A dog who would snap at you or nip you as soon as you tried to touch her belly or hind end area has now learned that being touched in those areas by a human means the same as getting affection from her Mother simply by continuously giving her affection like her Dog Mother did while she is touched on those areas. That is true positive reinforcement.
Macaw is a very insecure Beta dominant dog who did not have positive experiences at the groomer and would even snap at her owner when she tried to brush her or cut out mats in her fur on her stomach or hind end area. Macaw was also not too happy about getting her nails trimmed either. As is quite common in cases like this, Macaw would not accept treats when she was stressed out about being groomed. You could have a T-bone steak and she wouldn't care. How do you help a dog to develop a positive association with being groomed or any other interaction that makes them nervous or scared if the dog doesn't accept treats? You lick their neck like their Dog Mother did, the magic touch that makes everything right in the world.
Before bringing Macaw to the groomer, I worked with her in my home to help her associate getting groomed by a human with being cleaned and loved by her Mother. I start this process by getting Macaw to the point of complete relaxation on a bed. Then you slowly start to introduce the tools you are using by allowing her to smell them while you give affection by licking her neck with the other hand. Once she is relaxed in the presence of the tools you then start to use the tools to give her affection, which creates a deeper sense of acceptance with the tools. Then you start to touch her with the tools, again while giving affection with your free hand until she is relaxed while you do so. Then you start using the tools for their intended purpose while giving affection at the same time. During this whole process, whenever the dog reacts or becomes unsettled, you stop what you are doing, correct to get focus, give affection by licking the neck until the dog relaxes and then continue what you were doing. You have to stop doing what you are doing the second the dog reacts and wait until the dog relaxes before starting again.
It will be very helpful if you have one person licking the neck while a second person does the grooming. I got most of the mats taken care of during this process but there was one big mat on one of her hind legs that was sore and I was unable to take it out because I can't give affection at the neck and clip a mat requiring two hands at the same time. Once Macaw was doing well with the grooming process in my home I brought her to Scruffy Paws Pet Salon in Campbell River to get some help from the owner Erin. It is best to start with the bath making it a time of affection which helped Erin develop a positive relationship with Macaw right from the start. It didn't take long for Erin to cut out the mat while I gave Macaw affection. Macaw was a little worried about the clippers on her feet and no doubt had flashbacks to getting her nails trimmed at a groomer but with corrections to regain her focus and constant affection by licking her neck she soon relaxed to the point where she would gladly accept treats followed as always by more affection.
Corrections in the dog world are not punishments, they are a redirection of focus. In Macaw's case, the conversation I am having with her is, "Stop focusing on what is making you nervous and focus on me, your Mother, and then I will give you affection. You do not need to worry about what that person is doing to you. They are not trying to hurt you. Do you see how calm and relaxed I am? I am not worried which means you don't have to be worried either. Now just relax and I will lick your neck to hug you. You're okay'" The first thing I am saying to them when I lick their neck is thanking them for focusing on me. Then the affection is consoling them to let them know that they are safe. Once your affection gets them into a calm and relaxed state of mind, they will then accept treats or food to further establish a positive association with being groomed. Always start and finish with affection.
If your dog does not like going to the groomer, especially those whose dog has been banned from groomers because of their aggressive behaviour, I can help your dog associate being groomed by a human with being groomed by their Dog Mother and then a professional groomer like Erin and her husband Gerry at Scruffy Paws pet salon, who know how to represent being a Dog Mother to your dog, will be able to groom your dog while in a calm and relaxed state as your dog gets pampered with copious amounts of affection and some treats.
Thank you Erin and Gerry for helping Macaw learn that being groomed can be a very pleasant experience filled with love, trust and respect.
All you need to do to get your dog to enjoy being groomed is to lick their neck. Macaw's happy face at the end is proof of that.
Cheers ✌️