If you are wondering, “How long will my dog act weird after grooming?”, it is primarily a function of your dog’s personality, grooming experience, and physical comfort.
How Long Will My Dog Act After Grooming?
Grooming is an essential part to keeping your dog clean, healthy, and content. However, many dog owners observe behavioural changes in their pets following a grooming session. You may be wondering, *”How long will my dog act weird after grooming?”* if you’ve recently taken your dog to the groomer or trimmed them at home.
In this article, we’ll go over the possible causes of your dog’s odd behaviour after being groomed, how long it might persist, and helpful tips for making your pet feel more at ease.
Why Do Dogs Act Weird After Grooming?
Dogs can act weirdly after grooming for a number of reasons. To better understand their behaviour, it is essential to consider their emotions, experiences, and physical sensations during and after the grooming process. Below are some common factors that may contribute to their behaviour.
1. Stress or Anxiety
The grooming process is stressful to dogs. Noisy clippers, strange environments, being handled by other people, or even the smell of grooming products may be quite stressful. Restraint is often part of the grooming process, which many dogs will find uncomfortable or even fearful.
2. Physical Discomfort
A dog’s skin may feel sensitive after grooming, especially if their coat has been cut too short or if they have had tangles or mats removed. Clippers, brushes, or scissors may accidentally irritate the skin, causing discomfort.
3. Feeling Vulnerable
A new grooming session often changes the look and feel of a dog. If their fur has been cut considerably, they may feel exposed or cold. This can make them feel vulnerable, which can cause them to behave strangely, such as hiding or avoiding interaction.
4. Sensory Changes
Dogs primarily rely on their senses; in addition, the sense of smell plays a great role in the sense of how things are to them. When they get groomed, they cannot recognize the smell of shampoos or sprays that have been applied. These new fragrances can either confuse or disorient them.
5. Overstimulation
The grooming process can handle a dog quite a lot, causing overstimulation to some dogs. This leaves them unsettled, restless, or even exhausted afterward.
6. Negative Associations
If a dog has had a bad experience from grooming earlier, they tend to associate it with something disgusting. They may not have seen anything go wrong this time, but the memory of all those things can get their behavior changed.
How Long Will My Dog Act After Grooming?
The time it takes for the dog to stop acting strangely after grooming varies from dog to dog. In most cases, it is temporary and resolves within a few hours to a couple of days. Let’s break it down further:
1. A Few Hours
For most dogs, weird behavior subsides within a few hours after grooming. Once they settle back into their routine, they often start feeling like themselves again.
2. One to Two Days
Some dogs may take a day or two to fully recover from the experience. This is more common in dogs who are naturally anxious, have sensitive skin, or experienced a longer or more involved grooming session.
3. Longer Periods
Sometimes, a dog may behave strangely for days or even weeks. This may be due to discomfort, emotional distress, or an aversion to the grooming process. If that happens, it is important to look into it and perhaps seek advice from a vet or dog behaviorist.
It is essential to identify the symptoms of abnormal behavior so that you can respond accordingly.
Here are some of the common symptoms:
1. Withdrawal or Avoiding Contact
This is when your dog becomes withdrawn and retires to a quiet room or will not interact with you or any other member of the house.
2. Lethargy
Some dogs become lazy or show disinterest in their usual activities, such as playing or eating.
3. Excessive Scratching or Licking
An allergic reaction to grooming products or skin irritation may be the cause of your dog’s excessive licking or scratching after grooming.
4. Whining or Pacing
Whining, pacing, or other restless behaviors can indicate discomfort or anxiety.
5. Overexcitement or Hyperactivity
On the other hand, some dogs may over react or act hyperactive because of trying to process the experience.
6. Shaking or Trembling
A dog will often exhibit sign of shakiness and trembling during stress or because of fear.
Helping Your Dog Comfortable after Grooming
There are a few things you can do to make your dog feel more at ease and resume their typical behavior if they are acting strangely after being groomed.
1. Offer Comfort and Reassurance
Spend time with your dog and provide plenty of affection. A calming presence can help them feel safe and secure.
2. Check for Skin Irritation
Check your dog for any redness, lumps, or irritation. Check with your groomer or veterinarian if you see anything weird.
3. Give Them Space
Give your dog their space and time to resettle into their surroundings. Avoid overwhelming them with so much attention or activity.
4. Provide a Cozy Spot
Make sure your dog has a comfortable and warm spot to lie down, particularly if their fur has been chopped off. They can feel safer with a cozy blanket.
5. Reintroduce Their Scent
Rub a piece of your clothing or their favourite toy on them to help them feel more like themselves. This may mask the scent of the grooming products and make them feel more familiar.
6. Reward Positive Behaviour
Give praise and treats to calm, helpful behavior. This will strengthen your dog’s bond with grooming over time.
7. Explore Options Beyond Professional Grooming
If your dog always seems strange following a professional grooming session, maybe it’s time to switch to home grooming or search for a groomer with more experience with nervous dogs.
Seeking Professional Help
In many cases, weird behaviour post-grooming is completely normal. But there are specific instances when professional help will be required.
– Recurring Behavioural Patterns:
If you don’t notice improvements in your dog’s behaviour after a few days, seek help from a vet or a behaviourist.
– Skin Problems:
If you suspect skin irritation as a result of grooming and notice redness, swelling, or scabs, talk to your vet.
– Injury:
You should rush your dog to the hospital if you believe that they got injured as a result of grooming.
– Severe Anxiety:
If your dog shows extreme fear or distress related to grooming, consider working with a dog trainer or behaviourist to address the issue.
Preventing Post-Grooming Weirdness
To minimize the chances of your dog acting weird after grooming, consider the following tips:
1. Choose the Right Groomer
Look for a groomer who has experience handling anxious dogs and uses gentle techniques.
2. Desensitize Your Dog
Familiarize your dog with grooming tools and routines at home to reduce their fear of the process.
3. Use High-Quality Products
Ensure that shampoos, conditioners, and other grooming products are gentle and suitable for your dog’s skin type.
4. Keep Sessions Short
Long grooming sessions can be overwhelming at times. If possible, go for shorter, frequent sessions. Read about Is coconut oil good for dogs skin?
Conclusion
Most dogs take only a few hours to couple of days before returning to normal behavior. However, with proper care and attention, you can make your dog feel much better and groom him better in the future.
By understanding what your dog needs and by eradicating any discomfort or anxiety, you can ensure they remain happy, healthy, and comfortable after every grooming session.
