How a lot brushing canines want, learn how to do their nails, and the way coaching might help. The Pawsitive Publish in Dialog Episode 9 with Jane Wolff of Good Wolff.
This web page accommodates affiliate hyperlinks which suggests I could earn a fee on qualifying purchases for gratis to you.
Get Companion Animal Psychology in your inbox.
Watch episode 9 of The Pawsitive Publish in Dialog beneath or immediately on Youtube.
Closed captions can be found. Scroll down for the present notes and highlights.
Grooming and nail trims for canines
We speak about how a lot grooming canines want, whether or not they have brief fur or lengthy fur, and why it’s vital to remain on prime of it. We chat in regards to the analysis that exhibits that canines can discover grooming anxious, and the coaching we will do to make it simpler. It is so vital to go on the canine’s tempo.
Lots of people discover doing their canine’s nails a chore, and Jane has simply launched a free course, Begin From Scratch, that exhibits you learn how to practice your canine to do their very own nails utilizing a scratch board.
Lastly, we speak about what we’re studying proper now.
About Jane Wolff:
Jane Wolff is the co-owner of Good Wolff Canine Coaching in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She focuses on treating separation nervousness and is a Licensed Separation Anxiousness Coach (CSAT). She additionally graduated with honours from the Academy for Canine Trainers (CTC) and is licensed by the Certification Council for Skilled Canine Trainers as a CPDT-KA. She has been working with canines professionally since 2014 and loves working with canines and their individuals.
Web site: https://www.goodwolff.com/
Recent and Fearless: Fundamental Grooming Made Simple
Begin From Scratch: Nail Scratchboard Class for Canines
Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Blissful by Zazie Todd can be out in paperback on June sixth. The hardback is out now.
How To Have a Blissful Canine webinar
How To Have a Blissful Cat webinar
Subscribe to the Companion Animal Psychology publication right here
The books we chat about
Sentient: How Animals Illuminate the Surprise of Our Human Senses by Jackie Higgins.
All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Household Souvenir by Tiya Miles.
How To Inform If Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You by The Oatmeal and Matthew Inman.
The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa.
The books can be found from all good bookstores and Companion Animal Psychology’s Amazon retailer: https://www.amazon.com/store/animalbookclub
Highlights of the chat on canines’ grooming and nail trims
Z: Thanks for coming again to talk with us once more as a result of we had a enjoyable chat with you final 12 months about kindness in canine coaching. At present we thought we might speak about grooming, as a result of we all know that you’ve a brand new course on utilizing a scratch board. However we’ll speak extra typically about grooming, not nearly learn how to do your canine’s nails. And I do know you could have brief haired canines, so for a short-haired canine they do not want as a lot grooming however they nonetheless want one thing do not they? What do they want grooming clever?
J: Yeah fortunately they do not want a ton. I’m fairly lazy about grooming my canines to be trustworthy, so I really feel very lucky that it isn’t one thing I’ve to do so much. However short-haired canines have nails, they have to be trimmed regularly, they usually also can get disgusting, so a shower infrequently is de facto useful. And so they do shed too. One among my pitbulls is definitely a pit-chow combine. And she or he actually appears largely like a pit bull however each spring, together with proper now, she begins shedding like loopy! And so with the ability to brush her out infrequently is de facto very useful.
Okay: If our viewers is not conscious, I’ve some short-haired canines too. They’re really sled canines in order that they do have a fairly intense double coat they usually shed fairly a bit, however their coats are good and brief in order that they’re simple to care for. However we lately received 2 livestock guardian canines and never solely are they big, so they simply have much more floor space, like so much, however their hair can also be actually lengthy they usually should be groomed so much. However fortunately they’re tremendous simple to deal with. We did plenty of work with them as puppies in order that they’d be used to having varied issues placed on their physique and being brushed and stuff, they usually’d actually simply lay round they usually’re like “do what you need” , they do not care. However yesterday we had a good friend coming over and as she was pulling into the yard, the canines have been outdoors. And she or he noticed Sitka, who’s a short-haired greyhound cross, operating, after which Archer who’s a 120 pound livestock guardian canine with no spatial consciousness additionally operating. There was a collision. Sitka simply flipped and landed like on her again in a mud puddle after which she’s like “right here I’m,” and she or he’s operating round simply coated in mud.
J: My cattle canine Indy, he additionally has a brief coat. I didn’t know that cattle canines blow their coat till the primary spring that I had him and oh my God does he shed like loopy! And he additionally thinks that mud is so enjoyable, like he loves it. I’ve a video of him once I first received him simply blowing bubbles in a mud puddle and rolling round in it. He simply looks like mud is for taking part in in absolutely. So yeah, short-haired canines, they’ll additionally get very disgusting.
“They dig at it after which file their nails on themselves which is de facto nice”
Okay: They will, yeah. Okay however what in regards to the long-haired canines? So the livestock guardian canine puppies that we’ve, it’s not like their hair is not brushable , it isn’t like you may’t put it in ponytails and braid it. However as somebody who has a grooming course, what if somebody was like, I am nearly to get a very lengthy haired breed. What do you inform them about grooming?
J: Brushing. Such as you received to maintain up on it , actually. And I suppose it slightly bit is dependent upon what their coat is like. I am positive like your livestock guardian canines, it isn’t like they’ve repeatedly rising hair, so it sort of maxes out at a sure size. And like golden retrievers, border collies, issues like that, do too. So brushing is de facto useful however particularly if it is gonna be a non-shedding canine, like several sort of doodle combine or one thing, you have to sustain with that brushing. In order that’s my primary precedence as a result of in the event that they get matted—they usually accomplish that simply—that may trigger plenty of points, significantly bodily consolation for the canine. I imply it’s actually uncomfortable to have tight mats in opposition to the pores and skin. So brushing’s gonna be an enormous one. And truthfully too, I believe you additionally should, relying on how fuzzy their ft are, I imply clearly you need to clip canine’s toenails but when they do have actually lengthy fur on their ft, that is one thing that will have to be clipped. Or a minimum of I believe your canine actually needs to be fairly snug with having their ft touched, since you’ve received to maneuver the hair out of the way in which to even get to the toenails. However brushing is unquestionably the most important one.
Z: Yeah. I’ve a shih tzu so he is solely little, and fortuitously he doesn’t roll round in muddy puddles thank goodness, however by the winter we have stored him fairly brief as a result of then he does not want an excessive amount of brushing, only a bit every single day. However by the final summer time we stored him fairly lengthy and he is received very silky hair, it is like my hair, in order that’s plenty of brushing. And likewise underneath his eyes. And I believe plenty of canines you need to wipe across the eyes or wipe on the face as nicely, particularly canines with folds within the face, you may have to wipe the folds to cease them from getting infections in there too. So it is quite a bit to consider with some some breeds of canine.
J: Undoubtedly. A good friend of mine is now fostering an English bulldog and wow, for not having a brief coat, the grooming necessities of this canine are huge. He isn’t a really nicely put collectively Bulldog to be trustworthy, and in order that’s plenty of cleansing between all of the folds on his face and in between his toes and issues, and it is so much.
…
Okay: [If someone is having trouble] I need to be sure that I do not instantly decide and make the particular person really feel upset and anxious and oh my god I’ve finished this dangerous factor to my canine. I need to begin with empathy and be like, I used to suppose that too. After which I additionally need to say slightly bit, so how is it for you if you try to trim your canine’s nails? And I wager it’ll come again as I can not even, or my canine will chew me, or it is brutal and I really feel dangerous as a result of she does not prefer it, or I received the short as soon as and now I can by no means deal with her ft once more. So I believe be sure that there’s empathy first, after which even be like how can I aid you? How can I actually be sure that that you simply and I collectively as a crew could make it so that you could trim your canine’s nails? And this is why as a result of it is going to be so a lot better for you and so a lot better on your canine.
J: Yeah, I used to be completely the identical Kristi. I believe I do not need to come from a spot of judgment as a result of there’s a actually excessive probability that that particular person shouldn’t be grooming their canine as a result of their canine hates it. Which I can actually respect too, such as you’re not making an attempt to emphasize your canine out, I so admire that. However I normally additionally level out your canine would most likely transfer by the world extra bodily snug. I usually use the rock and the shoe instance too. It’s annoying, it hurts sort of. After which I usually will simply say one thing like, hey we will really make your canine like this. You understand we will make this a enjoyable expertise for the each of you; let me aid you with that.
Z: And the factor in regards to the fur as nicely, it isn’t simply their consolation by way of not having knots that pull, it is also their temperature regulation as a result of the fur is so vital for retaining them not too sizzling, not too chilly. And if they’ve large knots then it isn’t working correctly prefer it ought to do, in order that’s fairly an issue for the canine actually.
J: I take into consideration imaginative and prescient so much too, particularly once I used to work with extra reactive canines, particularly small canines the place I would be like, they’ll hardly even see, this little man wants like a ponytail or one thing in order that he can really understand what is going on on round him. Which may really change our coaching plan slightly bit if he is bodily capable of see higher. So does the canine want a ponytail?
Okay: A bit barrette, yeah. I do know generally when individuals come to me with questions on grooming their canine and their canine is each actually fearful or reactive to being groomed, and has actually dangerous mats, I am going to usually type of recommend that they speak to their vet first a couple of sedated groom. Simply to say let’s get this canine snug now, which can open up this chance so that you can then begin to work on it so you will not be like, I am gonna begin chipping away at a mountain of uncomfortableness. And I am not a vet and so I can not speak to the protection of any canine being sedated, however I do suppose that in case your vet means that it is secure and says that it is a good possibility on your canine, it is a good manner ahead to present your canine speedy consolation and help you begin working at a very, actually snug tempo for each of you. And likewise that stated, I believe some individuals haven’t got the time, inclination, no matter, or if an individual has been traumatized by slicing their canine’s nails, then they might not need to do this. And in these circumstances I believe it is affordable that an individual tries to seek out an awesome groomer. So Jane, what do you say when individuals say assist me discover a good groomer? What are we in search of right here?
J: I imply truthfully, discovering an excellent groomer that you simply like so much will be sort of tough as a result of normally the nice ones are very booked up. So to begin with, Worry Free, which is a fairly cool program that teaches varied kinds of canine professionals learn how to deal with animals with out stressing them out. They now have a grooming course which is so cool. So particularly if someone’s contacting me, as a result of I take purchasers in every single place, in the event that they’re contacting me in an space that I am not conversant in, I normally will recommend to examine there first. They’ve a listing so you may search for your zip code and see if there’s somebody close to you. That is normally my first go-to as a result of chances are high these individuals are going to go slightly slower, they’re most likely going to make use of meals. And if there is not any one close by then I normally will recommend [there’s] no motive to not interview a groomer. Actually too, you probably have associates with canines with comparable coats, it is a good suggestion to ask who they use, that is likely to be a good suggestion too. However I might most likely begin asking the groomers , to begin with are they going to make use of meals whereas they’re there? That normally might help considerably. Are they snug stopping in case your canine says no thanks I do not need to do that anymore, , or are they simply making an attempt to only get the job finished? I actually would simply desire stopping after which perhaps going again a distinct day if doable. You actually simply need to have the ability to discover someone who has the house and time to go at your canine’s tempo and provides them slightly little bit of house to perhaps run round slightly bit, attempt to make the entire expertise enjoyable.
So Worry Free’s my primary, after which perhaps performing some interviewing and discovering out like how precisely do you do that. And I am going to second what you stated Kristi too in regards to the vet. If I actually do not know of some place and we’re having hassle discovering somebody and that canine does have plenty of dealing with points, normally what I’ll do then is say let’s name your vet and see in the event that they might help out. Clearly that is not just like the without end objective however once more if they’ll simply get that canine in a greater place bodily by perhaps utilizing some sort of remedy or sedating them and simply getting it finished, it won’t be probably the most lovely groom in your complete world however now you are ranging from a spot the place we will work on this after which make their subsequent grooming expertise with an precise groomer slightly bit higher.
“What we actually imply is go at your canine’s particular person tempo. For some canines it’ll take a very long time and for others it might not.”
And lastly I do know you are asking about discovering a groomer, in order that assumes that they actually do not need to do it themselves, however it isn’t a nasty concept to have some expertise to a minimum of preserve between grooms or perhaps to elongate the time between grooms. So I do suppose it is useful that individuals have some actual fundamentals like, I understand how to correctly brush my canine’s coat, this explicit sort of coat, or I can trim their nails as a result of they seem to be a jumpy doodle they usually maintain, , scratching my neighbor each time they arrive over or one thing like that. I believe with the ability to care for these little issues by yourself is de facto useful and may imply much less cash to groomers. So I am pleased to assist with that too in the event that they need to get into it.
Z: That is nice. And I do know that you’ve a brand new course out now about utilizing a scratch board to do your canine’s nails, and we’ll get to that in a second, however to begin with what sort of particular person would you advocate this to, to truly use a scratch board for the canine’s nails? And may any canine be taught to make use of a scratch board?
J: Completely any canine can do it. And I say anybody ought to do it actually. If you happen to’re up for it, do it. I believe that to begin with, the coaching for it isn’t exhausting. I’ve taught canines to do it in a day. Even canines that had a more durable time, I used to be finished with it by the tip of the week. Prefer it actually did not take that lengthy. And it is enjoyable. Like my canines, once I convey out my scratch board now, the opposite canines are like screaming at me as a result of they’re like “it is my flip.” I’ve to begin separating canines and such as you guys are gonna get in a battle over the scratch board proper now! We won’t have that. But it surely actually tuckered them out. Utilizing a scratch board, mainly what they’re doing is digging on a bit of sandpaper that is actually duct taped to a bit of wooden. So that they’re additionally attending to do a factor that canines like to do which is digging, however they’re doing it on this managed manner that is additionally serving to you. I believe it truly is a enjoyable undertaking to do together with your canines. Even when your canine likes having their nails trimmed there is not any motive that they can not a minimum of get it began for you, after which you will get their dew claws and be finished.
And I actually suppose any canine actually can do it. My senior canines nonetheless love to do it. I maintain it simple for them. Each of my women are most likely near 13 so their joints are slightly sore now, and so I ensure they have a grippy mat underneath it so they do not slip, as a result of they’re solely on their again ft once they’re doing it. And definitely in case your canine has some sort of incapacity, perhaps they’re lacking a limb or one thing, you might need to change the plan slightly bit, however I really feel like they might nonetheless most likely do it . I’ve seen like tripod canines do issues and I am like that is unbelievable to me that you’re simply doing this. And I’ve a good friend who has deaf and blind canines, they usually can also do a scratch board. And my deaf canine loves his scratch board. I imply then that does not actually make too large of a distinction for this, however I do not see any motive {that a} blind canine could not do it both as a result of it is normally fairly massive. And I believe everybody ought to do it, it is enjoyable.
…
Okay: And likewise simply to get one other hit in there about you probably have a pet, you could have a possibility to get them snug with having their nails dealt with, so deal with their ft every single day. Deal with their ft, give them a deal with, deal with their toe give them a deal with, reduce the teeny tiniest sliver off give them a scrumptious deal with. You may give your self the enjoyment of a straightforward to nail clip canine by performing some work most likely with them as they’re puppies. And likewise breeders, breeding canines who’re simple to deal with is a factor , we will do that, and particularly for breeders who’re producing tons of pet canines who’ve a really exhausting to groom coat, doodle, let’s make our doodles handleable. Like everyone loves a wonderful doodle, they’re highly regarded and folks love their character and their look, however let’s make them simple to deal with as a result of they want a lot grooming. I believe we may give the reward to the people who find themselves going to finish up with these canines and their households of getting handleable canines.
J: Can I simply interject too. I used to be simply gonna say, for anybody who already has an grownup canine who’s actually struggling, do not be scared after we say like take the time, it might probably take a short while. I believe that may really feel actually, actually intimidating too, and I believe the purpose of it’s take your time. What we actually imply is go at your canine’s particular person tempo. For some canines it’ll take a very long time and for others it might not. And I do not all the time suppose that their response is a superb indication of what you are getting your self into. Like Nina as an illustration, Nina loves coaching so that actually helps me out. She’s a nut if she sees my deal with bag come out, she’s like do that I am prepared. Nina was a really dealing with shy canine, she had been aggressive up to now. What I actually wanted was an excellent plan. And I had an excellent plan and we really received from her growling and elevating her lips and possibly biting me to a canine wagging her tail whereas I Dremel her nails, and in perhaps a month or two. It actually didn’t really take me that lengthy to do. In case your canine takes longer than that, that is additionally completely regular. My cattle canine who I had as a pet did work on, nicely he is like eight months, so we did work on foot dealing with. He sadly had an harm, now he doesn’t need his ft touched and that is been like many many months of simply getting him snug. It actually simply is dependent upon the canine. So do not be instantly intimidated in case you’re like oh my God I am gonna spend 4 years engaged on this. You won’t, . Simply ensure you’re going at your canine’s tempo.
Z: I do know you could have some large information, Jane, as a result of you could have a model new course all about utilizing a scratch board to do your canine’s nails. Inform us about it.
J: The scratch course known as Begin From Scratch and the course is free, so anybody who needs it might probably simply have it. It’s type of a mini course that got here from my bigger grooming course. The bigger course known as Recent and Fearless and it covers nail trims, baths, and brushing. So I sort of pulled out simply this piece of that course, simply to show canines learn how to use a scratch board. And I actually like this so much as a result of as I discussed the scratch board is mainly a bit of wooden with some sandpaper on it. It is quite simple, and also you mainly train your canine to dig at it and that information their nails down. It is primarily simply going to work on the entrance nails, each are inclined to get slightly bit longer than again nails although. And there are some concepts within the course too for like learn how to maintain all of their nails wanting fairly good. However they dig at it after which file their nails on themselves which is de facto nice. The course has a step-by-step coaching plan and a video that goes together with it the place you may see me instructing my canine Asha, actually from scratch. She’d by no means finished it earlier than. So it is me beginning originally and going by all of the steps and strolling you thru learn how to do it your self.
Z: That is superior, and superb that it is free as nicely. If somebody needs to do that the place do they go to seek out it?
J: They’re gonna discover it on Kristi’s website, together with my different course. They’re going to be capable to discover it at kristibenson.com the place it has all the programs that we’ve.
Z: Good thanks. And I’ve some information right now too as a result of I am actually excited that the paperback version of Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Blissful can be out on June the sixth. In order that’s actually thrilling to me. The hardback has been very nicely acquired and I am thrilled that it’ll be a paperback as nicely. So for anybody who prefers a paperback you will get that very quickly. As nicely, I’ve received two webinars to let you know about. In Might I am presenting two webinars. One is about learn how to have a cheerful canine and that is on Tuesday Might ninth at 10 A.M Pacific or 1pm Japanese and the opposite one is learn how to have a cheerful cat and that is on Tuesday Might thirtieth at 10 A.M Pacific as nicely or 1pm Japanese. Each of these are free they usually’re about learn how to make your canine or cat pleased in line with science. They have plenty of suggestions in them together with suggestions from my books.
About Kristi Benson
Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of the distinguished Academy for Canine Trainers, the place she earned her Certificates in Coaching and Counseling (CTC). She additionally has gained her PCBC-A credential from the Pet Skilled Accreditation Board. She has lately moved to lovely northern British Columbia, the place she’s going to proceed to assist canine guardians by on-line instructing and consultations. Kristi is on employees on the Academy for Canine Trainers, serving to to form the following technology of canine professionals. Kristi’s canines are rescue sled canines, largely retired and completely having fun with an excellent snooze in entrance of the woodstove.
Web site: http://www.kristibenson.com/
Fb: https://www.fb.com/KristiBensonDogTraining
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KristiBensonCTC
About Zazie Todd
Zazie Todd, PhD, loves nothing greater than serving to individuals with their pets. She is the award-winning creator of Wag: The Science of Making Your Canine Blissful and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Blissful. Her third e-book, Shiver, is provisionally scheduled for publication in 2024. Todd is the creator of the favored weblog, Companion Animal Psychology, and likewise has a column at Psychology At present. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, along with her husband, one canine, and two cats.
Fb: https://www.fb.com/companionanimalpsychology
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zazietodd/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CompAnimalPsych
