Today I got a real shocker.  I had a 8-9 month yorkie who had little experience grooming or any behavior training.  I knew it was a challenge but never did I think I would see what I saw today.  I tried safely to complete the grooming but with no luck.  With the yorkie bucking like a horse, biting and acting like a shark in a frenzy, scissors near the pet is a dangerous combination.  I knew for sure this was out of my hands.  I hoped that with the owner’s help that the puppy would calm down at least to get some requested nails trimmed.

As the owner was holding, the puppy was acting out of control once again.  Then the shocker, she brought a “special” flip flop to scare the dog by acting as if she was going to hit its head/face to stay still in fear.  I couldn’t believe it!!!  It became all too clear on why the dog was a biter, every time I got near the yorkie it thought I was going to hit it and tried to bite.  The pet associated  people near its head/face with negative actions or scolding so now that its time to do real grooming work,  the pet won’t allow it.

Nothing was accomplished and when I let the owner know that the behavior was caused by her flip flop hitting actions.  She overlooked the idea and claimed its the only thing that works and that if she didn’t do her shoe method the dog would run her house.  Now the only option is taking the dog to the vet to get sedated for grooming, at such a young age which is costly and totally avoidable with proper introduction to grooming training.

Hurt dogs hurt people.  It’s sad that those cards are dealt for that poor puppy.  I can’t get the image out of my head. She never actually hit the pet but the whole scenario is still frightening.

I had no idea how to approach this.  If I saw a dog on the street about to get hit by a person with a shoe, I’d be right there intervening.  However when a client does it, I found myself set back on becoming confrontational not out of fear but out of shock.

This situation was a real bummer.

1. Juliene Says:
   January 24th, 2010 at 7:38 pm

   Wow, I can see how that would be a shocker. And you’re right, that behavior is a direct consequence of her mishandling. What is really unfortunate is that she feels having the puppy sedated for grooming is a better, or more viable option, than taking the dog to a trainer and learning how to correctly rear her puppy, and undo some of the damage that has already been done.

   I also find it very sad that this person feels like a nine-month-old yorkie, who can only weigh a couple of pounds, is even capable of “running the household,” and that the only way to control it is by threatening it with physical abuse.

   Obviously this owner has either been very misinformed, or doesn’t know that there are other options out there, and ways to live in harmony with your pet. Hopefully she’ll discover a better method before the poor dog, and their relationship, suffers anymore than it already has.