Episodes

If you've ever asked your groomer, "Why can't you make him look like the dog in the picture?" Or if you're a groomer, "Why aren't my grooms looking like those gorgeous faces that I see other groomers do?" This week, we're talking about why behavior is the key to getting those gorgeous faces. Once we understand how calm, comfortable, and cooperative changes everything about prep work. Then we can get those gorgeous heads For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreatGroomingDogs....

This week, we're discussing counterconditioning and desensitization. Many groomers misuse these terms, thinking they can simply expose dogs to scary tools or procedures to make them less sensitive, but this often has the opposite effect. We'll explore how to properly implement these techniques to help dogs feel safe, comfortable, and cooperative during grooming. For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreatGroomingDogs.com For more info on all of my classes etc, go to https://li...

This week, we'll talk about the special grooming needs of senior pets. Their physical and emotional changes, as well as the importance of adapting grooming techniques to accommodate aging pets. For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreatGroomingDogs.com For more info on all of my classes etc, go to https://link.content360.io/CreatingGreatGroomingDogs You can also listen to this episode as a podcast on my website or anywhere you listen to podcasts. For more information about my...

This week, we're discussing the bite scale. Why do we need to know about the bite scale? We want to know if a dog is trying to hurt us or not, because many of these "bites" are actually warnings. So, we're going to dive into that this week. Dr Dunbar's Bite Scale For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreatGroomingDogs.com For more info on all of my classes etc, go to https://link.content360.io/CreatingGreatGroomingDogs You can also listen to this episode as a podcast on my web...

Should you always end on a good note? Ooh, I think we've all heard this one before, and the answer is, it depends. We'll talk about why “ending on a good note” isn’t always good training — and how to know when continuing actually makes things worse for the dog. For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreatGroomingDogs.com For more info on all of my classes etc, go to https://link.content360.io/CreatingGreatGroomingDogs You can also listen to this episode as a podcast on my webs...

We're gonna do some owner questions and answers, owner concerns, because as an owner, your dog has grooming and veterinary needs, and sometimes the communication breaks down because owners don't fully understand what we can and cannot do. And sometimes our pet professionals don't have good answers for your concerns. So we're gonna cover a bunch of common ones this week. For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreatGroomingDogs.com For more info on all of my classes etc, go to ht...

This week, we'll talk about five mistakes you could be making when you're trying to use Positive Reinforcement(+R). For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreatGroomingDogs.com For more info on all of my classes etc, go to https://link.content360.io/CreatingGreatGroomingDogs You can also listen to this episode as a podcast on my website or anywhere you listen to podcasts. For more information about my classes- The full diploma program Master Groomer Behavior Specialist(MGBS) di...

This week, we're talking about what it means to specialize. I hear many different versions, and I think it's a pretty exciting topic because I'm a geek, and that's what I like. For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreatGroomingDogs.com For more info on all of my classes etc, go to https://link.content360.io/CreatingGreatGroomingDogs You can also listen to this episode as a podcast on my website or anywhere you listen to podcasts. For more information about my classes- The ful...

Sometimes a dog looks calm, but is that what’s really happening? Or could it be learned helplessness? Join me as I dive into this listener question and unpack the nuances between the two. Can I touch you? A pilot study comparing consensual and non-consensual human-dog touch interactions https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159125000589 "Choice and consent are critical welfare elements, especially in interactions between humans and animals. Dogs incorporated in therapeutic setti...

I had a great conversation with The Amazing Susy Scott on The Groom Pod. She's a friend and a Master Groomer Behavior Specialist. You can find The Groom Pod at https://www.thegroompod.com/ The video can be found at https://www.creatinggreatgroomingdogs.com/videos/groom-pod-cggd/ For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreatGroomingDogs.com You can also listen to this episode as a podcast on my website or anywhere you listen to podcasts. For more information about my classes- The...

Kindness is such a subjective word. How can we ensure that we're making kind decisions for the pets in our care and for our own pets? Because there are many pet owners listening to this podcast also. For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreatGroomingDogs.com You can also listen to this episode as a podcast on my website or anywhere you listen to podcasts. For more information about my classes- The full diploma program Master Groomer Behavior Specialist(MGBS) diploma program S...

Episode 207. How do I get my boss on board? Geez, Chrissy. I like the show and I wanna do all these things, but I'm not self-employed and my boss isn't on board yet. So if you work for someone else, it may feel impossible to make these kinds of changes, but we're gonna talk about that this week, 'cause there are some great discussions that we can have with your boss. For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreatGroomingDogs.com You can also listen to this episode as a podcast on...

This week, we are talking about a game that anybody can play with their dog to help them be more prepared for grooming and other types of care. It's super easy. Young dogs, old dogs, dogs with no issues, dogs with plenty of issues—this is easy stuff that anyone can do. For more info, go to CreatingGreatGroomingDogs.com For more info on all of my classes etc, go to https://link.content360.io/CreatingGreatGroomingDogs Want to support the show? Buy Me A Coffee! Mentioned in this episode: "Groom S.M...

This week, we're answering the question "If he hates it, why on earth would you do it more often?" Oh, this is such a great question. We're gonna have so much fun covering this one because I think we hear that a lot from our owners, but we also hear that from the non dog trainers. A lot of dog pros who aren't dog trainers might also question this. So we're gonna break it down this week For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreatGroomingDogs.com You can also listen to this epi...

This week we're talking about why humane handling must be a priority for groomers, for owners. For veterinarians, we have to make humane handling a priority. And that gets tricky if we haven't yet defined what humane handling is. For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreatGroomingDogs.com You can also listen to this episode as a podcast on my website or anywhere you listen to podcasts. For more information about my classes- The full diploma program Master Groomer Behavior Spec...

This week we'll talk about how grooming is more than just getting it done. We'll talk about how we can tailor our grooming sessions to each and every dog. We often think that groomers either have to get the job done or refuse, and there's so much that happens in between those two choices. It's not black and white. It's not yes or no. There's a lot more tailoring that we can do. The Bitey End of the Dog: Chrissy Neumyer Smith For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreatGrooming...

This week, we’re talking about cooperative care in the real world. What do we really need to focus on? This episode is primarily for trainers, but also for anyone who communicates with them. The grooming world has some unique challenges and specific goals that set it apart. We'll talk about Grooming as a Very Elaborate Stand Stay. The Bitey End of the Dog: Chrissy Neumyer Smith For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreatGroomingDogs.com You can also listen to this episode as a...

This week we're talking about communicating with people. There's a human end to working with animals. We need to communicate with the owners. We need to communicate with other pet professionals, and if you're an owner, you need to communicate with everybody. So we're gonna talk about how we can best get everyone on the same page. For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreatGroomingDogs.com You can also listen to this episode as a podcast on my website or anywhere you listen to ...

Working with behavior cases should not be frustrating. If you are frustrated working on behavior cases or working with dogs and pets who have difficulty with grooming, we will troubleshoot that this week. For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreat GroomingDogs.com You can also listen to this episode as a podcast on my website or anywhere you listen to podcasts. You can watch episodes at youtube.com/@creatinggreatgroomingdogs For more information about my classes, go to Master...

Does your owner know why their dog needs to be dried? Why do groomers want to dry the dog? And then what kind of drying can we do? What kind of tools and techniques do we have? And let's also discuss if dogs are really afraid of drying? For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreat GroomingDogs.com You can also listen to this episode as a podcast on my website or anywhere you listen to podcasts. You can watch episodes at youtube.com/@creatinggreatgroomingdogs For more informatio...

This week we're talking about repetition. Why is repetition important to learning? Why is that something that we would want to use in dog grooming, and how can that help us in dog grooming? Find out this week. For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreat GroomingDogs.com You can also listen to this episode as a podcast on my website or anywhere you listen to podcasts. You can watch episodes at youtube.com/@creatinggreatgroomingdogs For more information about my classes, go to M...

This week, we'll talk about scratchboards and the dog toys designed to help you file your dog's nails or help your dog file their own nails. We'll talk about what they're good for, what they're not good for, and why your groomer might give you the hard eye roll if you say you've been using one. Dog Nail Scratch Board File https://a.co/d/eo6mDLG De' Vora Scratch Square Dog Nail Trimmer & File https://a.co/d/9pjlyQt For full transcripts, go to the audio episode on CreatingGreat GroomingDogs.com Yo...

Together We're Better Behavior Chats! Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Creating Great Grooming Dogs show! In this installment of "Together We're Better Behavior Chats," your host, Chrissy, engages in a fascinating conversation with the amazing Kayce Cover from Syn Alia Training Systems. In this episode of Creating Great Grooming Dogs, Chrissy Neumyer Smith sits down with the renowned Kayce Cover, a friend, mentor, and pioneer in the field of animal training and cooperative care. Kayce s...

This week, we'll talk about the "it came out of nowhere" bites. Some bites happen without warning, but what can cause that? What subtle warnings might have been missed? Now, whether you're a seasoned groomer or just starting out, this episode will give you some insights and help you have a safer, more understanding work environment. For full transcripts, go to the episode on CreatingGreat GroomingDogs.com You can also listen to this episode as a podcast on my website or anywhere you listen to po...