the groom as LONG as it’s safe for the dog and as long as the benefit outweighs the risk (if I’ve got a whole groom to finish, I’ll do my best to find a way, but if some brushing just needs to be done- end the groom and send the dog home). However, I’ve had a dog who the owner gave Xanax to who would alligator roll when I tried to do his nails. He wouldn’t bite me, he was a sweet boy. But I ended up having to tell her it would be best to get them to do it at the vet- perhaps when he was already under to get his teeth cleaned- because the dog was hyperventilating, choking himself, and posing a threat TO HIMSELF- not to me. It’s not so black and white, are you a groomer? Or a veterinarian?
As a professional dog trainer, can I just say-- I LOVED that. ❤ perfectly executed. You worked with him so well, and he responded beautifully! I'm also often disappointed in groomers, vets, other trainers, etc. for snapping to the "can't be done" mentality... so happy when i see ppl like you getting it done! I'm saving this video to share with clients as a guide.
@@ingoc8446did you watch the same video? She was saying nooooo don’t do that while then praise him because he was tolerating whatever she’s doing without fully going HAM. 😂
As a career dog person, first off, amazing job on a challenging groom. You continue to amaze me with your compassionate understanding of cat/dog behavior. Second, in my professional opinion, this just strikes me as a dog with some anxiety and fear issues whose problematic avoidant behavior wasn't corrected during training. Like you said, he wasn't actually trying to bite for the most part, he was just "saber rattling" to try and intimidate you into doing what he wanted because he was scared of what might happen if he didn't. Once you used proper restraint and completed the parts he was anxious about anyway, he was still a bit scared, but it was almost like he learned that nothing bad will happen if he chooses to trust you.
I love that she is present and attentive to each dog. It is not routine, it is giving the pet the best experience possible and adjusting her own behaviour and tools as much as possible to accommodate for idiosyncrasies. She is a gem.
Everything that dog was broadcasting was that he was trying to control a situation he was anxious about. His “behavior issues” are probably just surrounding that, not specifically grooming. It was probably being made *worse* by being sedated every time. He just needs desensitization and positive reinforcement.
My dog apparently has anxiety but he’s an absolute sweetheart to basically everyone, although sometimes he barks if he’s scared but he’s never tried biting anyone a single time. You’re obviously more knowledgeable about this stuff than me, so if he has anxiety why is he not vicious like this dog is? They are the same breed btw my dog is also a shih tzu. Is it just they have different personalities and my dog doesn’t wanna be intimidating like this one? I’m curious
@@tararosabelle7368 It depends on that individual dog's temperament, honestly. 🙂 I know a dog who has anxiety. She was found in a dumpster as a puppy, but has spent most of her life living in a loving home. She is now a sweet old lady. Ever since she was a puppy, she has always run away from whomever she is scared of, and for some reason, she has always barked and run away from tall men). She has never ever bitten anyone. However, I also know anxious dogs who have bitten people. Or have bitten other dogs. Or both. Just like people, one dog responds differently to the next dog when stressed or scared. Differences in individual experiences can also play a part in how the dog responds. For example, a dog that has never ever bitten could potentially be mistreated enough times (or with enough severity) that it may eventually choose to bite. Treatment like this makes the likelihood of biting increase. Still, some dogs will choose to never ever bite, even then. So, it's a combination of individual temperament, plus individual life experiences. I hope this helps!! 🤗
You are amazing. I love your kindness. I worked a few weeks as a dog washer a long time ago. The groomers were ok but not near as patient as you. I love the way you keep talking to him so sweetly. Thank you for helping all those sweet pets.
I hope his owners see this. Having managed a pet store and had some great groomers, this woman is excellent. She has great energy and empathy. With a year of regular grooming visits with this groomer, I would imagine that this dog's anxiety will significantly diminish.
I am 100% in agreement with you. I hope the owners continue to bring Winne to Vanessa. He probably got passed around by several groomers since he was denied or told to be sedated. He would be fine as long as you are patient and acknowledge his trigger points. He would improve over time. Venessa did an amazing job here!! 👍👍
I hope she told Winnies owners her opinion on other groomers saying that he must be sedated. Even showed them this video one on one , walking them through it explaining how & why she did what she did step by step through his total groom so they could feel a lot better about upcoming grooming times. Please let them find a groomer competent & willing to do his future grooms ❤️
You talked to him in a lovely tone, you gave him positive reinforcement, and also set some limits. You let him sniff everything, and used the tools in other ways before using them. YOU set him up for success!❤
Groomers can often be the source of stress, and thats not to say all are ...but we usually trust knowing our pets. Just like Vanessa pointed out. I had an oh my moment with my girl before she couldn't tolerate a full groom at all due to lots of arthritis. It was a new place near my apartment. Their system sent out a "your dog is ready" notice and it sent it early. I got there and heard her being snappy and rude and she tried to say I'm sure others just haven't told you. My response, yeah she has moments but in all of her reports... nothing like this. Needless to say, I never went back there.
Well done Winnie . He did so well. All he needed was some calm reassurance and soothing. He tried so hard all the way through to be a good boy and overcome his fear. All he needed was this patient, very capable and caring groomer to walk him through it , holding his hand all the way through, in her kind and professional approach. Gold star ⭐️ and one for Winnie too ⭐️
Winnie did a good job and the groomer did a FABULOUS job with Winnie. I do the same with my Shin Tzu mixed with poodle and pekingese. Keep up the great work young lady. Winnie just needed someone kind and humble to walk him through the process
I think this was really the secret ingredient, someone who was willing to take the time to reassure him and not try to brute force him through the grooming. I know a lot of groomers do this because they're under a time crunch and that would be fine for most dogs who tolerate grooming but this guy needs some work on his behavior, for sure.
You have a gift that it is not teachable ,you have it or not. You have something special and the fact that you don’t show fear it help a lot. I enjoy watching your videos. 🤗🌹
His face when he knew you were finished was a picture! Like I survived that I didn't manage to scare her off. She was nice to me. She didn't give up! 💙
It's really embarrassing that it literally takes just a bit of patience and the right tools to groom an “ungroomable” dog. I can only imagine how the owners felt when you told them Winnie did fine with the grooming, all the times they were worried about the anesthesia and how nervous they must've felt to try yet again to get a grooming-just to arrive at your shop and find Winnie perfectly groomed!! The work that you do here is so important to help dogs all around the world. Thank you ❤
I hate when people don't accept that pets have feelings too. A lot of aggressive animals are just very afraid or sometimes are in pain. I am always in awe with your patience and compassion, you're an awesome human being.
I’ve met a few people that have told me animals don’t have feelings or a soul. I basically just have nothing to fo with them after that. I prefer my dogs to people every time.
totally agree. Judging by the staining around his paws he probably licks them a lot, he could have an underlying allergy that makes them itchy or uncomfortable. Could’ve also had a bad experience with excessive restraint or where a quick was cut, one too many anal gland expressions, etc. This dog does not have to be sedated for grooms although some anti-anxiety medication wouldn’t hurt!
As a groomer with a few clients with "difficult dogs" (including one that has previously been turned away by SEVEN groomers) im SO happy to see this. It's mind blowing how just treating the dogs with respect and "listening " to them makes them relax just that little bit more. That's not to say that they never misbehave, but with this experience, he will hopefully learn that if he is fed up, he can let the groomer know and they'll respect that. You have literally changed this doggo's life. Thank you!!! You really inspire me so much ❤❤❤
As a former owner with this problem with my laso - the stress off the owners is just as critical! My little Bon bon is in heaven now but we both needed sedated for her beauty appointments! ❤ Great job you are gold to pet parents!
She's so sweet and reassuring. She started off by just petting the dog and that helped him to trust her. She's a perfect example of what makes an excellent groomer. Patient and quiet, but authoritative.
@@marietzannetakis7870 Cesar Milan? He is not a good trainer. There are multiple reasons as to why not to copy his techniques. He's a good TV person, good presence, good backstory. Aside all that, it may do more harm than good.
I’m pretty certain that Winnie had a previously bad grooming experience in the past and that he was traumatised! Just the calm and gentle touch you conducted the entire groom process just shows that all animals respond kindly to love🥰
@@rachelm7525 Many people, even small dog owners who love their dogs, seem to view them somehow like... less of a dog? Because they're so small and "easy to handle." Or they view them as just categorically mean/ill-tempered, so there's no reason to try to work with them to make them happier, less fearful, and less aggressive. Hell, you can find hundreds on hundreds of videos of people essentially scaring the crap out of their small dogs because they find their aggressive responses [growling, lip curling, snapping, lunging] funny since they're small. I can't tell you how often the small dogs we get surrendered at my shelter are "house dogs" who have never gone on a walk or only get exercise once a week. And then these people wonder why their dog is petrified of every person they meet that isn't their family. Because they never meet anyone but you!!
@Lucas I think it's a hardwired thing for people. Small = baby. Small things get babied. Their size and terror knowing they are small makes them use their teeth _a lot_ more as a first resort instead of last. That's ultimately the only way they can make anyone take them remotely serious. I had a discussion with someone the other day about kids, namely kindergartners, and how without even realizing it until i brought it up, how more often than not the taller kids usually were tasked with a little more responsibility. Taller = older/more expectations/more responsibilities, even the kid was the same age. I feel it's a very similar thing with dogs and why the little ones get away with way too much.
as a owner I absolutely loved how kind and tolerant and respectful this dog was handled with so much positive praise thrown in. My dog is a nervous boy he doesn't snap but I've had groomers treat him roughly and that has caused him to be more nervous and uncooperative. While others has sung his praise saying that he is lovely to groom as long as one talks and handles him gently.
Having had a dog that got scared and aggressive at the groomers, if you run out of groomers that will take your dog then you have no choice. Shih Tzu hair constantly grows like human hair and they MUST be groomed for their health and comfortability. It's a terrible choice and I understand why the owners made that decision.
@@liannamkoyan9893 when someone says a dog gets sedated for the groom. A vet does the sedation and monitoring. A groomer then proceeds to groom and after that they wait til he wakes. No groomer themselves sedates the dogs
He's obviously just aggressive because of stress, and that's something that can be worked on! He just needs extra time and patience. As always I'm impressed with her patience and care toward the animals she works on. She never gets obviously frustrated or angry, she just says "okay, that didn't work so let's try this instead!"
It's almost as if respecting Winnie's fear was magical. It makes me wonder how anyone would ever become a dog groomer if they don't have this level of empathy.
Love this! I thought similar. I feel so bad for all the times he had to be subjected to lesser treatment, then drugs to have this done. It's no wonder he was traumatized by it all. Patience goes far & so many don't have it with themselves, much less someone else. I hope groomers can learn from this if it's not an inmate instinct to have empathy.
@Melis joy It helps that the customer told her what to expect, she probably allowed extra time and charged more money. Not all groomers have that luxury, they just get given a dog to groom, trying to get it done knowing they have 6 more dogs to do and an impatient owner and boss demanding an ETA.
I believe she can really communicate with the animals and they can actually sense her calmness.even Im as a human, I love her voices and tones. Bring me peace. So she could really handle tough ones. special gift truly.
i legit teared up during this video. my own shih tzu was my best friend for 14 years. he was a little couch potato and loved being groomed. seeing you be so gentle with a shih tzu that looks just like he did made my heart so happy.
Dog doesn't seem vicious, just seems scared and nervous. If I went unconscious every time someone tried to brush my hair after I was already fearful of it, I think I'd threaten to bite too. Good boy Winnie! You did it! It was gentle and calm!
I think she only put that because that's what she was made to expect from this dog. It just further amplifies how ridiculous of a claim it was since he turned out to be much better than expected.
@gökotta I agree. This lady is just the best groomer, so patient. She knows how to encourage dogs through their stress and soothe them as much as is possible.
@@EEsmalls 100%! She has knowledge of different breeds and general expectations, but also takes time to get to know each individual animal and deal with it accordingly. Even beyond her bathing/clipping skills, she is an excellent groomer!
My daughter worked as a groomer for years. The first place she worked was all about how many dogs they could get done in a day. Made their money by volume. The second place had been a grooming school that had just closed their school and they taught all of these same ways of dealing with both scared,aggressive dogs and also taught her about grooming senior dogs who needed breaks in the grooming session. They were really good.
One of my shih tzus I had didn't like his face groomed and I was told he had to be drugged or put out to be groomed. We did that a couple of times until we found a great groomer who worked at our vets. He really liked her and was happy when she would come out to get him. I knew he was in good hands. I think someone like you who is passionate about their jobs was able to groom him verses I think some groomers who don't care as much.
Honestly, bless you for your patience and willingness to work on dogs that are considered "unable to be groomed due to aggression" Winnie deserved SO much better than he got before- and I'm SO glad his owner took him to you!
My dog was a nervous one at the groomer. I just decided to groom him myself 🤷🏾♀️. He doesn't look perfect, but at least no matting and hes calm (minus some wiggles) when i do it 😊. P.S thank you for being patient with Winny. More groomers should be like you ❤
I have to groom my Yorkie at home because the groomers said he was too wiggly. I could tell that he hated the groomers and always came home super stressed out. I do it now and he is still a little wiggly but at least he is groomed without stressing.
YOU ARE AMAZING GIRL! ❤ also I would really like to see more of the interactions with the owners at the end of the videos that you’ve shown a few times! I love seeing their reaction to seeing their beautiful pups and I love listening to you tell them how their dogs had behaved! Please add that in the end of your videos!
I think it all boils down to her confidence. The dogs can sense fearfulness which makes them fearful which of course then turns into fear aggression. Her demeanor, level headedness, technique, voice, and gaining as much background info and tiggers as she can from the owner make her the A+ groomer she is. We’ll done!
I absolutely adore Vanessa's work. She uses her platform to both educate and entertain, and is clearly someone who puts time and effort into her job. Grooming animals is not always easy, and takes a lot of patience and education
Watching this with my 2yo who is telling Winnie “It’s okay, I know, I know, good boy” while Vanessa does his nails. That’s what I say to my dog during nail trims too, so she hears it every week. ❤
As someone who works with dogs like this on a pretty regular basis, there is nothing sweeter than seeing them improve. Dogs from abuse cases are the hardest and can take a full year of regular grooming to see just the smallest improvement. Not making assumptions about him just stating personal experience. It's nice to see these videos ❤
Is it off-colour to say that I think his little growls are cute? Definitely a solid warning sign, but with his cranky face and the deep little rumblings he's just kinda adorable. Like a solidly grumpy old man.
Without a doubt! He looks a lot like my late shih-tsu Pekingese (same coloration as well - I nearly cried when I saw that grumpy little face in the video) and the dramatic growling juxtaposed to that grumpy floofy little face is just endearing and a bit funny lol. Kind of reminds me of a little kid who’s trying to put a serious look on their face. Mind you, my dog was the biggest baby to ever exist, therefore I especially heeded his warnings and respected his space when he showed he wanted it/making sure others did the same (which you should no matter how aggressive or not a dog is, but he was so gentle a dog it really showed he meant business if he did growl), but that doesn’t stop me from finding it absolutely adorable lol
It is kinda cute. But don't be taken in - they can bite pretty badly, with surprising force for such a weak little jaw. I adopted a pretty feral shih tzu who was, frankly, horrible. He bit me so badly mid groom that he nicked the artery in my left wrist. I kid you not. In a different episode, he fought the vets so badly that he turned blue - stopped breathing in order to attack them. I'm pleased to say he's still with me, he's no longer a biter and while I would never trust him with kids, for example, he lives a happy and stress free life, and grooming is now tolerated. He's even smaller than Winnie here, he is cuteness personified but he was entirely capable of really hurting someone.
that is why most little dogs get a bad reps people think that their aggressive behavior is cute so they can get way with growling and in some cases biting a person with no thought that it might not be a good idea to allow a dog to do that
It’s adorable 🥰 I work in vet med and we can definitely adore a cute little spicy bean while still giving them all the respect they deserve to keep us both safe. ❤
I love how the groomer puts her foot down and says “stop that sass” and Winnie was like “ok”. The dog seemed more afraid of the tools she didn’t understand and her behavior was more like “ok ok I’m going to growl but if that thing comes too close I’m ganna bite it”
Patience, praise, and not getting frustrated with his fears really makes a difference, even though he's obviously still scared. I think it helps a lot to just respect one another.
I’m a groomer here in Los Angeles and we do a lot of work with the shelters here. Most dogs that they say are vicious tend to just be terrified. Great job on letting him smell everything and giving him little breaks. The other groomer obviously hadn’t had much experience with truly ungroomable animals. He looks really good, really great job 👏
Yes! Acting with aggression is only their fear . Then their instinct to not be harmed , is why they are combative . Protecting themselves. Horrible ppl who use fear and pain to train are cowards, and also unintelligent… idiots.
I love that people recognise the basic need for animal to smell the equipment and get to know it. Thats one of the polite ways to know the world for them. Its especially a thing for cats, i always introduce stuff to my cat by letting him sniff and same back when i had dogs! ❤
YES. If you think an animal is vicious .They are afraid . Patience and the knowledge to understand this , is what every human needs to understand if they are going to work , train or groom an animal . I do not believe animals have meanness in their DNA.
I’m guessing that your calm, quiet approach combined with your patience with him, letting him think he’s controlling the show, made all the difference. Good for you!!❤
Bless you for the patience and care you showed little Winnie. I love how he perked up at the end when you called him a groomable dog. It's like he was happy and a little proud of himself ;). Job well done!
"That is rude and unacceptable." That cracks me up every time she tells an animal that.
I also love it when she calls a dog 'sir'
"That is unnecessary." is my favorite lol
Me too! I love it. I talk to my animals like that too haha.
😂😂😂
I used to say that to mine that and "use your words" when they would growl.
“People are scared of you? … That’s embarrassing.”
The delivery. The tone. I can only dream of being capable of such elegant sass someday.
as a person who's actually a little afraid of dogs (im a small person and most dogs around here are huge and excitable or untrained) that line earned a good laugh out of me lol. her confidence is admirable.
I'm terrified of dogs. I'd run from this guy.
Seriously! It was like she was acting in a movie. That delivery!!
Yes, that's a major part of what makes these videos so fun to watch!
@@citrus7745 I'm actually more afraid of small dogs. I've been attacked by small ones (entirely my fault; I didn't listen to what the dogs were telling me), but the big ones never have. If they don't want pets I give them space and they leave me be.
The small ones are often so afraid. I rode in the elevator with a chihuahua today and he was very much, "THIS IS *MY* ELEVATOR!! FLUFF OFF!!". So I ignored the dog so I didn't accidentally reinforce the behaviour. His owner apologized repeatedly and said that sometimes he's okay, but sometimes he's like this. I said, "the world is a scary place when you're so small".
I have a dwarf rabbit and he's taught me a lot about living in a huge world as a small being.
She actually talked to him, gave him constant reassurance, acknowledged and respected his boundaries and was kind, patient and gentle but firm. Excellent groomer! That's how it's done.
The groomer was very professional. She def knows her stuff and had command of the dog
It reminds me a lot of videos I've seen of barbers and stylists working on sensitive or young clients. All it takes is a little patience!
Bravo! What a wonderfully skilled and patient groomer! I appreciated how you put the animal first and were determined to successfully groom Winnie and make it a positive experience for him. A true professional! 👏👏👏
I was almost crazy of her good boy, does she knows something else to say
@@renatamoris578 it is what the dog likes that matters. When you show respect and no fear, the people we call dogs respond to that and allow us latitude to help them.
He's probably realizing how good it feels to be groomed since he's awake and aware.
I bet he feels so good. He can feel your calm vibe.
Jonathan cahn
She is the most patient and gentle groomer I have ever seen, everyday I admire her more
Yes. I don't think it's a matter of technique or equipment but just the vibes she puts out that helped keep the dog calm. My guess is that the other groomers, after being warned, went on high alert and the dog picked up on it.
@@mikeroman5208 I agree. She doesn't let the dog dictate her emotions. She stays calm and assertive. Some people have it and others don't. She has it in spades.
Great role model for newer groomers.
Would like to see interior ear cleaning/pulls on all these.
@@lauratait oh man. I have had to demite barn cats...Holy hell that is fun to flush and medicate them. I drug them slightly, then make them into a purrito with a towel, then de-mite.
Added: ear mites
As a groomer who grooms incredibly difficult dogs as well she did literally everything right with this dog. I am amazed how many dogs come in and I’m told they were told by the last groomer they needed to be sedated. I wish groomers would just say the dog is too difficult for them. That is 100% acceptable. I applaud her for making this as stress-free and positive as possible for Winnie.
100% agree with you. Thank you for having amazing patience and understanding for scared pups
I suspect it’s hard for too many professionals to admit weakness. I have a lot of respect for those groomers who outright told me my born-feral dog was beyond their comfort level than I do for groomers that literally fight an 18-pound all-American pup into submission (or who knows what other methods). I admire you and your honesty. I’ll bet you are excellent at your job! ❤️
Is it possible that some dogs have a time limit? My dog had different amounts of time allotted for different activities. I had 8 min to bathe him, 30 min to go shopping with him before he climbed out of the cart, 15 min for my own shower before he opened the shower, and unlimited time for visiting the dog park and super walks.
@@lynnlynn9124 yes absolutely. Especially cats. I have 20 minutes to get 99% of cats done or it’s game over. Grooming is stressful to every animal and they all have a threshold where they decide they’re done
@@brendag.3384 Lol, 20 minutes for cats to do anything except for what they like, seems generous. I would think more like 5 unless it includes treats, nip, and good super brushies for the rest of the day.
He decided since you were telling him he was a "good boy" so many times that you were on his side and he had to be nice. So cute...
Well done, great groomer
“I’ll allow it I GUESS.. the girls will hear about this later”
I have a Pekingese n he hated nail clippings Now he found the groomer he trusts n it goes ok❤ Thank goodness! ❤
I was expecting an actual vicious dog, but he was actually really tame. he was just uncomfortable with some things and gave warning signs that he didn’t like it lol, what a good boy! He was so brave through all that scary stuff
Absolutely great work from Vanessa and cute Winnie!!
“People are scared of you? That’s embarrassing” I’m so sorry, that that had me in stitches! But in all honesty, Winnie was a super good boy and you handled his groom so professionally Vanessa!
So professional except for the shots fired! Vanessa is savage.
😊
@@ingoc8446I
@@ingoc8446 He has trauma, which should be obvious. He did great compared to other dogs
@@ingoc8446 hes snapping and growling in self defense, he clearly has had a horrible experience and is such a good boy considering his circumstances
That's probably the best grooming session he's ever had. She's so patient and gives lots of positive reinforcement.
Going from what I saw in the video it looks like Winnie might not like the pull/tug of the equipment. Specifically he reacted badly to a Brush and the Clipper. My guess is someone was maybe too rough during the clipping process and didn't let Winnie adjust to the feeling. If I had tatty hair and someone just jammed a hairbrush through it I'd be cranky when other people came at me with a brush!
Can totally relate. I have curly hair and as a little girl I hated getting my hair brushed or done in anyway because people kept yanking and tugging. I had someone cut all of my hair off when I was 7 and kept it that way until I was a teenager. I am still super particular about who does my hair.
Yessssss! Another person here who had hair trauma as a child. As an adult I've learned how to manage my hair so it can be long without pain...
Very frequent brushing. Like three or four times a day. If it doesn't get tangled enough to pull then no pulling.
Detangle before bath. Once it's wet the hair is more stretchy so it will catch and pulllllll instead of detangling. Even with the dryer, that's usually not enough to get it bone dry, plus the dryer adds tangles, so you want to start with detangled hair.
The right kind of brush. I wonder if he also doesn't like the bristles on his skin. There's about a million types of brush to try and it might be hard to distinguish him not liking a specific brush from learned dislike of all brushes, but finding the right brush made a huge difference for my own comfort level.
Clipping at home. Frequently. At home clip may not always be the prettiest but just like the brushing if you can do it very frequently then it never needs to be a Thing.
I have hair trauma too! I have to brush it before and after showers and like to keep it in a braid because it knots less. Can't blow dry my hair at all. Hate the wind.
I had similar thoughts. He actually has a pretty long fuse for a pup with such a reactive reputation. He was quite tolerant for the bath and the dryer, it was the brush that got his hackles up. I relate so hard to hair trauma.
Oil once a week, finger detangle, boar bristle follow-up.
My last little dog (has since passed) was rejected by multiple groomers. I told every single one that as long as you just told her she was amazing the whole time she tolerated it. The two that did got her done with no issues and never complained and said how much if a sweetheart she was. I love how you contantly give the dog reassurance. It truly makes a difference!
Talking with dogs is a form of hypnosis and they are calm. I groom my own dog and I constantly talk to her and sometimes sing to her, she was never aggressive (rescue dog) but used to pant and be very stressed. I am still not able to do her nails though cause she starts screaming like I am trying to stab her but she does not really need that since we have long walks.
His nervous lip licking was so sad. I wonder if he had some bad experiences with grooming. He was clearly fearful. You're so kind - thanks for helping Winnie and his family!
My dog is scared of wheelchairs and wants to eat people in them. No wheelchair user has ever terrorized him.
@@toomanymarys7355pfff you don’t know that, maybe he had a bad nightmare one day and now he’s traumatized 😂
P😊
@@toomanymarys7355😊😊😊😊😊😊
@@toomanymarys7355 it probably isn't the wheelchair then, it probably the fact he doesn't understand how they are moving. A lot of dogs are highly defensive and perceive people on wheels (cars and bikes included) as a threat. Obviously idk your dog, but he also goes crazy over bikes, motorcycles, and even cars then it's not the wheel chair it's the movement.
wow you’ve changed this dog & his human’s whole life, you’re fantastic, thank you for educating people like you do
I doubt I would go that far to say its life changing
@@Chaos_Senpai In the case of the dog constantly having to be under anesthesia to be groomed, it IS life changing. Like she said, it's damaging to a dog's health to have to be regularly put under just to be groomed.
Yes. In the long run not having to go under anesthesia is SAVING (extending) this dog's life.
@@dabreener And cheaper! Saving some cash because they don't have to pay for anesthesia could be life changing for sure :)
@@dabreener My vet always told me that there's a significant risk that the dog won't come out of it when they're put under general anaesthesia. So anything that avoids having to use anaesthesia is clearly a good thing.
I can only imagine how appreciative his owners are that you have the knowledge and patience to groom him without sedation or medication! You’re amazing.
I do however hope they tipped her well.
Sure, but what if she got bit?
if i was the owner watching this video i'd be in tears of joy
As the owner of a Lhasa Apso with similar behavior issues, I have to say I so appreciate this video. We are so appreciative of our groomers and have explained our pup's issues in detail so that they can take whatever precautions that they need to while grooming him. He is cuter than a little teddy bear but he is short-tempered and when he bites, he goes for blood and, without warning. We've raised him from a puppy and had him seen by experts. They just tell us it's his nature. We'll never have another and we adore him, but we realize he's difficult and I'm sure this baby's owner heartily appreciates all the groomer's kind attention. We sure would!
@@adrianbrown2957
That’s what a muzzle is for. Any good groomer should be able to read a dog’s behaviour and body language enough to know if they should use one before the bite happens.
As I was watching this video, I was gently brushing my mini poodle who was traumatized by one groomer and needs to be retrained to let me brush him daily. Your voice and constant good boy relaxed my dog so much, that he allowed me to brush him completely! I’m saving this video for future brushing 😂😍😍
Winnie looked more anxious than aggressive. This groomer took exactly the right approach. Job well done!
That’s definitely what was going on. My dog is anxious about grooming as well and will lash out when my mom and I try. She’s a total sweetheart but grooming makes her very nervous.
A lot of canine 'aggression' is in fact fear based and therefore in the doggie's mind, it's not aggression, it's self-defence.
Shes a true professional.
No, he was ready to bite...My old Shitzu was exact same..A sweet boy turns into a monster when grooming. Not sure where that came from since I had that dog from previous owner.
Kudos to you for giving this dog a chance. Sounds like previous groomers gave up at the first growl. You definitely used the right techniques to complete the groom without incident. Have never heard of using “go for a walk” as a way to distract but it really worked. I’m sure the owner was happy to learn an unmedicated groom is possible for this little guy. Well done!
I'm assumiing the phrase "go for a walk" is good and positive for dogs because animals enjoy movement, activities, progression, etc. The mind is very impressionalbke by positive activities. Just like people use Affirmations. Animals are about life living strife and otherwise. We are to affirmative to place human emotions onto an animal do to lack of willingness to understand ANIMAL behavior. This is an amazing and thoughtful groomer.
The groomer should stay calm, too. The more anxious the groomer gets, the more anxious the animal will get. Dhe reassured him and remainder calm.
@@Qwintesenshal agree she is good with them.
@@honeybunch5765 Yes, I think Vanessa's attitude is the key here. She approaches him with confidence, zero nervousness. She knows that she knows her stuff, so she can expect a positive outcome. And Voilá, things turned out great!
Don’t judge other groomers without information. Vanessa is really fair and doesn’t judge, you shouldn’t either.
I've groomed for 46 years and have encountered the same mis interpretation of a dog's behavior. Always loved the challenge of a dog that is considered not groomable. You did a great job explaining and your technique was spot on. It's incredibly rewarding to complete the groom and to have a new grooming friend.
Hello Cheryle how are you doing today
I’m genuinely curious about how many dog bites you got over the years. Is it rare to be bitten? Any specific dog breed that would bite more commonly?
@@babymama406 I've been nicked here and there, but not frequently. Most often those times were while doing nails. There are different behaviors and body language of dogs that tell an intuitive and experienced groomer when is an appropriate time to muzzle. Most dogs can sense a competent groomer by the way a groomer speaks to and handles a dog. No baby talk necessary. No need for force. I have never used a noose. I train a groom to be still and comfortable on my table. Never turn my back or walk away from my table. I've needed stitches twice in my life from dog bites. The first time: 2 of my own dogs got into a spat 3 ft away from my 2 yr old daughter at the time. I was afraid the fight would inadvertently include my daughter and stepped in to seperate the 2 lg dogs. Only 7 stitches on my arm. One dog was a disfunctional rescue and the other was a non fighter. Never a good situation, but mamaged to keep them seperated for the rest of the rescue's life with us. Not a situation I recommend. The other time was a cocker spaniel. Just into his senior years. First groom with me, should have asked why, owned by an elderly man. He shared that the dog didn't like kids. NP, no kids in shop. Did all pre groom work: nails, pre clipping, brushing and de matting. The dog was perfect for everything, he was sitting on grooming table, his bath was next. My brush was on the table, I reached to pick it up and he turned and flash bit my face, then just sat there. Zero provocation. I felt around my mouth where he nailed me, my hand was covered in blood. I thought, "wow, he really bit me good". Picked him up and put him in a cage, he didn't even flinch. Looked in mirror and knew it was a hospital visit. Literally pulled half my upper lip off and some lower. 52 stitches outside mouth 25 inside mouth. I finished the groom a week later, muzzled the dog from start. The cocker was not going to win! Dog was fine. Owner shared he was just bitten by his dog....and before also. A little to late to share that info. Never apologized but gave me a $10 tip. Did not groom that dog again and explained to owner that his senior dog is a liability and he needed to address the unpredictable behavior. Every now and then when my husband kisses me I remind him my lips are worth 10 bucks! Anyway, if you are knowledgeable about breeds and behavior and you've been trained by a true dog person, not one who thinks they are, you will not get bitten often. It is an occupational hazard. Breed and size make no difference. If a dog is socialized, trained properly and healthy you generally have no problems. Dogs with problems are generally the result of human misunderstanding dog. I think there are some breeds more unpredictable than others. Generally, they are smaller breeds. But, all in all I've had a very rewarding career.
@@cherylepavlakis1081 thank you for answering. That’s really interesting to me. It sucks that one of the few bites was so harmful. You’re a good person to still groom the dog after a bite like that. Personally, I don’t think I’d have made the same choice. I probably would’ve been pretty salty about it.
@@stevenanthony199 lol Steven do you know Cheryle or are you just shooting your shot in the comment section of a dog grooming RUclips video 😂
Genuinely curious…
I never in a million years thought that I would binge watch dog groomer videos....but here I am ❤
Same 😂❤
I totally understand
Yep. Right there with you. She would do amazing with a show on Netflix or Animal Planet.
100%
Same, and I am not even a dog person 🤣
I am so glad that you proved Winnie didn't need sedation. I think previous groomers stressed the poor guy out but you're so patient and communicative that even the dogs with behavioral issues at least try to remain calm. Thank you so much!!
she let him smell the items,those needle kind of brushes hurt them.
@@deniseg8128:00 u mean the slicker brush? It doesn't, expecially if u know how to use it, and she knows how to use it, I mean, she's a grommer
I agree! I think groomers get so overwhelmed and busy that they don't have the time to show patience to stressed pets. My dog is very reactive so I have never considered asking anyone else to groom her. I would probably have to pay double so the groomer could take the time to be more gentle.
RUBBISH!! According to a very successful so-called 'remedial dog trainer' I met, "There is no such thing as a dog with 'behavioural issues' - only BLOODY STUPID owners who MAKE their dogs that way! Which is why I do NOT train 'problem dogs' - I train problem OWNERS!"
@@1964drc I was thinking the same thing.... The other groomers must of been in a rush and stressed him out so bad... Poor little guy needing drugs to get cleaned up as we can clearly see given time he ok with it and will only be better more of the trust is built up with the groomer... Just though of this.. The other groomers may take the snaps as him trying to bite rather then scare as she pointed out he is not biting the brush just snapping at the air...
This baby didn't need to be anesthetized! He just needed constant reassurance, a gentle hand, and a kind heart. He needed someone to work WITH him. You gave him all of that. You obviously love your job, and the animals you care for. You know exactly how to handle them. Much respect to you. The world needs more people like you. Wonderful video.
@Precious-jd3lp yeah no.
Well stated, Marie. Totally agree.
Exactly. I’m thinking he is abused
@@animaljustice7774 bruh
@@kaiseramadeus233 I don’t know what you mean. I’ve been involved in animal welfare for 12 years and I’ve seen lots of animal, cruelty, and neglect. I know animal behavior. It’s possible he has been abused. It may not have been his owner now, but possibly a previous owner, you gotta remember, dogs learn aggression by being abused. I hope all is well for this pup. By the way, I’m not a “bruh”. Not everyone is!
Always sad when people say aggression, when alot of it is usually fear, I honestly think his first experiences being groomed were likely rushed and they didn't take into account whether it was stressing him or not
Groomers like you really restore peoples faith in the industry ❤
And restore dogs’ confidence in getting groomed!! Experiences like this make it less scary for next time🥹🤍
Winnie was so adorable. You could see his ears go up every time you said “walk”. Excellent video! “ that is not necessary.” is a line I use on my dogs when they are misbehaving lol.
I'm not an expert, but I think your general attitude and demeanor helped a lot here. Dogs are very reactive to the emotions of people around them, so a tense groomer would make him anxious in return.
Hello Sarah how are you doing today
@sbuggbot Exactly! Her energy is justso calm and "matter of fact". Grooming is just an ordinary thing and no big deal so the dog doesn't ramp up emotionally. When he snaps she gives him a beat but doesn't back off, nor does she try to force him. Very instructional video.❤😊
@@jfager100 Hello Jeannie how are you doing today
Biggest facts
I think the trick to giving this little guy a bath is because the groomer kept talking in nice even tones reassuring this baby all the time. Way to go lady.
As an owner of a Shih Tzu that has an abusive background, I really, really appreciate the time and care you gave to this boy. I worked really hard to get my boy socialized and civilized and couldn't have done it without groomers and trainers like you to help.
Hugs to you and your pup! I have a long-haired GSD who was neglected, practically 24/7 in a crate, for his entire first year of life after being purchased. So many of Winnie's responses to grooming are ones I see in my boy. It's obvious that mine was only brushed out when matted (ow!), and if he had his claws trimmed he probably got quicked more than a few times. That stuck with him.
A little reassurance and some patience, however, goes a long way.
What is a GSD?
@@kimpulsipher647 German Shepherd Dog.
@@georgiar3995 Mine too, Georgia. My little guy was neglected in the back yard, never groomed, and bullied by two chow chows. He was then fostered in a home with another dog that didn't like him, plus neuter surgery and shaved down to the skin in a space with total strangers. I was his 3rd foster after his rescue. He dislocated my thumb which led to training classes. It turned out he's super smart and really wanted to be a good boy, he just didn't know how! He's now house trained, enjoys grooming, and he even has doggy friends. I love him so much. I'm so glad I took the time he needed instead of pushing him onto another foster.
@@mirabai305 Really, congrats to you both and spectacular job working so hard for him. Sometimes, people can get discouraged by difficult behavior and give up. Or they just want an "easy" dog and will turn up their nose at the first hint of a problem! Meanwhile, the "problem" dogs are often easy to train once you find what motivates them and learn the appropriate training methods. It can feel like a miracle but it really is just doggy science with a heaping serving of love and dedication 😊
I love how surprised Winnie looked at the end when you were talking about him being "a groomable dog". He tilted his head like, "I am. Then why'd those other people say I was vicious." 🥺
That dog don’t know about anything she sayin
@@BlueJaydenBird you must be fun at parties :P
@@JawasRandomStuff I am. More than u
@@JawasRandomStuff plus what they are sayin isn fun.sorry I’m not illogical. It’s not true and it’s dumb to act like it,
@@JawasRandomStuff plus very original.
I have never enjoyed watching a dog groomer so much, you are exceptional 👏 🐶❤️
He did as well as he could. He really tried. There's just certain things that make him anxious. He's not vicious. He's just sensitive to certain things and areas. Looks like his previous groomers just weren't willing to work with him and his sensitive areas. I'm actually wondering since he was primarily triggered by the brushing part if maybe they had been too rough and it caused him to react and become fearful. Good job on his part and yours❤
The dog is not vicious.just sensitive in certain areas.she is so gentle and caring.perhaps previous groomers not so caring..great job❤
It seems to me that if he’s reactive to being brushed, that maybe he had some mats that did not come out easily, and a groomer early in his life pulled to hard and hurt him, and when he snapped, he was probably hit with whatever implement was being used. The groomer was then angry and rough with him the rest of the grooming just to get him finished. He’s probably been reactive since then.
I bet if she were to work with him more, he would become much more tolerant of the whole process, as she is gentle yet firm, and he knows she will not hurt him. In one grooming session, she was already gaining his trust! She is a marvel!
I have a ShihTzu that is 9 years old and when brushing, be cautious of matted areas which are painful. I use a rake type first then brush
Spot on with your observations. Winnie tried to be good and this groomer was amazingly sympathetic AND determined. Good good job!
They do remember a bad experience way longer. He's just being protective of his small self.
he’s visibly shaking, he’s not vicious, he’s just terrified. 💔 ur so awesome
… and possibly a bit cold.
💯
That first growl 😳 sounded like something you’d hear in a haunted house 😆
It's a very deep growl for a little dog!
I love watching you gently and encouragingly manage these furkids as you grooom them and so appreciate your play-by-play explanations.
I expected him to act so much worse honestly seeing this and then hearing that people were really putting him to sleep was wild to me. I’m glad u were able to help him though. He really seems like a sweet dog.
Agreed
Maybe it's me, but if you watch his eyes, it seems like the times he growled was when he was looking at the camera. So maybe that person was getting to close and the camera was what was unsetting him.
i had a dog just like this, he was a mix of a Shih Tzu and a bichon Frese and was super aggressive when trying to pick him up, sneaking up on him, and had certain triggers like if he was laying by your feet in bed and you moved your legs he would try to bite you because he would get scared. but he was such a sweet soul and genuinely loved us, especially my dad. he had major separation anxiety with him. the most personality iv ever seen in a dog. he just had very very bad anxiety and considering we were his only owners it was very confusing how he got the anxiety. my heart breaks for dogs like him who struggle with aggression. it’s usually out of self defensive and they’re scared/ or very anxious.
They didn’t literally k!ll him every time they groomed him but I agree with you in the long run that was going to happen.
Sounds like it’s been going on for a bit, so it’s entirely possible that he calmed down since the last time someone tried.
"They're scared of you? That's embarrassing." I chortled.
I've always loved dogs and animals of all sorts. People have always been amazed at my intuition when it comes to animals and finding your channel has inspired me to seek out more knowledge and training about grooming. I need to do what you do!
18:03 when Winnie gives us the “oh? I AM the goodest boy?” look with that ADORABLE crooked smile… I started crying. I couldn’t help it. He looks so beautiful and it just seems like he was actually proud of himself. You work wonders (even though it scares me every time you use the scissors and shaver LOL). I definitely couldn’t handle what Winnie just championed through!
I cry every day at cute dogs on video. I used to fight it, now I just go with it!
THANK YOU!!! Thank you for taking the time to show us/other groomers that Winnie did NOT have to be put under!!! You have EVERY GREAT quality of a WONDERFUL groomer!!! Hands down the BEST!!! That dog should NOT have ever been put under, and you show cased that. Love you and the great job you do!! ❤️
I feel so sad for the owner. They didn't come to that conclusion on their own. The guilt of having to care for their dog, knowing the stress it causes, must be heartbreaking. 🙏 thank gawd they found someone who saw their dog as a living being and not a hazard
I feel sad for the dog having been put under anesthesia unnecessarily several times a year most likely affected his health and decreased life expectancy! The owner trusted the previous groomers who were most likely too impatient or lacked the passion and compassion this groomer obviously has a great deal of and they should be ashamed and sued.
Not only do I feel sad for the owner that they were duped, but also for their POCKETBOOKS! Sedating a dog isn’t cheap, and having to pay for that several times a year just so your dog can get a shave down and nail trim?? That’s pathetic of the groomers who clearly didn’t mind ripping this owner off.
Yea and people with opinions like yours are why it’s so damn hard to come by a good groomer nowadays- because of sue- happy attitudes like yours! Who wants to put your heart and soul into a career only to have someone turn around and sue the pants off them because they weren’t quick enough to dodge a biting dog?! I was bitten today and had to send the dog home and it’s not because I’m a “bad groomer”- it’s because the owner decided to bring him in the DAY HE CAME TO HIS NEW HOME FROM A SHELTER. He bit me 4 times in a matter of seconds, and you know what I did? Kept trying to finish his bath and brush (thank God it wasn’t a haircut). I even used a muzzle, he took it off and was so stressed out that I stopped the process and didn’t finish his brush out because it was a hazard to me and it was going to give the dog a bad experience! Every situation is not so black and white and some dogs do have to be sedated, especially when it comes to how stressed the animal gets. Not every groomer has the time to spend with their dogs, unfortunately; I commend those who do- but this takes TIME and when you’ve got 6-8 grooms to complete in 8 hours, you just don’t have the time to do this. I didn’t personally recommend that the dog I sent home be sedated at the vet, but I did refer the new pet owner to a quality dog trainer and I told her to be careful with him especially around children. He was very sweet when he wasn’t attacking me, he actually gave me a kiss right before the bath when I was holding him. But these animals have to be respected, and sometimes if the circumstances are appropriate- they do have to be sedated and a groomer shouldn’t ever be SUED for recommending so!!! The final call is on the veterinarian, I don’t know if this is common knowledge or not, but groomers can’t administer sedatives…you have to be a DVM to do so. And they can always refuse. Point your lawsuits there.
@@lalala123loverwithag I’m sorry, but who are you talking to? Only one person on this feed has said anything about suing anybody, and that sentiment was NOT repeated by anyone else. In fact, I’m pretty sure everyone knows that the groomers don’t have the license or ability to prescribe or administer anesthesia OR medications. I think the issue is that many groomers - not all, but there are many - who don’t want to risk getting bitten. And there’s nothing wrong with that. However, that’s when they should be able to refer the owner to a groomer who is more experienced with aggressive dogs. Sedating the dog versus putting a dog under to be groomed are not the same. Using a sedative can be done safely, and is no different from a person taking Benadryl to sleep at night. An anti-anxiety medication is another good option for that. But anesthesia is serious, and to do so multiple times a year is dangerous to the dog’s long term health. And sometimes, even to the short term health as well.
@@Thi-Nguyen oops, I was referring to @shotzee36 ‘s comment, where it clearly states at the bottom that the groomers who recommend that a dog be sedated or put under (I understand there is a difference, but to most folks the terms are synonymous and mean that you take the dog to the vet who would make the ultimate call on whether to sedate or use general anesthesia) should be sued. That person obviously doesn’t understand where scope of practice for a groomer ends- they can only recommend to go to the vet for the animal’s health. It isn’t good for a dog to be sedated or to be put under, especially multiple times a year and especially if they have contraindications to the drugs used for such purposes (e.g., liver enzyme elevations, abnormal kidney values, etc. which can tend to be abnormal as an animal ages). But you have to understand also that when a groomer recommends that a dog go to the vet to be groomed, it isn’t only to make sure the dog gets groomed safely (sometimes dogs get so worked up they can hurt themselves during the grooming process) but it is also to protect other groomers from being seriously injured. Sorry, but pet parents tend to downplay how aggressive their dogs can be- so they don’t get turned down by yet another groomer who doesn’t want to be mauled by their dog. By recommending they go to the vet, that groomer is essentially protecting other groomers who might not know what they’re getting into. I’ve been bitten multiple times, I don’t care! I’ll still do the groom as LONG as it’s safe for the dog and as long as the benefit outweighs the risk (if I’ve got a whole groom to finish, I’ll do my best to find a way, but if some brushing just needs to be done- end the groom and send the dog home). However, I’ve had a dog who the owner gave Xanax to who would alligator roll when I tried to do his nails. He wouldn’t bite me, he was a sweet boy. But I ended up having to tell her it would be best to get them to do it at the vet- perhaps when he was already under to get his teeth cleaned- because the dog was hyperventilating, choking himself, and posing a threat TO HIMSELF- not to me. It’s not so black and white, are you a groomer? Or a veterinarian?
As a professional dog trainer, can I just say-- I LOVED that. ❤ perfectly executed. You worked with him so well, and he responded beautifully! I'm also often disappointed in groomers, vets, other trainers, etc. for snapping to the "can't be done" mentality... so happy when i see ppl like you getting it done!
I'm saving this video to share with clients as a guide.
(:
I agree. A lot of groomers refuse to deal with biting dogs.
I totally agree❣🐾
@@ingoc8446did you watch the same video? She was saying nooooo don’t do that while then praise him because he was tolerating whatever she’s doing without fully going HAM. 😂
I'm a dog trainer also. I've seen some groomers grab an arm/leg so hard - and at a bad angle. I'm thinking. "You would deserve to get bitten!."
As a career dog person, first off, amazing job on a challenging groom. You continue to amaze me with your compassionate understanding of cat/dog behavior.
Second, in my professional opinion, this just strikes me as a dog with some anxiety and fear issues whose problematic avoidant behavior wasn't corrected during training. Like you said, he wasn't actually trying to bite for the most part, he was just "saber rattling" to try and intimidate you into doing what he wanted because he was scared of what might happen if he didn't.
Once you used proper restraint and completed the parts he was anxious about anyway, he was still a bit scared, but it was almost like he learned that nothing bad will happen if he chooses to trust you.
I love that she is present and attentive to each dog. It is not routine, it is giving the pet the best experience possible and adjusting her own behaviour and tools as much as possible to accommodate for idiosyncrasies. She is a gem.
Everything that dog was broadcasting was that he was trying to control a situation he was anxious about. His “behavior issues” are probably just surrounding that, not specifically grooming. It was probably being made *worse* by being sedated every time. He just needs desensitization and positive reinforcement.
My dog apparently has anxiety but he’s an absolute sweetheart to basically everyone, although sometimes he barks if he’s scared but he’s never tried biting anyone a single time. You’re obviously more knowledgeable about this stuff than me, so if he has anxiety why is he not vicious like this dog is? They are the same breed btw my dog is also a shih tzu. Is it just they have different personalities and my dog doesn’t wanna be intimidating like this one? I’m curious
@@tararosabelle7368 It depends on that individual dog's temperament, honestly. 🙂
I know a dog who has anxiety. She was found in a dumpster as a puppy, but has spent most of her life living in a loving home. She is now a sweet old lady. Ever since she was a puppy, she has always run away from whomever she is scared of, and for some reason, she has always barked and run away from tall men). She has never ever bitten anyone. However, I also know anxious dogs who have bitten people. Or have bitten other dogs. Or both. Just like people, one dog responds differently to the next dog when stressed or scared.
Differences in individual experiences can also play a part in how the dog responds.
For example, a dog that has never ever bitten could potentially be mistreated enough times (or with enough severity) that it may eventually choose to bite. Treatment like this makes the likelihood of biting increase. Still, some dogs will choose to never ever bite, even then.
So, it's a combination of individual temperament, plus individual life experiences. I hope this helps!! 🤗
@@tararosabelle7368 I’m not an expert either, but maybe socialization issues? Also what exactly makes him anxious? Triggers?
You are amazing. I love your kindness. I worked a few weeks as a dog washer a long time ago. The groomers were ok but not near as patient as you. I love the way you keep talking to him so sweetly. Thank you for helping all those sweet pets.
I hope his owners see this. Having managed a pet store and had some great groomers, this woman is excellent. She has great energy and empathy. With a year of regular grooming visits with this groomer, I would imagine that this dog's anxiety will significantly diminish.
I am 100% in agreement with you. I hope the owners continue to bring Winne to Vanessa. He probably got passed around by several groomers since he was denied or told to be sedated. He would be fine as long as you are patient and acknowledge his trigger points. He would improve over time. Venessa did an amazing job here!! 👍👍
Her owners don’t train with this dog that’s why is it so aggressive
I hope she told Winnies owners her opinion on other groomers saying that he must be sedated. Even showed them this video one on one , walking them through it explaining how & why she did what she did step by step through his total groom so they could feel a lot better about upcoming grooming times. Please let them find a groomer competent & willing to do his future grooms ❤️
You talked to him in a lovely tone, you gave him positive reinforcement, and also set some limits. You let him sniff everything, and used the tools in other ways before using them. YOU set him up for success!❤
Groomers can often be the source of stress, and thats not to say all are ...but we usually trust knowing our pets. Just like Vanessa pointed out. I had an oh my moment with my girl before she couldn't tolerate a full groom at all due to lots of arthritis. It was a new place near my apartment. Their system sent out a "your dog is ready" notice and it sent it early. I got there and heard her being snappy and rude and she tried to say I'm sure others just haven't told you. My response, yeah she has moments but in all of her reports... nothing like this. Needless to say, I never went back there.
Well done Winnie . He did so well. All he needed was some calm reassurance and soothing. He tried so hard all the way through to be a good boy and overcome his fear. All he needed was this patient, very capable and caring groomer to walk him through it , holding his hand all the way through, in her kind and professional approach. Gold star ⭐️ and one for Winnie too ⭐️
Winnie did a good job and the groomer did a FABULOUS job with Winnie. I do the same with my Shin Tzu mixed with poodle and pekingese. Keep up the great work young lady. Winnie just needed someone kind and humble to walk him through the process
I think this was really the secret ingredient, someone who was willing to take the time to reassure him and not try to brute force him through the grooming. I know a lot of groomers do this because they're under a time crunch and that would be fine for most dogs who tolerate grooming but this guy needs some work on his behavior, for sure.
Winnie probably endured impatient groomers in the past.
You have a gift that it is not teachable ,you have it or not. You have something special and the fact that you don’t show fear it help a lot. I enjoy watching your videos. 🤗🌹
This woman is truly a master of her craft and her ability to bond and really connect with these animals is quite amazing.
13:26 There is nothing masterful about fondling a dogs dick. Seeing that, I would NEVER take my dog to a "groomer"
It’s not rocket science
Winnie looks like he's reevaluating his life choices up to this point and is disappointed in himself. 😂 What an awesome job you did with him!
His face when he knew you were finished was a picture! Like I survived that I didn't manage to scare her off. She was nice to me. She didn't give up! 💙
Yea I think he had a little bit of love for her in his eyes!😍Was the best part!
A little dog with a lot of fear, compassion can go a long way, thanks!
It's really embarrassing that it literally takes just a bit of patience and the right tools to groom an “ungroomable” dog. I can only imagine how the owners felt when you told them Winnie did fine with the grooming, all the times they were worried about the anesthesia and how nervous they must've felt to try yet again to get a grooming-just to arrive at your shop and find Winnie perfectly groomed!! The work that you do here is so important to help dogs all around the world. Thank you ❤
The dog probably thought it was going to get anesthesia again...Glad she did it the right way.
Your love of animals shines with every "difficult " dog that you groom. Others groomers could learn from you. Thanks so much for being you. ❤
This is proof that CONSTANT positive reassurance works!!! I love the “good boys get to go on walks” 😂
Unbelievable talent. I don’t know how much you charge, but your work is priceless. I couldn’t do it if my life depended on it. Thank you.❤❤❤
She doesn’t charge for the grooming. She makes money from you tube and merch.
Winnie is precious. It goes to show how good he was and how soothing the groomer was talking to him.
Hello Jacquiblu how are you doing today
soothing talk is necessary to keep the animal calm.
I hate when people don't accept that pets have feelings too. A lot of aggressive animals are just very afraid or sometimes are in pain. I am always in awe with your patience and compassion, you're an awesome human being.
I’ve met a few people that have told me animals don’t have feelings or a soul. I basically just have nothing to fo with them after that. I prefer my dogs to people every time.
totally agree. Judging by the staining around his paws he probably licks them a lot, he could have an underlying allergy that makes them itchy or uncomfortable. Could’ve also had a bad experience with excessive restraint or where a quick was cut, one too many anal gland expressions, etc. This dog does not have to be sedated for grooms although some anti-anxiety medication wouldn’t hurt!
Right
As a groomer with a few clients with "difficult dogs" (including one that has previously been turned away by SEVEN groomers) im SO happy to see this. It's mind blowing how just treating the dogs with respect and "listening " to them makes them relax just that little bit more. That's not to say that they never misbehave, but with this experience, he will hopefully learn that if he is fed up, he can let the groomer know and they'll respect that. You have literally changed this doggo's life. Thank you!!! You really inspire me so much ❤❤❤
❤
💙
♥️yes! It's like give and take communication with the dog. L♥️VE it!
As a former owner with this problem with my laso - the stress off the owners is just as critical! My little Bon bon is in heaven now but we both needed sedated for her beauty appointments! ❤ Great job you are gold to pet parents!
😊😮😊😊😊😊😊😮😮😊😊😊
That was amazing how well he did! Thank you making him feel safe enough to get groomed. Thank you for your patience and kindness to him. Well done! ❤🎉
She's so sweet and reassuring. She started off by just petting the dog and that helped him to trust her.
She's a perfect example of what makes an excellent groomer. Patient and quiet, but authoritative.
Hello Debbie how are you doing today
@@stevenanthony199scammer reported
Please watch Cesar Millen
@@marietzannetakis7870 Cesar Milan? He is not a good trainer. There are multiple reasons as to why not to copy his techniques. He's a good TV person, good presence, good backstory. Aside all that, it may do more harm than good.
@@marietzannetakis7870that guy sucks, and should not be trusted.
Winnie has the most beautiful coat. Thank goodness he was able to have a groom without sedation. A joy to watch how you both managed this. 🙏
I’m pretty certain that Winnie had a previously bad grooming experience in the past and that he was traumatised! Just the calm and gentle touch you conducted the entire groom process just shows that all animals respond kindly to love🥰
I thought that, too. Plus a lot of little dogs, dare I say, don't get socialised and exercised enough.
You don't need a bad experience to be a nervous wreck
@@ShadowSkyX I felt that. LOL
@@rachelm7525 Many people, even small dog owners who love their dogs, seem to view them somehow like... less of a dog? Because they're so small and "easy to handle." Or they view them as just categorically mean/ill-tempered, so there's no reason to try to work with them to make them happier, less fearful, and less aggressive. Hell, you can find hundreds on hundreds of videos of people essentially scaring the crap out of their small dogs because they find their aggressive responses [growling, lip curling, snapping, lunging] funny since they're small.
I can't tell you how often the small dogs we get surrendered at my shelter are "house dogs" who have never gone on a walk or only get exercise once a week. And then these people wonder why their dog is petrified of every person they meet that isn't their family. Because they never meet anyone but you!!
@Lucas I think it's a hardwired thing for people. Small = baby. Small things get babied. Their size and terror knowing they are small makes them use their teeth _a lot_ more as a first resort instead of last. That's ultimately the only way they can make anyone take them remotely serious.
I had a discussion with someone the other day about kids, namely kindergartners, and how without even realizing it until i brought it up, how more often than not the taller kids usually were tasked with a little more responsibility. Taller = older/more expectations/more responsibilities, even the kid was the same age. I feel it's a very similar thing with dogs and why the little ones get away with way too much.
So precious at the end… Winnie’s head tilts - “Oh, you’re gonna tell them that I am a good boy! 😊” ❤❤❤
as a owner I absolutely loved how kind and tolerant and respectful this dog was handled with so much positive praise thrown in. My dog is a nervous boy he doesn't snap but I've had groomers treat him roughly and that has caused him to be more nervous and uncooperative. While others has sung his praise saying that he is lovely to groom as long as one talks and handles him gently.
She literally used aba on this dog rewarded with praise
Absolutely! The BEST animals can become "unmanageable" if the person isn't sensitive to their cues or doesn't pick up on behavior signals.
I hate that they've been sedating him, when he is obviously not the whole issue.
I'm so glad you do the work you do ❤
Having had a dog that got scared and aggressive at the groomers, if you run out of groomers that will take your dog then you have no choice. Shih Tzu hair constantly grows like human hair and they MUST be groomed for their health and comfortability. It's a terrible choice and I understand why the owners made that decision.
@@WhalesArePeopleTooYou can’t just sedate a dog like that’s smth that vet should do not a freaking groomer
@@liannamkoyan9893the vet does do it
@@liannamkoyan9893 when someone says a dog gets sedated for the groom. A vet does the sedation and monitoring. A groomer then proceeds to groom and after that they wait til he wakes. No groomer themselves sedates the dogs
He's obviously just aggressive because of stress, and that's something that can be worked on! He just needs extra time and patience. As always I'm impressed with her patience and care toward the animals she works on. She never gets obviously frustrated or angry, she just says "okay, that didn't work so let's try this instead!"
Yay Winny! Good boy and great grooming method and technique , so impressed with you Vanessa 😊
I agree; he’s scared,not vicious! He’s just precious and hopefully she can bring him past his fears.
17:22 "People are scared of you? That's embarrassing," gets me every time. 😆
It's almost as if respecting Winnie's fear was magical.
It makes me wonder how anyone would ever become a dog groomer if they don't have this level of empathy.
Love this! I thought similar. I feel so bad for all the times he had to be subjected to lesser treatment, then drugs to have this done. It's no wonder he was traumatized by it all. Patience goes far & so many don't have it with themselves, much less someone else. I hope groomers can learn from this if it's not an inmate instinct to have empathy.
Capitalism, and the threat of being unable to feed or house oneself, probably.
It's why I had to leave the vetmed field. It's harder than it should be to find a good clinic...
What you said ❤
@Melis joy
It helps that the customer told her what to expect, she probably allowed extra time and charged more money. Not all groomers have that luxury, they just get given a dog to groom, trying to get it done knowing they have 6 more dogs to do and an impatient owner and boss demanding an ETA.
I believe she can really communicate with the animals and they can actually sense her calmness.even Im as a human, I love her voices and tones. Bring me peace. So she could really handle tough ones. special gift truly.
i legit teared up during this video. my own shih tzu was my best friend for 14 years. he was a little couch potato and loved being groomed. seeing you be so gentle with a shih tzu that looks just like he did made my heart so happy.
They are such a darling little breed. What a joy to have. It is sad they don't live much longer.
I think the constant praise and not raising your voice in irritation helped him a lot. You showed him gentle patience which made it easier for him.
Thank you for all the hard cases you take on...💛🐕🐩
lol, you muppet! she is a dog groomer! not a foking holy saint with healing powers!
You are simply AMAZING!!! I love to watch your channel. 💖
Dog doesn't seem vicious, just seems scared and nervous. If I went unconscious every time someone tried to brush my hair after I was already fearful of it, I think I'd threaten to bite too. Good boy Winnie! You did it! It was gentle and calm!
I know right, I'd be so scared! He needs to go through that process to learn that it's not as bad as it looks, I'm so glad she gave him a chance!
I think she only put that because that's what she was made to expect from this dog. It just further amplifies how ridiculous of a claim it was since he turned out to be much better than expected.
He quickly snaps though. I can see new groomers not wanting that.
@gökotta I agree. This lady is just the best groomer, so patient. She knows how to encourage dogs through their stress and soothe them as much as is possible.
@@EEsmalls 100%! She has knowledge of different breeds and general expectations, but also takes time to get to know each individual animal and deal with it accordingly. Even beyond her bathing/clipping skills, she is an excellent groomer!
My daughter worked as a groomer for years. The first place she worked was all about how many dogs they could get done in a day. Made their money by volume. The second place had been a grooming school that had just closed their school and they taught all of these same ways of dealing with both scared,aggressive dogs and also taught her about grooming senior dogs who needed breaks in the grooming session. They were really good.
One of my shih tzus I had didn't like his face groomed and I was told he had to be drugged or put out to be groomed. We did that a couple of times until we found a great groomer who worked at our vets. He really liked her and was happy when she would come out to get him. I knew he was in good hands. I think someone like you who is passionate about their jobs was able to groom him verses I think some groomers who don't care as much.
Winnie is so adorable and has such personality! Awesome job! He looks adorable!
Honestly, bless you for your patience and willingness to work on dogs that are considered "unable to be groomed due to aggression"
Winnie deserved SO much better than he got before- and I'm SO glad his owner took him to you!
My dog was a nervous one at the groomer. I just decided to groom him myself 🤷🏾♀️. He doesn't look perfect, but at least no matting and hes calm (minus some wiggles) when i do it 😊.
P.S thank you for being patient with Winny. More groomers should be like you ❤
And I’ll bet he thinks he looks just fine.
I have to groom my Yorkie at home because the groomers said he was too wiggly. I could tell that he hated the groomers and always came home super stressed out. I do it now and he is still a little wiggly but at least he is groomed without stressing.
@@JaCaraKMl 11:15 11:15 11:15
Winnie finally found a groomer he likes 😊
YOU ARE AMAZING GIRL! ❤ also I would really like to see more of the interactions with the owners at the end of the videos that you’ve shown a few times! I love seeing their reaction to seeing their beautiful pups and I love listening to you tell them how their dogs had behaved! Please add that in the end of your videos!
I think it all boils down to her confidence. The dogs can sense fearfulness which makes them fearful which of course then turns into fear aggression. Her demeanor, level headedness, technique, voice, and gaining as much background info and tiggers as she can from the owner make her the A+ groomer she is. We’ll done!
Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering…fear is the path to the darkside
I absolutely adore Vanessa's work. She uses her platform to both educate and entertain, and is clearly someone who puts time and effort into her job. Grooming animals is not always easy, and takes a lot of patience and education
Watching this with my 2yo who is telling Winnie “It’s okay, I know, I know, good boy” while Vanessa does his nails. That’s what I say to my dog during nail trims too, so she hears it every week. ❤
That's adorable! 🥰
Winnie perked up immediately, even gave a slight smile when you said the magic words "we gonna go for a real walk now".
This video was a testament to your calmness and genuine love for dogs. I’m glad his owner found you!❤❤❤
I'd be crying happy tears if I was his owner! No more sedation! Hopefully they don't move away ever so they can keep enjoying Vanessa's service.
As a beginner groomer this is VERY educational! Thank you so much for sharing this content.
As someone who works with dogs like this on a pretty regular basis, there is nothing sweeter than seeing them improve. Dogs from abuse cases are the hardest and can take a full year of regular grooming to see just the smallest improvement. Not making assumptions about him just stating personal experience. It's nice to see these videos ❤
Disgusting and stupid dog breed
I feel like shih tzus has a tendency to be more defensive, my puppy is always nervous about taking baths and lashes out most of the time
Really sweet! You are an artist and a lovely and kind young woman. We always learn something from the videos.
OMG. HE WAS REALLY CALM THE WHOLE TIME. A LIL GROWL HERE AND THERE BUT THAT'S COMMON. YOU JUST HAVE THE MAGIC TOUCH HE NEEDED. LOVE IT ♥
Is it off-colour to say that I think his little growls are cute? Definitely a solid warning sign, but with his cranky face and the deep little rumblings he's just kinda adorable. Like a solidly grumpy old man.
Without a doubt! He looks a lot like my late shih-tsu Pekingese (same coloration as well - I nearly cried when I saw that grumpy little face in the video) and the dramatic growling juxtaposed to that grumpy floofy little face is just endearing and a bit funny lol. Kind of reminds me of a little kid who’s trying to put a serious look on their face.
Mind you, my dog was the biggest baby to ever exist, therefore I especially heeded his warnings and respected his space when he showed he wanted it/making sure others did the same (which you should no matter how aggressive or not a dog is, but he was so gentle a dog it really showed he meant business if he did growl), but that doesn’t stop me from finding it absolutely adorable lol
It is kinda cute. But don't be taken in - they can bite pretty badly, with surprising force for such a weak little jaw. I adopted a pretty feral shih tzu who was, frankly, horrible. He bit me so badly mid groom that he nicked the artery in my left wrist. I kid you not. In a different episode, he fought the vets so badly that he turned blue - stopped breathing in order to attack them. I'm pleased to say he's still with me, he's no longer a biter and while I would never trust him with kids, for example, he lives a happy and stress free life, and grooming is now tolerated. He's even smaller than Winnie here, he is cuteness personified but he was entirely capable of really hurting someone.
No it is, he’s got a cute little grumpy face with the eyes and snout
that is why most little dogs get a bad reps people think that their aggressive behavior is cute so they can get way with growling and in some cases biting a person with no thought that it might not be a good idea to allow a dog to do that
It’s adorable 🥰 I work in vet med and we can definitely adore a cute little spicy bean while still giving them all the respect they deserve to keep us both safe. ❤
Dog can sense people’s mode, nervousness, anxiety, anger, hostility, etc. The calmer you are the calmer they will be.
Good job 👏👍
She has great demeanor with her clients....I love the way dhe talks to them and empathizes with them.
I love how the groomer puts her foot down and says “stop that sass” and Winnie was like “ok”. The dog seemed more afraid of the tools she didn’t understand and her behavior was more like “ok ok I’m going to growl but if that thing comes too close I’m ganna bite it”
Patience, praise, and not getting frustrated with his fears really makes a difference, even though he's obviously still scared. I think it helps a lot to just respect one another.
Not vicious, just grumpy. You did a fantastic job! Your knowledge and patience wins the day!
Hello Karen how are you doing today
It just goes to show how patients and praising can help when you go the extra mile. Great job!❤
I’m a groomer here in Los Angeles and we do a lot of work with the shelters here. Most dogs that they say are vicious tend to just be terrified. Great job on letting him smell everything and giving him little breaks. The other groomer obviously hadn’t had much experience with truly ungroomable animals. He looks really good, really great job 👏
Yes! Acting with aggression is only their fear . Then their instinct to not be harmed , is why they are combative . Protecting themselves.
Horrible ppl who use fear and pain to train are cowards, and also unintelligent… idiots.
Groomers seem to be an oversubscribed title in LA lol
I love that people recognise the basic need for animal to smell the equipment and get to know it. Thats one of the polite ways to know the world for them. Its especially a thing for cats, i always introduce stuff to my cat by letting him sniff and same back when i had dogs! ❤
YES. If you think an animal is vicious .They are afraid .
Patience and the knowledge to understand this , is what every human needs to understand if they are going to work , train or groom an animal . I do not believe animals have meanness in their DNA.
I’m guessing that your calm, quiet approach combined with your patience with him, letting him think he’s controlling the show, made all the difference. Good for you!!❤
What a gift you are. Minimal stress on this good boy. You talking to him truly helps.
Many blessings to you and your future.
Bless you for the patience and care you showed little Winnie. I love how he perked up at the end when you called him a groomable dog. It's like he was happy and a little proud of himself ;). Job well done!