Our Approach
Does your dog dislike going to the groomer?
Many dogs are resistive, nervous or downright fearful of going to the groomer. Given that grooming involves loud noises, strange tools and intimate handling that the dog cannot move away from, it should come as no surprise that it can be an overwhelmingly scary experience. That is why my services put the pets' emotional comfort first, so that my clients can feel confident and safe with grooming.
Training first
At Village Blue Grooming, we aim for every one of our clients to walk confidently to their groom. This is why we take a training first approach in our services.
Between bathing, drying, nails, clippers and more there is a lot involved in a full bath and haircut service. Many dogs have difficulty with one or more part of the groom, and may require us to take a step back to retrain the dog. Please refer to our safety policy for more details.
We begin all new client relationships with a free 30 minute consultation. This allows us to get to know your pet and talk about what approach will be best for your individual dog. We recommend coming in for your consultation on its own, so we can make a great and low stress first impression on your pooch!
Cooperative care
Cooperative care is an approach to animal husbandry that focuses on teaching the animal to be a willing participant in their care. We may not be able to teach a pet to love grooming, but we can teach them that it is comfortable and safe enough for them to consent. It has been used historically in zoos for care of large animals that could potentially be dangerous if their boundaries are pushed. It is much safer to get a blood draw from a lion who understands and accepts the procedure than one who fights it!
The core principle of cooperative care training is allowing the animal to say no. Although it may seem counterintuitive, research has shown that giving animals some control over unpleasant experiences makes it more tolerable to them. With proper training, even dogs who find grooming unpleasant can be gently brought through the process without overwhelming fear.