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The Psychology Behind Your Pet’s Grooming Preferences

Grooming is an essential part of keeping pets clean and tidy, but it’s also a powerful way to bond with them. Grooming sessions release oxytocin, the ‘love hormone’, which deepens the owner-pet relationship.

Groomers should consider the emotional experience of dogs during grooming and honour their preferences by using positive training techniques, safe handling methods, and prioritising the animal’s well-being. This approach will ensure cooperation and make the grooming process a less stressful one.

Dogs

Dogs are often a groomers’ favorite clients. They’re eager to be brushed and they tend to bond well with their humans during the process. The popularity of dog breeds like poodles with their fine, fluffy coats has also contributed to the growth of the grooming industry. Many dogs are even bred to be groomed.

Unfortunately, some pet owners find it difficult to groom their pets at home. This is especially true of those who live in marginalized communities where lack of access to resources may interfere with their ability to provide grooming care. Research is needed to understand how these obstacles can impact the pet owner-pet relationship, and how we can better support pet owners with grooming needs.

While it’s important to take into account the societal impacts of grooming barriers, it’s equally important for veterinarians and groomers to recognize how pets respond to being groomed. Unfavorable behavioral responses to grooming can be signs of anxiety or discomfort. For example, excessive panting or drooling may be indicators of stress during the grooming process. Aggressive behavior is another common sign of grooming-related stress. Other behavioral signs of unease include restlessness, pacing and raised hackles (a sign of heightened stress levels).

Groomers are trained to recognize these behaviors so they can make the necessary adjustments to help the pet have a positive experience. Rewarding pets for calm behavior during grooming and introducing the grooming process slowly and with positive reinforcement can help the pet have a more comfortable experience. If a pet shows aggression during the grooming process, it’s important for the pet parent to step back and let the professional handle the situation.

One of the best ways to get a pet to be more receptive to being brushed is to use food. The licking action associated with feeding is very soothing and can change the way the animal perceives being brushed. Using a lickimat with liver paste or doggy peanut butter and pairing it with gentle brushing can help desensitize the animal to the sensation of being brushed and make it easier for them to tolerate, if not enjoy, being brushed.

Cats

Despite the bleakness of the past few years, the pet industry continues to thrive, including the grooming sector. A combination of trends, social media influencers and the humanization of pets has created a new level of demand for grooming services and products, boosting the market’s overall growth.

While grooming is necessary for a pet’s physical hygiene, it also offers psychological benefits that strengthen the bond between a dog or cat and its owner. Grooming sessions stimulate the release of oxytocin, known as the “love hormone,” which creates feelings of trust and affection. This bonding experience translates to better communication and understanding between the pet parent and their furry companion, encouraging a more holistic approach to pet care.

In addition to the oxytocin boost, grooming can help ease behavioral challenges such as anxiety or aggression. During a grooming session, a pet’s behavior is often closely monitored by its owners and caregivers for signs of stress or discomfort. This allows for prompt intervention, mitigating the effects of grooming-related anxieties and enhancing a pet’s comfort.

Some pets exhibit warning signals during grooming, such as excessive panting or drooling. Aggression or a desire to flee or hide is a sign that a pet is feeling overwhelmed or in distress. Other signs include a rise in hackles, which is similar to an animal’s natural alarm system. These behaviors are critical to recognize, as they indicate that a pet is experiencing discomfort and may need to be removed from the grooming area.

In the wild, cats use scents and pheromones to mark their territory and organize their environment. When these markers are disrupted during grooming, it can cause a pet to become disoriented and stressed, making them reluctant to undergo further grooming. It is important to understand your pet’s preferences and respond accordingly, utilizing gentle touch and soothing voices to reduce anxiety and establish trust.

Pets need to feel clean and groomed in order to feel comfortable, so it’s crucial that their needs are met during all stages of the grooming process. By debunking myths and addressing common fears, retailers can help pet parents prioritize grooming as an integral part of their pet’s overall health.

Both

Grooming is an important part of a pet’s health and wellbeing. It not only keeps them looking their best but also helps prevent and catch certain health issues such as skin problems or new lumps. It can also promote better behavior and build a stronger bond between pets and their owners.

It is not surprising that grooming is a natural, calming, and therapeutic activity for animals. Grooming mimics social grooming behaviors in the wild and can reduce stress and anxiety in both dogs and cats. Grooming also stimulates the release of oxytocin, a hormone associated with feelings of trust and bonding, helping to foster a deeper relationship between pets and their owners.

In addition to its physical benefits, grooming is an excellent opportunity for animal welfare workers to monitor pet health. During regular grooming sessions, they can become familiar with a pet’s normal skin and coat condition, allowing them to identify early signs of health problems such as rash, dry or flaky patches, red spots, fleas, ticks, or other parasites that may require immediate veterinary attention.

Despite the positive effects of grooming, many pet owners do not engage in this activity as frequently as they should. There are several reasons why this may be the case, including a lack of access to pet grooming services or products and a lack of pet-friendly transportation options for getting to and from professional groomers or self-service salons. And taking that into account, it always becomes vital to look at their service catalog. Furthermore, some people live in neighborhoods with high rates of poverty and/or housing segregation that limit their ability to provide basic care for their pets. These communities are often called “animal resource deserts” because they do not have easy access to veterinarians, pet supply stores, and other essential animal welfare resources.

Increasing the number of people who are able to groom their pets by providing them with access to affordable pet grooming services and by educating them on how to safely and effectively groom their pets at home can help address these barriers. Furthermore, further research into the types of behavioral factors that are associated with inadequate grooming among pet owners is needed to inform the development of interventions that can prevent and address these omissions of care.

Other

Grooming is more than just a basic hygiene practice; it provides psychological benefits to both pets and owners. The physical touch involved in grooming releases oxytocin, which is known as the “love hormone.” This can strengthen a pet’s bond with its owner and promote feelings of affection and trust.

In addition, regular grooming sessions help pet owners become more attuned to their animal’s behavior and well-being. This heightened level of observation can allow owners to notice any signs of physical abnormalities, allowing them to address health concerns promptly and provide their animals with the specialized care they require.

However, many people face a number of barriers to grooming their pets consistently. For example, individuals living in underserved communities may lack access to professional grooming services and supplies or the ability to transport their pets to self-service salons or pet supply stores. Additionally, individuals experiencing household dysfunction (e.g., domestic violence or substance abuse) may be at higher risk of neglecting their pets’ grooming needs. Future research should investigate the relationship between these factors and levels of consistent grooming among pet owners.