When Grooming Feels Difficult

Some dogs find grooming difficult. They may be nervous or sensitive to handling, worried by equipment, have had a previous negative experience, or simply find the grooming environment overwhelming.

At The Stables, we don't see these dogs as being “difficult”. Behaviour is communication, and understanding what your dog is telling us helps us adapt their grooming and work in ways that feel safer and more manageable for them.

Book an appointment

Every dog is different, so we consider their body language, emotional state, individual triggers, and how they are coping on the day. Depending on what they need, we may adapt the groom in the following ways:

Quiet, one-to-one appointments
Extra time and regular breaks
Gradual introductions to equipment
Gentle, adapted handling
Positive, reward-based experiences
Shorter sessions where appropriate
Realistic grooming goals rather than forcing completion
Second groomer support
Sometimes the kindest choice is to pause or stop and continue another day.

If your dog finds any part of grooming difficult — whether it’s nails, drying, brushing or being handled — please let us know before booking. This helps us plan their appointment and make any adjustments that may help.

Additional charges may apply, but we’ll always discuss these with you beforehand or, if something unexpected arises, at the time.

We hope this has helped explain how we can support dogs who may find some aspects of grooming challenging. If you have any worries or concerns, or you’re unsure about the best approach for your dog, please get in touch. We’re always happy to talk things through and discuss how we can best support them.