FEAR-FREE CERTIFIED
the most advanced care protocols
TO AVOID FEAR, STRESS AND ANXIETY
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WHAT TO EXPECT
Treats... lots of treats! Bring your pet hungry because we know the best way to their hearts! Our team uses reward-based training techniques to help your pet feel comfortable and safe. If your pet has allergies or is on a diet, please bring some of their favorite high value treats from home.
What to Expect Meet and Treat (Consultation): Before we start with actual grooming procedures, our team wants to take our time to get to know your pet with a “meet and treat”. Our team members want your pet to feel comfortable with the whole grooming experience, starting right at the door. This meeting also allows our team the opportunity to assess your pet’s comfort level with us.
Some pets may find certain grooming procedures to be very frightening or just plain uncomfortable. We will assess the situation during the Meet and Treat to ensure your dog feels comfortable. We will look at the coat, we will discuss grooming routines, behavioral challenges and preferences and we will explain details about our gentle approach to grooming and training.
We do not groom dogs on the Meet and Treat. If we feel we can partner to take care of your pet we will book and appointment after. Our Meets are once a month on a specific day. We typically announce the day on Facebook and Instagram. Or you can text us or sign up. During the Meet and Treat we will quote your session, once we are more familiar with the services your dog will need. We tailor the session to your dog, because each dog is unique. They grow hair differently, they must be approached differently, they react differently and require a specific time.
In the event your pet feels scared or stressed with a procedure during the actual grooming session, our team members may not be able to accomplish everything we had set out to. In this case, our team will likely be giving you some homework and offering shorter, more focused grooming appointments to work on the issue (Puppies typically start with Puppy Packages and Scared pups with Scaredy Cat Packages). We also may recommend a veterinary visit.
A happy, clean, relaxed companion: Though it may not happen in one grooming appointment, when we stay dedicated to a Fear Free approach, your pet will leave the shop happy, clean and relaxed. It’s important to us how your pet looks AND feels!
What is Fear-Free Grooming
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Grooming doesn’t need to be stressful for your pet. In fact, a trip to the groomer can be relaxing and even enjoyable. With positive training methods, compassion, and a little bit of patience, your pet can have a stress-free grooming experience for years to come!
Dogs love Fear-Free
We care about your pet’s emotional well-being. We also value your pet’s freedom of choice. This means we may need to stop a certain procedure if your pet is displaying too much stress. Your pet’s stress level will be closely monitored and scored. If your pet is experiencing high levels of stress, the appointment will need to be broken down into multiple visits to work through these fears, rather than overwhelm your pet. Your pet may need to be desensitized to equipment slowly. If your pet has a previous negative association with equipment or a procedure (such as a nail trim or a bath, for example) this will require a more gradual breakdown to reintroduce your pet to the item or procedure to develop a positive association.
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