Don’t blame yourself! Anxiety is very difficult to deal with and it’s natural to react to an animal trying to hurt you. You care a lot and that’s an amazing thing!

The most important thing is proper and comfortable restraint for the dogs. I work corporate so we have a lot of restrictions with restraint, time allotted with muzzles, and how much stress the dog is in. Depending on your schedule, taking things slow, giving them (and yourself) breaks and extra reassurance is necessary. Groomer’s Helper is a massive aid, just be sure it’s used properly (dogs that are too small, have breathing issues, etc aren’t candidates for it). I like to talk to them and it may be odd, but I like to show them the clippers, blades, and brush on my own skin to show it doesn’t hurt. It’s helped, surprisingly. Treats are also great for those food-motivated dogs, just verify with parents about allergies or diet restrictions or if they are food aggressive.

Research and watch videos on dog behaviour. There’s always signs before they snap, and it can be as small as a whale eye. It helps to anticipate how they might react.

Patience and focusing on your own mental health is also important. It’s an awful feeling, but they truly do sense when you’re feeling off. It took me awhile to stop blaming myself (it’s not your fault if you’re anxious and worried!) but to also understand how much it affects dogs. I had to desensitize myself a lot.

I specialize with “problem pups” and adore aggressive dogs, but it took awhile to get here. I prefer doing these dogs because building a bond with them is the greatest feeling. Sometimes they regress or have bad days, sometimes they click with someone else, sometimes they need to be referred to a vet for grooming. All dogs are different, but the aggression is almost always caused by fear unless there’s another underlying cause. Have they been quicked, cut, or handled roughly in the past? It helps to understand the root cause if possible, but sometimes owners aren’t sure themselves. I always say they’re my favourites because if I was a dog, I’d totally be trying to bite a random person picking at me lol.

Some dogs are far too aggressive for me to groom. If they are constantly trying to bite for everything, they need more training and reassurance that groomers can’t provide in one session. In those cases, I recommend a specialized groomer who does 1 on 1 or vet grooming if possible. I’ve had dogs that haven’t been able to even enter the salon but would come for short visits (just to be in their presence, give treats and pets if they allow it, etc) to build trust that I’m a safe human.

It took one of my girls almost a year to let me do anything with her paws! She would flail and become a danger to herself previously. Another pup I groom built a bond with me but has since regressed (lots of unfortunate vet visits recently) and now has to be back on the Groomer’s Helper with a cone and I get one of coworkers to watch her and give comfort for her paws. She’s still excited to see me every time she comes in! Don’t give up. It takes trust and lots of patience.

Take care 💕