Time to Decompress

When you drop your dog off at a grooming salon, especially closer to the middle of the day, they are already picking up on a number of things happening around them. Depending on the setup, there could be barking dogs, kennel dryers, and high-velocity dryers all going at once. That alone can overstimulate a dog's nervous system while they wait their turn.

Your pup experiences the different smells of other animals, various shampoos, and all the typical salon noises. Then, when it is their turn, they experience water flowing over them, shampooing, conditioning, and drying. By this time, not only are they getting sensory stimulation, but they are also receiving physical stimulation. Some salons keep pets for up to four hours, and that is a lot for a dog to take in visually and audibly!

Busy salon environments have a lot of visual and auditory stimulation going on all at once.

Think of it this way: you go to work for eight hours in a noisy environment, processing your tasks, interacting with people around you, and managing any irritations just to get through the day. When you get home from an exhausting job, what do you want to do? A lot of the time, it's resting, sleeping, or finding a way to decompress. A dog being dropped off at a salon is experiencing something similar to your work shift—it might be something they tolerate, but it is physically and mentally exhausting.

Your pup is going through that same time to decompress that you do when you get home from work. So, if they take a long nap afterward, that is completely okay!

Of course, if things are absolutely out of the ordinary, always ask your groomer how the day went for your pup. If your gut is telling you something is off, it is always okay to ask questions! Otherwise, your dog is likely just overstimulated and needs to decompress from everything a busy environment adds to their day.

That is exactly why I started Paws Gone Pretty. I saw the overstimulation pets experience in busy, high-volume environments. One-on-one pet grooming takes the stress off both the stylist and the pet, but we wanted to take that even further. Imagine your fur baby being able to relax in the comfort of your own home while being groomed! The external stimulation drops by about 90%, giving them the opportunity to calmly process what they are feeling. Shiloh and I bring in the calm, confident energy your pup needs to work through the process, especially if they are anxious.

When we are finished and release your pup, they are typically still filled with the same energy and excitement they started the day with! They are no longer overwhelmed and needing to sleep all day to recover.

Shiloh providing the gentle, hands-on support that keeps our furry clients feeling safe and grounded

Leave a comment below about how your pup reacts after coming home from a groom! If you have an anxious dog or cat who is scared of car rides and overwhelmed by traditional grooming, reach out to us. We may be the perfect fit for your family. You can book with us directly here at Paws Gone Pretty.