Helping Nervous Dogs Feel Safe at the Groomers

jamescplant104
Jan 13
3 min read

Welfare-first grooming in Baddeley Green, Stoke-on-Trent

If you’re reading this because your dog feels nervous about grooming, I want to start by saying this: you’re not alone, and neither is your dog.

As dog owners ourselves, we completely understand that dogs aren’t “just pets” — they’re family members. Leaving them with someone new can feel worrying, especially if they’re a little unsure.

Here at Paw Shine Dog Groomers in Baddeley Green, Stoke-on-Trent, we groom dogs of all ages, breeds, and personalities.

Many dogs are confident and relaxed, while others need a little extra reassurance — whether that’s because of a past experience, their sensitive nature, or simply needing time to feel comfortable with new people. All of that is completely okay.

Our job isn’t just to groom dogs — it’s to help them feel safe, listened to, and respected throughout their time with us.

Why some dogs feel nervous at the groomers

Dogs can feel anxious around grooming for lots of reasons, including:

A previous rushed or overwhelming grooming experience
Being restrained or handled too firmly elsewhere
Sensitivity around ears, legs, or paws
Noise, busy salons, or unfamiliar smells
Long gaps between grooming appointments

Often, what we’re seeing isn’t “bad behaviour” at all — it’s simply a dog telling us they’re not comfortable yet.

How we support nervous dogs at Paw Shine

At Paw Shine, welfare always comes first. That means we adapt everything to suit the dog in front of us.

A calm, one-to-one environment

We work in a quiet, calm space where dogs aren’t overwhelmed by lots of activity. Many nervous dogs settle much better when they’re not surrounded by noise or pressure.

We move at your dog’s pace

There’s no rushing here. If a dog needs breaks, reassurance, or extra time to feel comfortable, we allow for that. Sometimes progress is slow — and that’s absolutely fine.

We listen to what your dog is telling us

If a dog is showing signs of stress, we pause. If something doesn’t feel right for them on the day, we don’t push through just to finish a groom. Their trust matters more than a perfect finish.

Familiar faces help

We do our best to keep things consistent so your dog can build a relationship with us over time. Trust grows with familiarity.

Can owners stay during the groom?

This is something we talk through on an individual basis. For some dogs, having their owner nearby can be very reassuring. For others, it can increase anxiety.

We’ll always have an honest conversation and do what’s best for your dog, not what’s easiest for us.

Starting again after a bad experience

If your dog has struggled at another groomer in the past, please don’t worry — this is something we’re very used to supporting. We help dogs start again gently, building positive associations over time.

That might mean:

Shorter appointments
Puppy-style introductions for adult dogs
Avoiding sensitive areas initially
Multiple visits to build confidence

There’s no judgement here — just patience, understanding, and kindness.

A gentle note from me

I know how worrying it can feel handing your dog over when they’re nervous. Please know that we treat every dog as if they were our own. Their comfort, safety, and wellbeing always come first.

If you ever have concerns, questions, or simply need reassurance, we’re always happy to talk things through with you.