@Kathryn Cartlidge Hi, I do a 6 weeks, 20 minute per session puppy introduction course. The 1st 3 sessions, the puppy comes in and only has interaction if they want it. They come in to sniff, look, listen and watch and play if they wish to. I use snuffle mats, treat rolling balls and just speak to them. If they want to be stroked etc then I do that. I don't introduce the table or brushes etc until at least session 4 where I pop the table low to allow them to get on if the wish. Let them have a look in the bath. Then by session 6 I may have given a little brush and perhaps nails if they seem comfortable and have turned on the dryers for them to listen to. Session 7 is then a 1 hour bath and dry if they are comfortable. If not, I will do a little more introduction. It seems to be working well for 3 of my new puppies. One is still very excitable so he may need an extra 2 short sessions. I explained my reasoning for these new sessions and the owners seem happy and pleased. I've explained I'm studying holistic grooming and gentle approach handling etc and explained the science behind it. I'm also using a mixture of Sue's and Stephanie's approaches.

Happy Easter to you and everyone in this community 🐰🐣❤️ We've had a lovely day, thank you. I hope you have too? X

@Katia Jewitt I'm sorry to hear that. It must've been frightening. I hope you and your dogs are ok?

@Lorraine Blower hi, I have started booking puppies onto 6 weekly, 20 minute sessions to come in and have a nosey around. Get used to the sights, sounds, smells. And me of course 😄 I block book 3x and charge £30 then block book the remaining 3 sessions and again charge £30. I used to just book 1 hour traditional puppy sessions for £30 to bath and dry etc but since enrolling here I have learned so much to now not do those traditional puppy grooms anymore. I have 4 new puppies on these 20 minute sessions ans they are loving it and the owners can see how excited they are to come in. They are under no pressure to have anything done. After session 6, I will book a 1 hour slot for them to experience a bath and blow dry if I feel they are ready. But if not, I will continue another 3x 20 minute sessions. I hope that helps? 😊

Aww she is super sweet 😊

@Louise Thompsom thank you for sharing your stories. I too am working with a toy poodle who's behaviour changed over the course of around 12 weeks. I'd been grooming her for over a year and she was always a little nervous but then she started to growl and snap at me at various stages and became unpredictable. I had to have a difficult conversation trying to get her owner to understand what this could mean. She did take her to the vets, vet said they could not find anything wrong. The dog was getting worse, so I pushed for her to see a specialist physio who then diagnosed issues with her lower back and rear leg. And tension in her neck. She made various changes around her home, bought a harness instead of using a collar, she would bath her at home so I could just do a light groom. I now shave her off on a 5f all off instead of fluff drying and styling. And the owner stays with her for grooming. Some sessions she is a little better, and then reverts back to snapping. So now the next step is Xrays and scans I believe. But initially her owner was of the opinion, is she not just being grumpy and tetchy? Can you use a muzzle to get it done? I'm lucky that she listened to my explanation that there is an underlying issue of pain somewhere and it needs to be addressed. She is now very good working with me to help her. This little poodle is one of 3 challenging dogs I groom. Since learning about the HGA and canine communications, consent based grooming, it has opened my eyes to how many dogs don't enjoy the process. And I am learning every day, and trying to make each groom safer and less stressful. We can all do this, one day and one step at a time. Thank you both for your insights, I thoroughly enjoyed listening 😄

@Louise Thompsom it took a bit of persuasion to get her to understand what I was getting at. This is such a new area for a lot groomers, let alone guardians. So much is still old school and overlooked. Canine language is so complex isn't it? And we are so used to asking dogs to just get on with it without realising the deeper underlying things that are going on. The consent idea was difficult for me to understand in the beginning. But now I am seeing it in real life, it's amazing how dogs do actually communicate and consent or not consent, to so many situations daily. It's magical and eye opening ✨️😍 I would be out of my comfort zone doing interviews like these too. You came across very confident and it was lovely to hear your stories 😊