Dog aggressive during grooming

[Badvok]

We homed a 3 year old yorkie Russell cross from someone who loved him but was unable to care for him due to illness. He is extremely sweet and gentle and never shows any signs of aggression.

We took him for his first groom (since getting him) at a place that friends go to and is highly recommended but he was an absolute nightmare. Biting the groomer, the equipment and scissors. To be fair the woman still a managed a fair job but said she wouldn’t see him again and suggested he may have experienced past trauma from grooming and we may need to go to a vet and be sedated before grooming.

I’m really not liking the idea of mild sedatation for grooming which may be required 3 to 4 times a year.

Any thoughts on addressing this?

[Badvok]

Thanks for the advise, we’re going to try brushing (even though he doesn’t need it) and see how we go.

[Badvok]

parakitaMol. said:

He may be in pain which might not be apparent - one of my dogs has tendonitis and was extremely reactive when touched or even when other dogs were in proximity - took a couple of years to find the source (no outward signs of where the pain was)... worth considering...

He’s more than happy to be handled when snuggling on our laps, feet, chest, tummy, legs and tail and never a reaction to touching. First sign of equipment and he’s biting it. I tried to snip a hair knot and he was biting the scissors before I could get near