Grooming for Nervous Dogs

Most salons run multiple dogs at once. For an anxious dog, that means barking, smells, strangers, and pressure to get through it quickly. Wolfpack was built around the opposite. One dog at a time, in a quiet private salon, with all the time I need.

How I Approach It

1. Initial chat. Before booking, tell me about your dog. Triggers, past experiences, breed, age, what they tolerate and what they hate. I will plan around them.
2. Introductory visit. I can do a short meet and greet first. No grooming, just letting them see the space, meet me, and leave. Often free or charged at the Pooch Pedicure rate.
3. Break things down. I do not have to do the whole groom in one go. Sometimes I split it across two visits. Two short calm sessions beat one long stressful one.
4. Breaks on demand. If your dog needs a pause, they get one. No clock watching, no rushing.
5. Honesty. If a particular step is not happening safely on the day, I stop. I will tell you exactly what I did and did not get done.

Things That Help

• A long walk before the appointment so they arrive a bit settled.
• Bring their favourite treats or chew.
• Tell me everything. Including the unflattering bits. There is nothing I have not seen.
• Book a morning slot if they are usually calmer earlier in the day.