Man. I didn’t realize you kept new dogs in your closet. She is an entirely new dog. Is there any chance you could do a video of what you have to do to clean up the shop?
@@hoihoipoipoi that’s not what she was saying at all. It was the stress of how she handled the groom, not that she’s a bad dog or anything like that. She also went through about a dozen reasons for why her acceptance of grooming could’ve changed since the last time she saw the dog. It wasn’t the least bit negative towards the animal or the owners.
While I still agree with everything she says and bow to her experience, I see a dog that is uncomfortable but wagging because she's really happy to be getting groomed. Goid old girl
@@toddmulligan2609 I think it was more a nervous wag, I don't think she wasn't happy AFTER the groom, but I don't think she was thrilled about it happening.
I'm beginning to think EVERY groomer should videotape the entire process for their clients; both for their own legal safety (in case someone gets hurt, the person or the dog) and so they can show how hard this process can be and how hard they work. I could never do this job in a million years and I'm glad there are people willing to.
Love this channel, found it a week ago, can't stop watching.. willow calmed down after the wash, must have been so pleased to feel better. Her face before grooming reminded me of a sloth, afterwards she reminded me of my dog with all the grey on her face. Mine, unfortunately, had dementia.
Willow clearly hated every moment of that groom, but I'm certain she feels so much better without all that dirty, matted hair, and while she was being uncooperative, she was never aggressive. I bet she bounces around like a puppy when she gets home.
❤I applaud your ability, strength, and patience, after 50 yrs in the care and training of animals , Grooming was never in my résumé!!😂. I just did not understand how owners could be so negligent! Its too bad she couldnt have gotten a sedative to make it easier for the both of you❤. (Hope you got a long break And big tip!)
For some owners I think the cost of grooming can be expensive. It could be that Willow's owners have had a change in circumstances so they can only afford to get her cut once a year
@@ghoultooth not if they're double coated. If this dog has a lot of husky and wolf in him and with how thick his fur looks there's a very good chance he's double coated
The difference in her fidgeting from before and after the shave and bath is REMARKABLE. It really just highlights how much of her behaviour was caused by discomfort. Poor thing, looks like she'll have to come in more often than once a year from here on to prevent this. Stellar job ❤️
Yeah, once a year? Way too little for a grooming unless the owner is doing some of it themselves at home like every 2 months. I can understand if the person has health issues but not if they do not.
your resilience is incredible. I did a dog grooming course and learnt that I couldn't hack it. it's all so exhausting physically but when the dogs are uncooperative it's taxing mentally too. the guilt of having to put them through it when they're this distressed is so immense, it wore me down. you have my absolute respect for enduring and continuing to help dogs like this. they need you.
@@adorable3817 They usually lay down when they chew on them. And, you can’t do their muzzle. Not to mention, some don’t want it taken away after they’ve been given one.
You did an amazing job on Willow. Your knowledge, care, and understanding of their history, and need is great. Willow through all her stress was awesome. I really hope that she will be able to come back again when she needs to without having to wait so long. 🙏🏽❤
I do believe she may have remembered you at least to a point. Some of her actions made me think she was glad to see you if not the grooming salon. However, she seemed to have real joint issues on the rear making it difficult to hold her front feet up. I’m absolutely amazed at how calm you stay with some of these more difficult dogs. I just groom my own, but I’ve more than once had to walk away because I’m getting frustrated and know their nerves and my frustration do Not play well together.
I appreciate that the owners brought her in to be groomed but I am frustrated that Willow was allowed to get in that condition to begin with. You had so much patience with her and did such a great job in sticking with it till you were to complete her groom.
This makes me so sad for Willow. That her owners allowed her to get so matted resulted in such a stressful experience. The itching and matting must be so uncomfortable. Hearing that she used to come in covered in ticks is also so sad. Fourteen years ago everyone knew about the dangers of ticks and there was absolutely medications to prevent infestations. The owners need to look long and hard at how they care for their pets.
I appreciate how graceful and generous Vanessa is towards her clients' owners, but I agree. It has been well known for over a decade how dangerous ticks are, especially in her region (northeast US/ontario.) As a child I got Lyme disease from a tick bite in New England in the late 90s; at the time, awareness was low, to the point my condition was initially misdiagnosed as viral meningitis and I was given an incorrect treatment (antivirals instead of antibacterial.) The Lyme went into remission for 6mos and was correctly diagnosed & treated only after symptoms returned. But by the mid/late aughts, awareness of tick-borne pathogens was FAR higher. But I kept having the thought while watching this, that poor Willow deserves to be groomed more often than once a year. It would likely make the experience less stressful and exhausting both for her, and her groomer-and she won't have to spend the majority of a year covered in matts, urine, dirt and with constant itchy skin. She genuinely did seem to comprehend how much better she felt after Vanessa bathed her-just compare how much less visibly stressed and fidgety she is post-bath vs before. Willows owners definitely need to be brushing & bathing her regularly themselves, and/or making more frequent groomer appointments.
@@ennui7778 To let a dog's coat get that bad for a year is just sad. Looking at the cutie, they had to know how her coat was. Doesn't matter if she is an outdoor dog,, she still needs grooming.
I think Willow is in a lot of pain whilst standing so she cannot be properly groomed. She seems to have a lot of muscle problems especially on her back legs. The owners should take care of her, but they do. She is at the groomers. I feel so bad for Willow. Poor lil lady.
i feel like its the owners responsibility to maintain their dogs coat so it doesnt get that bad... especially the way shes a senior and cant stand for long periods of time.
@@Kentucky81 you still have to keep your farm animals healthy and clean. Maybe not as meticulously as a house dog, but when you have a pet with a coat like that, you don’t just let it mat up and get that uncomfortable and unsanitary.
my instructor tells us "humanity over vanity". we don't care what a dog looks like at the end of the day as long as they feel better and are healthy, especially if they're as stressed as Willow.
The fact that, even with her moving and flailing as much as she was, you didn’t nick her once is a real testament to your talent. Wonderful job, keep up the amazing work!
@@TheKeyToNowhere Do you mean interchangeably? Don't take this as criticism on you, just know that people will almost always appreciate being praised with the word "skill" more. "Talent" makes many people bristle when they hear it applied to them because it kind of implies that they were just born being able to do the thing you praise them for, while in reality they likely worked really hard to get there. Yeah, most of us understand you just want to compliment us. We will smile and thank you, as is polite. But if you really want your compliments to make eyes light up, explicitly pointing out that you understood how much effort went into the ability will bring immense joy to everyone. ♡
Let’s be honest. This is BOTH talent as in an affinity for the task, enjoying the task even though it may be difficult, AND skill, as in learning the best ways to do the thing you love to achieve the best results.
When a dog is this stressed, and esp being old and uncomfortable from the matting/itching, and they still never show aggression you know they have a good home. Optimally she would be groomed more often to avoid this, but that's not always possible. What a good girl and she looks gorgeous! :)
@@ToriJadeTalkspoor angel hadnt been groomed in over a year. She was so uncomfortable, I cant understand how anyone can let even a day pass by for their pets to be in discomfort
@@ToriJadeTalks i know. Seeing Willow be so uncomfortable, that she couldn't be still was heartbreaking. The relief she must've felt as soon as she was bathed and groomed would've been immense. Its like she was left outside to fend for herself. I cant imagine not treating my dog with the best of care. All animals deserve to be cared for just like we would want too. If you take on the responsibility of caring for animals, then that's for their entire lifetime. If you have to go without certain things, then that's what you do. There is no excuse, or don't have any pets. So happy Vanessa was able to help Willow ❤🐕💖
So easy to cast judgements, I'm sure you all do everything perfect all the time. Sometimes people have to make compromises and concessions. I'm grateful Vanessa took care of this dog for free. Not everyone leaves their dog ungroomed because they're a sick monster. If you care then do what you can to make life easier for people in your communities instead of casting your useless judgements on those who may be struggling. Willow has a home with people who love her which is more than a lot of shelter and street dogs ever get. Have some fucking compassion
@@billrich9722 What? They didn't say they love the dog being stressed, they said they love the fact that the groomer is specifying that's why the dog is difficult.
@@billrich9722 They’re just saying they approve of her clarifying that the dog is stressed and it’s not due to behavioral issues, cause those two can get mixed up/lumped together.
My parents' dog recently passed at 16. I took care of her for her last 2 years. She was just like this about grooming. She had arthritis, couldn't stand on 3 legs to do her nails, couldn't stand still for more than a few seconds. So, i did a little with her every day. I clipped one nail a day. I brushed her daily. Cleaned her eyes, ears, etc. Baths were just get her wet, shampoo the dirtiest spots, rinse as quickly as possible. There's no way I could've wrestled her for the whole thing at once. You did great and I'm sure she feels so much better!
I hope the owners of Willow reward your efforts, and de-stress the dog, by bringing her back twice a year for grooming. It's so nice to see an "old lady" like Willow so full of life - and so happy after her groom.
I thought the exact same thing. A reward for both the groomer and the dog, they both did an amazing job considering the state of the dogs coat and her age. If she didn't live in Canada, I'd be taking my dog to her, lol. Shes just fabulous!!!
I raised quality WH for 10 years, and have had them in my life for 30 years. Who in their right mind would mix a Wheaten Terrier with a wolf, answer is somebody that should have had their female dog spayed!
@@bubblesangel555 question for you since you have experience: there is absolutely no way this is a high percentage wolfdog, no? All the high percentage wolfdogs I’ve seen take on a lot of the wolf characteristics over the dog ones.
@@lexinicole4317 I would guess this is the product of someone’s wheaten accidentally mating with someone’s low-content wolf/husky hybrid. I sure as hell hope nobody would breed one of these intentionally.
Wolf dogs are like all dogs only more shy of humans. Gotta train and raise them right if ya want a good temperament. Also found myselr more likely to be attacked by smaller dogs cuz the owners dont like training them and baby them too much.
Her temperament change after the bath is incredible. She seemed to have calmed down a bit, and stopped fighting as much. She must have realized that this is a good process, not a punishment 💕
If an owner doesn't want or can't afford a groomer consistently the _least_ they could do is clip with scissors the fur to a manageable level to brush out.
I'm seriously shocked at how matted her fur was, and all that in the last year? Dang! She looked like she had never been groomed before! Wow... Just wow...
The transformation is incredible. Wishing Willow's owners would either comb/brush her daily or get her groomed more often. Poor baby, it must be awful to have itchy skin under pounds of matted fur😢🐾
It's possible the dog gets just as stressed with brushing because of age and/or discomfort. Stressing them out all the time is unhealthy. More frequent grooms might help, but thus dog is really stressed.
It’s also tricky because by the sounds of what was said here, I’m guessing Willow is a farm dog. Usually people living on farms just don’t have as much access to regular grooming appointments, and ample access to mud, long grass, cow poo and all kinds of other things they can get dirty extremely quickly in.
@forshizzlemywizzle she said a farm or a lot of acres. So there might not be cow poo, and I doubt this dog herds animals. Farmers take care of their animals, aIllinois. Because i live in rural illinois.
Not to mention matted with her own urine. I really hope the owners will bring her in more often also, for Willow's own comfort and safety. She deserves it.
Both of you did a great job. This was hard to watch, honestly. I felt so bad for her, but you stuck to it and got the job done so she could feel better. I don't think people understand just how difficult a groomers job is. Thank you for your videos!
Honestly trying really hard to not be upset with her owners, her coat and skin seemed so neglected. It’s no wonder she was so stressed and moved around so much.
This is complete neglect and it doesn’t matter if she’s a house dog or a farm dog. They still need grooming. No wonder she doesn’t like it since it only happens once a year…if that. This breaks my heart…😢💔🐶 You my dear are a patient saint! 😇 🐶🙏
@@skehleben7699 Frankly if you cannot afford the high maintenance grooming costs you cannot afford a high maintenance breed. Anyone who cannot afford to take care of their dogs needs, whatever they may be, cannot afford that dog and should not get that dog. There are plenty of short haired smooth coated breeds that don’t need any fancy care.
Absolutely, why couldn't the owners just brush her two-three times a week? She wouldn't get like this if they did, and is she isn't matted this insanely she wouldn't have to undergo extreme stress at the groomers.
@@skehleben7699 cbd at this level of stress is not going to do enough. At such a level of stress, many groomers would start suggesting taking the dog to the vet for chemical sedation. At this age though, sedation isnt much of an option since it’s so dangerous.
She really was VERY well behaved despite her age and discomfort, never growling or snapping or even whining. What a very good girl I'm sure she feels so much better. ❤
I love it that you put the dog's comfort and safety first. The reason I stopped grooming in salons and went house call is I got written up when I refused to push a dog that was spinning, biting, urinating, defecating, and spontaneously expressing his anal glands. Owners need to understand.
I love how patient you were with her. When you said, “Willow, GIVE UP!” I laughed so hard! Thanks for caring for all of the animals. She looks so much better! 🩵💙
Her stress maybe isn't the owner's fault, but the state of her certainly is. I sure hope they don't get anymore dogs after she passes, as they obviously are unwilling to do the proper upkeep for them. Leaving her filthy and matted like that is just plain cruel. She looks so relieved at the end to be done grooming and to finally be clean. Great job!
Her stress is their fault though, she wouldnt have to be this stressed if they took her in more often, its so fucked up. The groom is extensive because of how neglected she is, poor thing.
@@playinglifeoneasy9226 No, the state of her fur is lack of care, period. Daily brushing would be enough to prevent the mess she is in. The lazy owners don't get an easy out.
I actually feel sorry for willow. Her owners should have tried to help their dog. Especially since she's older and nervous. Poor puppy. You did a great job with her. You never judge the owners, but I bet most of us on this side do.
I am willing to bet the owners previous groomer either went out of business or left the area. My dog went a long time without grooming cause the woman who took care of him lost her business, it took a while to find somebody we actually had some faith in.
The owners clearly care because they took thier dog to Vanessa for help. We shouldn't assume the worst in people. We don't know how this situation happened, just that the owners want it fixed and made it happen.
Sometimes real life happens in ways we never expect and lots of things, not just our pets being groomed get neglected. It’s unfortunate but it happens. (From experience)
@@PredictableEnigmatook em long enough. But I’m glad they gained sense to help her. Plus we don’t know if they care. I mean they let her get like this.. doing this once a year ain’t showing care
I love your videos. I appreciate that you don’t add filler background music. It’s not needed. I like hearing you narrate what you’re doing and soothing the dogs/cats without the distraction of looped music. The editing is top notch. The sound is uniform. I can hear you clearly and the clipper and blow dryer noise isn’t loud. Please don’t change a thing. I especially like the before and after edit at the end. ❤
That is the weirdest and least wolfy looking wolf hybrid that I have ever seen. Also this groom looks likeit was incredibly stressful; I really don't think I could handle all that jerking, I would be so terrified of accidentally knicking her. Deep respect, you made her look very nice in the end! I fommend your courage!❤
The fur is the part that doesn't look wolflike. Most wolf-hybrids are purposely mixed with breeds that already look like wolves. The terrier part that was mixed in in her case is what makes her look different.
I just need to know who thought a husky + wolf + wheaten was a good idea. Thank you for taking care of that older, uncomfortable dog though - you always appear to be kind, gentle, but firm in your boundaries!
What a combination of breeds! Husky, Wheaton, and Wolf? That had to be a series of accidents. It seems like one would never want a curly Wheaton mixed with a headstrong wolf who might not tolerate grooming as well. You were so patient and calm with her, Vanessa, great job (as always)!
@@daniellewoolley8607 So is every other dog. Almost all modern day dogs share common ancestry with wolves. Huskies might share a little bit more than others, but it's practically inconsequential by this point, and doesn't really affect whether or not they breed well together. I'd imagine it's a common mix solely because of appearances- Huskies already look "wolfy" to people so they want an even wolfier looking dog. Plus Huskies are a good size to pair with a wolf compared to, say, a chihuahua or something smaller.
She was never exactly calm, but you could tell she was much calmer, much more comfortable, and less itchy after her bath and crate dry. She wasn't panting in that hoarse frantic way anymore.
This is why I won't do once a year grooms anymore. I am old and can't take it. I always try and tell the people how stressful it is on the dog. It is much easier to do three to 4 times a year. Easier for the groomer and the dog! You did awesome! She look great at the end. I bet she went home and slept for two day after!
@@alittlewoowoo2214Vet bills also get more expensive when pets get older. It’s just a part of having a pet. Grooming a dog less than 4 times a year puts them under unnecessary stress. If you can’t afford it, learn how to do it at home.
@@thicciesmallsI mean not everyone as the physical strength nor space to groom a dog at home some only have tiny sinks and little squares upright showers. The cost of everything as Triple , lot's of people that got a dog 10-15years ago the dog is now old and the economy as gone down the drain. I don't think anyone planned for covid etc. It was covid our water heater was broken for over a year and half , it was hard just showering ourselves, 😂At that point my 120lbs dogs didn't get bathed for over a year and the other groomer before that charged us 400$ and he never had space to groom him , luckily we found a better groomer now and my dog actually loves her. But were all just human and we can't plan 100% of everything that could possibly happen to us or how our circumstances can change. That's just part of life. At least the owner is bringing her now , she's just doing the best she can, it sucks for the groomer but she did awesome and each groomer is free to say yes or no on the job depending on their own capacity. Also a reminder that it sucks too for the dog to not be groomed but wild animals can also have it much worse than dry skin and matted hair. Just keeping things in perspective
@@alittlewoowoo2214it's absolutely understandable that more than once a year may be too expensive for people, but in this case, you have to learn to care for and groom your dog yourself. My dog is a very anxious stray, adopted from a shelter and we never go to a groomer but she has a meticulous grooming regimen at home, including weekly deep brushings, monthly overall fur trimming (less on winter) and nail clipping or trimming as necessary. If people aren't letting their children's hygiene go, they shouldn't let their animals' hygiene go either
I’m trying to figure out how you own a long hair dog breed and don’t even brush them….like I know grooming is expensive but like that was unacceptable 😢
Bust up laughing when you were suddenly on the table with her. She was grateful and seemed cooperative after she felt good from her bath. Your patience is an amazing trait and it makes these videos so relaxing.
My wee dog has went to the same groomer. Unfortunately there was times I couldn’t afford the fee. She showed me one day how hard letting her grow was on her and offered me a payment plan. Thankfully now my financial position has improved and I recommend my groomer to everyone. My wee dog runs into the shop and enjoys spending time there. Groomers are amazing people xx
For an older girl, I think Willow behaved rather well. You have the patience on Job & the artistic skills of a master. Her stress level caused you to stress. You worryied about health. Vanessa you are a blessing for the critters you groom. GOD BLESS your hands.
Poor Willow looked so so very sad before. After she seemed alot more happy. Probably really sore and tired after her much needed groom and bath. Now she deserves a nice nap in her favorite spot. She was a pretty good girl. I can't believe her owners didn't even brush her for so long. They have a brand new start to take better care of her. She's a strong old girl who deserves to be.
That poor baby! Once a year? I doubt it....seemed longer to me. To let the dog get to the point of painful matting, urine infused fur and itchy skin is abuse. No question. If you didn't charge them, why don't they bring her more often? That would help desensitize her also. What a sweet girl she was. Great job!
I feel the same way willow. I am old and uncomfortable too. Willows groom is amazing. I could not believe how much better she felt after her bath. Bless her heart.
Praying Willow Lives Long after her Stressful Grooming!😮🙏🐶🐶❤❤ You made her look Great, despite the Struggle! Her Owners must be so Thankful for your attention to her details once they heard how difficult her grooming was!😊❤❤❤❤
For as old and as matted as she was, she does seem like a really nice dog. She was anxious but didn't show any signs of a bad temper or meanness. Her groom turned out really nice and I'm sure her owners were grateful. Thanks for such a long and detailed video.
As an owner of a 15 and a half year old wolfdog...i can attest how incredibly strong they still are into old age. Willow looks very happy after her transformation
It sucks but it's for their own good, she's helping these dogs and reading the dogs behavior to her best ability to make the experience the least traumatizing
@@mikuenjoyerXD she really is making a good difference, I in no way meant to come off like she was doing bad, it's just difficult that dogs don't understand since we'll. They're dogs hahah
After many of your videos, I do my best now to give owners grace, because we don't always know their situation, but I just can't with this one. Even if they couldn't get her to a groomer, there's no excuse for them to have let her get _this_ bad. That poor dog was sooo uncomfortable and clearly in pain and discomfort from how bad that matting was. You don't have to be a professional groomer to brush your dog. Old age or not, her temperament wasn't anything like some of the other bad cases you've groomed, where I could at least understand how the owners might not have been able to take care of their elderly dog. This poor girl looks like they haven't bathed or brushed her since the last time she saw you. There's no reason to let a dog with her temperament ever get this bad. The difference in her body language (the fidgeting, stress, etc) before and after only reinforces my opinion that, as kind as you try to be, the owners are 100% to blame. The state she came into your home in toes the line of abuse.
You still don't know what went down though, do you? The pandemic disrupted people's lives, and there's been who survived but are disabled from it. God's grace is limitless, but that of his own creation isn't, and that's on us. We like to pretend we know things, that our interpretation of the facts is the right one, even when the evidence we draw on is sketchy at best. Feelings are not facts, and judging on facts is just a lot more safer that judging on feelings. It might be hard, but it's not right or fair fair to judge on feelings.
@@BigHenFor The facts we do have outweigh my feelings about the matter. Anybody who knows anything about pets, on the most basic level, can see that this dog has not even been brushed at home. Using the pandemic as an excuse to neglect your pet is the dumbest response I've seen. She's had other dogs come in that have pretty bad matting, due to the others not being able to afford, or get to a groomer during pandemic times. Those owners STILL brushed their pets at home, and the matting was MILES away from this situation. When you take care of your pet at home, to the best of your ability, it's sections of fur that are matted, not an entire cost like this. The facts in this video are that this dog has not been brushed or bathed in months, at minimum. Maybe it's a difficult dog to bathe, but that's STILL doesn't justify the owners not brushing it. Caring for your pet is more than just feeding and playing with them, especially for certain cats and dogs with high maintenance coats (which this really isn't when compared to akitas, huskies, etc), and your life problems don't justify neglecting your responsibilities as a pet owner - whether you consider them a family member or just a pet. If you can't handle those responsibilities, don't own a pet. Period.
@@BigHenForI’m so over people using the pandemic as an excuse for everything under the sun. It’s 2024! Are you saying that since the pandemic began in 2020, that now, 4 years later, that it’s an excuse not to do the most basic care for your pet? Now I’ve heard it all. And IF you watched the video, the family traditionally only had Willow groomed ONCE A YEAR! So if you want to make excuses for neglect, go for it. Clearly the majority of us see if for what it is.
@@BigHenForwow someone who believes the PLANDEMIC is bad enough. You talk about facts? Well look at the FACTS on that disaster of government abusing its citizens. Suppose it makes sense you use the pandemic to excuse not caring for your dog. You don't have to be a groomer to bathe your dog. You don't need to be a groomer to brush your dog on a regular basis and make sure they are comfortable. You sound like you are just virtue signalling but are talking nonsence.
Willow must have been horrendously uncomfortable. She is sweet. The owners need to do it more often. That was the most epic groom I've seen yet. The litter of puppies was less difficult.
You can tell she is SO much more comfortable now that all that matting is gone and she's had a nice bath and isn't itchy anymore!! When she walks around your back yard at the end, it's so clear 'cause she holds her head much higher and seems so much more comfortable and happy
You are a master of your craft. Your patience and ability turned Willow into a thing of beauty. As uncomfortable as Willow was during the grooming, I am sure she appreciated your efforts. Thanks for allowing us to watch a master craftsperson at work.
While I believe every pet deserves a home where they are loved and their needs are taken care of, I still admire that you don't judge the owners even when their pet comes in a bad condition. I'm sure a lot of owners feel comfortable coming to you to get their pets groomed, even when things get bad because embarrassment can be a hell of a deterrent and your kindness and compassion to both the owner and the pet probably makes them less embarrassed.
All that matted coat must have been so heavy. On an older dog like her, I bet she feels so much relief, especially after that bath. Thank you for all you do.
I hope they bring her back more frequently. The job would be way easier on her, and whoever does it, if her coat condition wasn't so far gone, I think.
Despite Willow's stress level she actually did better than I was expecting. Willow definitely calmed down a little after the bath. You did a phenomenal job, and Willow looks like she's feeling much better.
I honestly don’t know how you do it. It exhausted me watching you groom Willow. It’s also so impressive to watch you use the scissors so effortlessly. Thank you for caring so much to help out these amazing fur babies!
I believe Willow is a really sweet little old lady. She never snapped at you. She came out beautifully. You did a fantastic job on a very difficult older dog. Your care for the animals is touching. Such good work.
I grew up with a Wheaton. She was my princess and that dog lived to love people. Seeing this dog come in such bad shape is heart breaking. These dogs have a nervous temperament to begin with and any amount of sustained discomfort or stress feels like a punishment to them. You don't have to be a professional to brush, bathe, or even groom your dog for comfort. Doesn't have to be pretty, just practical. A lot of wheaton terriors live to 15, 16, 17. I hope this dog gets better care going forward.
You poor baby Willow! You're just a beautiful soul! It's so cruel to allow her to get to this state! It's so upsetting to see her so agitated and no doubt filled with pain! I had to skip foreword bc it was too much to wat h her stress! To the owners: Do better by this beautiful girl, she deserves to be comfortable like you are!
It most definitely isn't the dogs fault, you are correct on that. But there are many things the owners could be doing at home so that she doesn't get this bad and only once a year get cleaned up.... Poor girl. And I say that respectfully. This was one of the most incredible transformations you've done, and did it with a dog that was very stressed.... Maybe the owners could bring her every 6 months to help her with that anxiety...
Your ability to have so much patience and keep your sense of humor through that groom is commendable. It was stressing me out to watch Willow stress out . I’m sure she feels 100% like a new dog and will sleep so hard when she gets home.
I am exhausted just watching you work. You are one strong woman. Hopefully Willow's owners will treat her to a quarterly groom so maintenance and stress is a minimum for Willow and the groomer.
As ever, you did a very good job. In my experience, wolf crosses are not like dogs. They are terrified of everything. My husband's family used to have wolf crosses as they lived in the mountains of central Europe and they are common there. At one point they had three of them. The biggest was the Rhodesian Ridgeback/wolf cross. She was a tank who would hide in the bath and scream for hours whenever a storm was coming because they still have wild instincts that everything they encounter may cause death. Lots of people don't realise that dogs have had those instincts bred out of them. They had huge litters of puppies - largest litter size was 12 puppies, all healthy. Travelling anywhere with them was a nightmare - my husband once had to transport them for three hours in a van and he was a wreck afterwards because they were terrified screaming and pooping for the whole journey. Experiences that dogs become accustomed were difficult with wolf crosses. Many people won't consider taking a wolf cross into their home, so even if owners are struggling it is difficult to re-home. It used to take three people to hold my in-law's Rhodesian Ridgeback wolf cross for the groomers to do their work. Doing that at home was.... interesting. They aren't dogs and it's difficult to treat them as dogs.
We never had issues traveling with ours and they were never fearful or exhibited anxiety. They didn't like being bathed, but would tolerate it. Malmute/Arctic Tundra Wolf (1/4,3/4) and GSD/Timber Wolf (1/8, 7/8). I miss them greatly even after 15+ years. We did have them from pups and they were heavily socialized and handled.
@@idkman6496 What makes you an expert? With mixes, there's no telling what characteristics they'll get from which parent, even more so when breeds in question are grandparents rather than parents. But you're wrong about her exhibiting "0 wolf qualities."
I hope you hear this a lot but I'm so grateful at how patient you are with the more challenging groomings. You are so understanding and you don't typically lay blame anywhere just tell us the facts. I enjoy your channel
OMG, if her arthritis is anything like mine, standing still is all but impossible. You are a hero for grooming her with such kindness. Her life just got better.
12:50 Just incredible to see the difference in Willow's level of stress and discomfort once she was dematted & bathed! She was still being fidgety for feet etc, but no longer seemed to be continuously uncomfortable? Really sad to see a dog (esp. an older one) in this condition, hope that Vanessa was able to give the owners some off-camera encouragement on how to avoid that recurring 😬
It really seems like having itchy lady parts made her so antsy at least in part. I can't imagine wanting to hold still if my undercarriage was that matted and dirty :(
Hi Vanessa. This has to be the most stressful groom I've ever seen you do - both for you and for the dog. Bless you for powering through it while being careful not to cut Willow. That was a very hard task and took a lot of patience, determination, and skill. I don't blame the dog. I do blame the owners for letting her get in that bad of a condition; it's flat out neglect.
I feel like Willow and older dogs like her would benefit from getting painkillers before a grooming appointment since she's so antsy and probably sore. Getting proper grooming done is SO important for her wellbeing and getting her as comfortable as possible should be the ultimate goal. You did great
If an animal is very difficult, some veterinary practices will offer sedated grooms as well. But it won't be to look good, it'll be for medical purposes.
My dog is 14 years old. I can certainly say that Willow was not trying to be difficult. She is just a beautifully aged lady who was doing her. I hope she feels better now. This was an amazing transformation!!
The matting is appalling. I’m guessing her owners may be elderly and didn’t realize how bad it got. What an outstanding job you did! My favorite quote: “Why are you so agile at your age?” 😂
i was just thinking that. if THAT'S how her coat got after a year, i dont get why she gets groomed only once a year. i cant imagine washing my hair and body once a year. my head gets itchy after just a couple days, so imagining how itchy and uncomfortable she was makes me miserable just thinking about it
My dog also has wheaten terrier in him, his coat is sooo fluffy and out of control sometimes and he abhors being brushed. I try to get him shaved atleast twice a year to get it before it gets as bad as willow. But I always feel so bad because of how anxious and upset it makes him.
If stress was defined with a video this is it. You are a true professional to put Willow’s health and safety before anything even if it means powering through a tough groom. Willow never nipped or growled and definitely seemed grateful to you and understood what you were trying to do but of course those old ladies aren’t going to give you an easy time.
Your expertise and dedication really shine through in this one. She looked almost like an escaped sheep with a terribly overgrown fleece. I was almost in despair at how uncomfortable that must have been for her and how daunting for you. Well done!!
I was a groomer when I was your age and this dog brings back memories, I was the groomer that all the dogs came to after they had been asked not to come back by their previous groomers. I applaud your perseverance. I had lots of clients that were well behaved and most of the ones that came to me because of bad behavior or just difficult grooms became better over time if I could convince the owners to keep them on a routine grooming schedule
I had a groomer like you. I had a little blind from birth poodle mix rescue who also had seizures. Before we found this one groomer, they would medicate her, I can't think of the word. Then I found a great groomer who was able to groom her. She was awesome because she just put us on the schedule and then came to get the dogs on the day of their appointment. She picked up all her clients! One time I was gone in the morning, and right after I got home, there was a ring at my door, and she had all four of my dogs. I didn't even know they had gone to the groomers. My husband at the time had been home when she picked them up and didn't think to tell that the dogs were all at the groomers. We had the best laugh about it, that I didn't even realize that all four of my dogs were not at home. I just thought they were in the backyard and hadn't asked to come in. We both worked from home, so they would come in and out all day long. I have ADHD, so having her pick up my dogs was so perfect. She always told me it was so her clients humans didn't forget their appointments. I would laugh and tell her I felt so seen in that comment. Finding a good groomer who can teach the nervous dogs it is all okay is priceless. Finding a groomer like that, that will also pick up your 4 dogs on the day of their appointments is also priceless! That is exactly why my dogs got regular grooms because it was just always on the schedule.
This was beyond impressive. Thank you so much for looking after elderly dogs and understanding that just like humans, temperament and behaviour can change and it’s through no fault of their own. And the things you did to try and help her or make her feel comfortable and not giving up because you wanted her to be comfortable. I hope there’s more people like you out there. You certainly gotta work out
My dog was 15, almost 16. It became significantly harder to get through a groom as she neared the end. For me, it was better to do what I could at home and take her in every 9 months. Her marvelous groomer was patient and knew the limits (almost life long groomer, so it wasn't as stressful as having someone new every time) but she definitely wouldn't have been a happy camper on that raised table every 3 to 6 months.
@@sora1498 I do get that. I just also don’t think it’s smart to let it get to this point either? Might not be so bad if her condition didn’t get so bad. But, I do understand it’s a difficult line to know which is best.
I spent the entire day editing this video today, so I really appreciate the views ❤. Thank you all for your support!
You do amazing work!
More mutts
Thank you for this great video ❤
Man. I didn’t realize you kept new dogs in your closet. She is an entirely new dog.
Is there any chance you could do a video of what you have to do to clean up the shop?
@Swamp Lizard, That woman is a total Pro. She does a great job.
As uncooperative as Willow was, she never growled or snapped at you. And she seemed to appreciate your efforts after her bath.
That's what I was thinking as well.
Yes!
@@hoihoipoipoi ???
@@hoihoipoipoi that’s not what she was saying at all. It was the stress of how she handled the groom, not that she’s a bad dog or anything like that. She also went through about a dozen reasons for why her acceptance of grooming could’ve changed since the last time she saw the dog. It wasn’t the least bit negative towards the animal or the owners.
@@hoihoipoipoi ??? In the video she literally says it's not the dogs fault or the owner's fault
so what are you talkin about
I’m so glad that you mentioned that a wagging tail isn’t always a sign of a happy dog.
Kids, she's lying! If you see a dog wagging its tail, don't hesitate to pet it. The same goes for rattlesnakes.
While I still agree with everything she says and bow to her experience, I see a dog that is uncomfortable but wagging because she's really happy to be getting groomed. Goid old girl
@@toddmulligan2609 I think it was more a nervous wag, I don't think she wasn't happy AFTER the groom, but I don't think she was thrilled about it happening.
Sort of the same as how it is with a purring cat
@@WaitingtoHit lol
I'm beginning to think EVERY groomer should videotape the entire process for their clients; both for their own legal safety (in case someone gets hurt, the person or the dog) and so they can show how hard this process can be and how hard they work. I could never do this job in a million years and I'm glad there are people willing to.
honestly I think everyone in any kind of work should post about it online because yea, there's a lot of stuff people don't realize how difficult it is
i honestly was just thinking that. Like, omg, i could not
that is a terrific idea
I won't go near big dogs except Labradors
They probably are security cameras at least, but most aren't posted to UA-cam.
I’ve become addicted to this channel … no violence … no horrible news… just amazing transformations and love
Thank you 🙏
Same here 🥰🐕
and me!!! ❤
Love this channel, found it a week ago, can't stop watching.. willow calmed down after the wash, must have been so pleased to feel better.
Her face before grooming reminded me of a sloth, afterwards she reminded me of my dog with all the grey on her face.
Mine, unfortunately, had dementia.
I agree love this channel
She is amazing
Willow clearly hated every moment of that groom, but I'm certain she feels so much better without all that dirty, matted hair, and while she was being uncooperative, she was never aggressive. I bet she bounces around like a puppy when she gets home.
Poor baby but u did a great job! You should charge them double!
Wow...hands down to you for being a top notch groomer with a BIG heart!!
And then sleeps better than she has in a while!
She looks great!
❤I applaud your ability, strength, and patience, after 50 yrs in the care and training of animals , Grooming was never in my résumé!!😂. I just did not understand how owners could be so negligent! Its too bad she couldnt have gotten a sedative to make it easier for the both of you❤. (Hope you got a long break And big tip!)
I really hope in the future Willow gets groomed more often so the appointments can be shorter and she can be in more comfort
I couldn't of said it nicer.
Yes, I was thinking the same 👍
For some owners I think the cost of grooming can be expensive.
It could be that Willow's owners have had a change in circumstances so they can only afford to get her cut once a year
@@user-ho7mg9ol7w A pair of scissors will do the job if completely necessary, let’s not make excuses.
@@ghoultooth not if they're double coated. If this dog has a lot of husky and wolf in him and with how thick his fur looks there's a very good chance he's double coated
The difference in her fidgeting from before and after the shave and bath is REMARKABLE. It really just highlights how much of her behaviour was caused by discomfort. Poor thing, looks like she'll have to come in more often than once a year from here on to prevent this. Stellar job ❤️
Yeah, once a year? Way too little for a grooming unless the owner is doing some of it themselves at home like every 2 months. I can understand if the person has health issues but not if they do not.
Needs weekly grooming at home. That she was so dirty should give a clue
Even a mini groom a few times a year would help. Old gal deserves it.
@@indigo6842 she’s a wolfdog, thats probably not safe tbh
You did a nice job. especially considering how stressed she was
your resilience is incredible. I did a dog grooming course and learnt that I couldn't hack it. it's all so exhausting physically but when the dogs are uncooperative it's taxing mentally too. the guilt of having to put them through it when they're this distressed is so immense, it wore me down. you have my absolute respect for enduring and continuing to help dogs like this. they need you.
Would it be possible to give them dog chewables?
@@adorable3817 They usually lay down when they chew on them. And, you can’t do their muzzle.
Not to mention, some don’t want it taken away after they’ve been given one.
You did an amazing job on Willow. Your knowledge, care, and understanding of their history, and need is great. Willow through all her stress was awesome. I really hope that she will be able to come back again when she needs to without having to wait so long. 🙏🏽❤
I do believe she may have remembered you at least to a point. Some of her actions made me think she was glad to see you if not the grooming salon. However, she seemed to have real joint issues on the rear making it difficult to hold her front feet up. I’m absolutely amazed at how calm you stay with some of these more difficult dogs. I just groom my own, but I’ve more than once had to walk away because I’m getting frustrated and know their nerves and my frustration do Not play well together.
Willow went from looking like a Muppet from the Dark Crystal to an actual dog! What an amazing transformation ❤
Perfect description!
That's exactly what came to my mind too! LMAO!
Augra is where my mind went.
@@rupertmiller9690 Augra's little sister.
@@SirBarth Daugra it is then.
Willow is about to have the best, most comfortable nap of her year so far when she gets home 😅
You know it!
I dunno, I hope she’s not in lots of pain from standing so long, like I am after trying to go out. I wish her restful sleepies.
I appreciate that the owners brought her in to be groomed but I am frustrated that Willow was allowed to get in that condition to begin with. You had so much patience with her and did such a great job in sticking with it till you were to complete her groom.
In my state Animal Control would seize her due to criminal neglect
Yeah really, she looked like she had gone more than 1 year without a groom. Poor girl. But, I bet she felt sooo much better after!
Totally agree. It’s a shame she was let to get that bad
This makes me so sad for Willow. That her owners allowed her to get so matted resulted in such a stressful experience. The itching and matting must be so uncomfortable. Hearing that she used to come in covered in ticks is also so sad. Fourteen years ago everyone knew about the dangers of ticks and there was absolutely medications to prevent infestations. The owners need to look long and hard at how they care for their pets.
Freaking AMEN. I knew how dangerous ticks were in the 80s and early 90s as a KID.
I appreciate how graceful and generous Vanessa is towards her clients' owners, but I agree. It has been well known for over a decade how dangerous ticks are, especially in her region (northeast US/ontario.) As a child I got Lyme disease from a tick bite in New England in the late 90s; at the time, awareness was low, to the point my condition was initially misdiagnosed as viral meningitis and I was given an incorrect treatment (antivirals instead of antibacterial.) The Lyme went into remission for 6mos and was correctly diagnosed & treated only after symptoms returned. But by the mid/late aughts, awareness of tick-borne pathogens was FAR higher.
But I kept having the thought while watching this, that poor Willow deserves to be groomed more often than once a year. It would likely make the experience less stressful and exhausting both for her, and her groomer-and she won't have to spend the majority of a year covered in matts, urine, dirt and with constant itchy skin. She genuinely did seem to comprehend how much better she felt after Vanessa bathed her-just compare how much less visibly stressed and fidgety she is post-bath vs before. Willows owners definitely need to be brushing & bathing her regularly themselves, and/or making more frequent groomer appointments.
@@ennui7778 To let a dog's coat get that bad for a year is just sad. Looking at the cutie, they had to know how her coat was. Doesn't matter if she is an outdoor dog,, she still needs grooming.
I think Willow is in a lot of pain whilst standing so she cannot be properly groomed. She seems to have a lot of muscle problems especially on her back legs. The owners should take care of her, but they do. She is at the groomers. I feel so bad for Willow. Poor lil lady.
@@ennui7778 grow up there are things like poverty and mental illness POS
i feel like its the owners responsibility to maintain their dogs coat so it doesnt get that bad... especially the way shes a senior and cant stand for long periods of time.
I brushed my boy every day for 15yrs, he loved it❤ l miss him so much😢
Especially with such complicated mix of breeds. You’d think they’d at least try…
Well considering it is a farm dog she doesn't go inside. Her job is on the farm
@@Kentucky81 i dont think you understand how bad matting is for a dog so i'll choose not to engage with you
@@Kentucky81 you still have to keep your farm animals healthy and clean. Maybe not as meticulously as a house dog, but when you have a pet with a coat like that, you don’t just let it mat up and get that uncomfortable and unsanitary.
as stressed and uncomfortable as Willow was she did not nip or bite throughout, a very good girl!
my instructor tells us "humanity over vanity". we don't care what a dog looks like at the end of the day as long as they feel better and are healthy, especially if they're as stressed as Willow.
The fact that, even with her moving and flailing as much as she was, you didn’t nick her once is a real testament to your talent. Wonderful job, keep up the amazing work!
*skill
I'm certain Vanessa worked hard and still does to be this precise ♡
@@Broeckcheni use them both simultaneously.
@@TheKeyToNowhere Do you mean interchangeably?
Don't take this as criticism on you, just know that people will almost always appreciate being praised with the word "skill" more. "Talent" makes many people bristle when they hear it applied to them because it kind of implies that they were just born being able to do the thing you praise them for, while in reality they likely worked really hard to get there.
Yeah, most of us understand you just want to compliment us. We will smile and thank you, as is polite.
But if you really want your compliments to make eyes light up, explicitly pointing out that you understood how much effort went into the ability will bring immense joy to everyone. ♡
@@Broeckchen um. yeah i meant that, but i’ve never really minded the difference between talent and skill. thanks for being respectful tho!
Let’s be honest. This is BOTH talent as in an affinity for the task, enjoying the task even though it may be difficult, AND skill, as in learning the best ways to do the thing you love to achieve the best results.
When a dog is this stressed, and esp being old and uncomfortable from the matting/itching, and they still never show aggression you know they have a good home. Optimally she would be groomed more often to avoid this, but that's not always possible. What a good girl and she looks gorgeous! :)
Best way to say it
I like Willow a lot, she reminds me my old Whisky 🫶🫶🫶
@@ToriJadeTalkspoor angel hadnt been groomed in over a year. She was so uncomfortable, I cant understand how anyone can let even a day pass by for their pets to be in discomfort
@@ToriJadeTalks i know. Seeing Willow be so uncomfortable, that she couldn't be still was heartbreaking. The relief she must've felt as soon as she was bathed and groomed would've been immense. Its like she was left outside to fend for herself. I cant imagine not treating my dog with the best of care. All animals deserve to be cared for just like we would want too. If you take on the responsibility of caring for animals, then that's for their entire lifetime. If you have to go without certain things, then that's what you do. There is no excuse, or don't have any pets. So happy Vanessa was able to help Willow ❤🐕💖
So easy to cast judgements, I'm sure you all do everything perfect all the time. Sometimes people have to make compromises and concessions. I'm grateful Vanessa took care of this dog for free. Not everyone leaves their dog ungroomed because they're a sick monster. If you care then do what you can to make life easier for people in your communities instead of casting your useless judgements on those who may be struggling. Willow has a home with people who love her which is more than a lot of shelter and street dogs ever get. Have some fucking compassion
Love that you are emphasizing the fact Willow is stressed, and not merely being difficult out of behavioral issues. Poor baby!!
Pretty sick being able to enjoy a dog being stressed like that.
@@billrich9722 how stupid can 1 person be? Are you 2 years old or something?
@@billrich9722 What? They didn't say they love the dog being stressed, they said they love the fact that the groomer is specifying that's why the dog is difficult.
@@skypirateffamran Pirate scum. You don't get a say in this.
@@billrich9722 They’re just saying they approve of her clarifying that the dog is stressed and it’s not due to behavioral issues, cause those two can get mixed up/lumped together.
My parents' dog recently passed at 16. I took care of her for her last 2 years. She was just like this about grooming. She had arthritis, couldn't stand on 3 legs to do her nails, couldn't stand still for more than a few seconds. So, i did a little with her every day. I clipped one nail a day. I brushed her daily. Cleaned her eyes, ears, etc. Baths were just get her wet, shampoo the dirtiest spots, rinse as quickly as possible. There's no way I could've wrestled her for the whole thing at once. You did great and I'm sure she feels so much better!
I hope the owners of Willow reward your efforts, and de-stress the dog, by bringing her back twice a year for grooming. It's so nice to see an "old lady" like Willow so full of life - and so happy after her groom.
I thought the exact same thing. A reward for both the groomer and the dog, they both did an amazing job considering the state of the dogs coat and her age. If she didn't live in Canada, I'd be taking my dog to her, lol. Shes just fabulous!!!
Typically they don’t. 😢 I’ve been grooming for 10 years and people are not appreciative of what we do at all. It just keeps ending up the same.
3 times a year, at least my little shitzou was 6-8 weeks, or else she was a mess.
Despite being a wolf hybrid, this dog has such a wonderful temperament. She is clearly very stressed but is never aggressive.
I raised quality WH for 10 years, and have had them in my life for 30 years. Who in their right mind would mix a Wheaten Terrier with a wolf, answer is somebody that should have had their female dog spayed!
@@bubblesangel555 question for you since you have experience: there is absolutely no way this is a high percentage wolfdog, no? All the high percentage wolfdogs I’ve seen take on a lot of the wolf characteristics over the dog ones.
@@lexinicole4317 I would guess this is the product of someone’s wheaten accidentally mating with someone’s low-content wolf/husky hybrid. I sure as hell hope nobody would breed one of these intentionally.
@@lexinicole4317 I personally doubt this is a wolfdog at all.
Wolf dogs are like all dogs only more shy of humans. Gotta train and raise them right if ya want a good temperament. Also found myselr more likely to be attacked by smaller dogs cuz the owners dont like training them and baby them too much.
Her temperament change after the bath is incredible. She seemed to have calmed down a bit, and stopped fighting as much. She must have realized that this is a good process, not a punishment 💕
She also got a year’s worth of itchy skin, dirt and debris off of her. Probably felt like a new dog!
@@KG9551 also the time in the crate to dry allowed her to calm down and realise probably
Could she have just worn out from the stress? Her respiratory rate was still pretty high.
@@miguelservetus9534 her body language was clearly more relaxed.
@@miguelservetus9534 It’s probably both. =)
Wow, I didn’t realize how big she was until you stood next to her. I thought she was smaller. She’s so cute.💜💜
I think the lesson here is: get a short-hair, if you’re not willing to keep up with the grooming. She looked more like a ghillie than a willow
Omg Jeff - what an underrated comment! 😂
100%
I totally agree her hair should’ve never gotten that long to start with but this groomer done a wonderful job.
I was wondering if there's some Puli in there.
If an owner doesn't want or can't afford a groomer consistently the _least_ they could do is clip with scissors the fur to a manageable level to brush out.
I'm seriously shocked at how matted her fur was, and all that in the last year? Dang! She looked like she had never been groomed before! Wow... Just wow...
That's exacting what I was thinking. It's not hard to quickly do a daily brush.
@@5117danielle It can be difficult to get them to stay still long enough to get it all at once, though.
@@5117danielle we don’t know if it’s difficult or not.
I believe Vanessa mentioned that last time Willow was groomed by her six years ago. We don't know if she was groomed or even brushed out after that.
@@katel1849 She also mentioned she was groomed last year. Just not by her
The transformation is incredible. Wishing Willow's owners would either comb/brush her daily or get her groomed more often. Poor baby, it must be awful to have itchy skin under pounds of matted fur😢🐾
seriously, F those people.
It's possible the dog gets just as stressed with brushing because of age and/or discomfort. Stressing them out all the time is unhealthy. More frequent grooms might help, but thus dog is really stressed.
It’s also tricky because by the sounds of what was said here, I’m guessing Willow is a farm dog. Usually people living on farms just don’t have as much access to regular grooming appointments, and ample access to mud, long grass, cow poo and all kinds of other things they can get dirty extremely quickly in.
@forshizzlemywizzle she said a farm or a lot of acres. So there might not be cow poo, and I doubt this dog herds animals. Farmers take care of their animals, aIllinois. Because i live in rural illinois.
Not to mention matted with her own urine. I really hope the owners will bring her in more often also, for Willow's own comfort and safety. She deserves it.
Both of you did a great job. This was hard to watch, honestly. I felt so bad for her, but you stuck to it and got the job done so she could feel better. I don't think people understand just how difficult a groomers job is. Thank you for your videos!
Honestly trying really hard to not be upset with her owners, her coat and skin seemed so neglected. It’s no wonder she was so stressed and moved around so much.
You're a lot nicer than I am.
That mass on her chest also looks like it's probably mammary cancer based on the placement of it. Owners are neglectful.
yeah it's really irresponsible...
This is complete neglect and it doesn’t matter if she’s a house dog or a farm dog. They still need grooming. No wonder she doesn’t like it since it only happens once a year…if that. This breaks my heart…😢💔🐶 You my dear are a patient saint! 😇 🐶🙏
Completely agree 100%👍🇬🇧
Not everybody can afford professional grooming but we can all afford some sort of brush. Poor sweety. Would cbd drops help for the stress?
@@skehleben7699 Frankly if you cannot afford the high maintenance grooming costs you cannot afford a high maintenance breed. Anyone who cannot afford to take care of their dogs needs, whatever they may be, cannot afford that dog and should not get that dog. There are plenty of short haired smooth coated breeds that don’t need any fancy care.
Absolutely, why couldn't the owners just brush her two-three times a week? She wouldn't get like this if they did, and is she isn't matted this insanely she wouldn't have to undergo extreme stress at the groomers.
@@skehleben7699 cbd at this level of stress is not going to do enough. At such a level of stress, many groomers would start suggesting taking the dog to the vet for chemical sedation. At this age though, sedation isnt much of an option since it’s so dangerous.
She really was VERY well behaved despite her age and discomfort, never growling or snapping or even whining. What a very good girl I'm sure she feels so much better. ❤
I love it that you put the dog's comfort and safety first. The reason I stopped grooming in salons and went house call is I got written up when I refused to push a dog that was spinning, biting, urinating, defecating, and spontaneously expressing his anal glands. Owners need to understand.
I love how patient you were with her. When you said, “Willow, GIVE UP!” I laughed so hard! Thanks for caring for all of the animals. She looks so much better! 🩵💙
You: Give up!
Willow: NEVER!!!
Yep just cry "Uncle" Willow. You can't win them all Willow.
Her stress maybe isn't the owner's fault, but the state of her certainly is. I sure hope they don't get anymore dogs after she passes, as they obviously are unwilling to do the proper upkeep for them. Leaving her filthy and matted like that is just plain cruel.
She looks so relieved at the end to be done grooming and to finally be clean. Great job!
Her stress is their fault though, she wouldnt have to be this stressed if they took her in more often, its so fucked up. The groom is extensive because of how neglected she is, poor thing.
At the very least if they do get another dog, hopefully they choose an easier breed of dog that doesn't require much upkeep
Will everyone cool it! She already explained this is not due to the owners, it’s something older dogs can go through.
@@playinglifeoneasy9226 No, the state of her fur is lack of care, period. Daily brushing would be enough to prevent the mess she is in. The lazy owners don't get an easy out.
@@playinglifeoneasy9226 seriously? You’re foolish
I actually feel sorry for willow. Her owners should have tried to help their dog. Especially since she's older and nervous. Poor puppy.
You did a great job with her. You never judge the owners, but I bet most of us on this side do.
I am willing to bet the owners previous groomer either went out of business or left the area. My dog went a long time without grooming cause the woman who took care of him lost her business, it took a while to find somebody we actually had some faith in.
The owners clearly care because they took thier dog to Vanessa for help. We shouldn't assume the worst in people. We don't know how this situation happened, just that the owners want it fixed and made it happen.
Sometimes there are serious financial constraints. Covid was very hard on some.
Sometimes real life happens in ways we never expect and lots of things, not just our pets being groomed get neglected. It’s unfortunate but it happens. (From experience)
@@PredictableEnigmatook em long enough. But I’m glad they gained sense to help her. Plus we don’t know if they care. I mean they let her get like this.. doing this once a year ain’t showing care
I love your videos. I appreciate that you don’t add filler background music. It’s not needed. I like hearing you narrate what you’re doing and soothing the dogs/cats without the distraction of looped music. The editing is top notch. The sound is uniform. I can hear you clearly and the clipper and blow dryer noise isn’t loud. Please don’t change a thing. I especially like the before and after edit at the end. ❤
I wholeheartedly agree. Your presentation is spot-on. Thanks for sharing with us!
Agreed 100%
That is the weirdest and least wolfy looking wolf hybrid that I have ever seen. Also this groom looks likeit was incredibly stressful; I really don't think I could handle all that jerking, I would be so terrified of accidentally knicking her. Deep respect, you made her look very nice in the end! I fommend your courage!❤
She is from a wolf mix parent - so hugely unlikely to show features herself
The fur is the part that doesn't look wolflike. Most wolf-hybrids are purposely mixed with breeds that already look like wolves. The terrier part that was mixed in in her case is what makes her look different.
@@rebeccahicks2392 No breed looks like wolves. No not even huskies, they just look psychotic.
Her paws, before shaved, looked crazy! Afterwards, not quite as much! Nice looking and younger looking at the end.
Looks more like wolfhound mix :)
I just need to know who thought a husky + wolf + wheaten was a good idea. Thank you for taking care of that older, uncomfortable dog though - you always appear to be kind, gentle, but firm in your boundaries!
Likely not a planned breeding 😕
Someone too stupid to get their animals spayed and neutered.
@@katiekane5247 I truly hope not, but considering things these days, you can never be too certain, ya know 😬😅
The sire and dam certainly thought it was a good idea!
Hopefully Miss Willow was an accident!
What a combination of breeds! Husky, Wheaton, and Wolf? That had to be a series of accidents. It seems like one would never want a curly Wheaton mixed with a headstrong wolf who might not tolerate grooming as well. You were so patient and calm with her, Vanessa, great job (as always)!
Huskys and wolves rarely make a good cross as well.
jasmine hagerman but a huskys are descendants of the wolf so it's not really a rare mix
@@daniellewoolley8607 I mean aren't all dogs
Sounds like a pub. The Husky, Wheaton and Wolf.
@@daniellewoolley8607 So is every other dog. Almost all modern day dogs share common ancestry with wolves. Huskies might share a little bit more than others, but it's practically inconsequential by this point, and doesn't really affect whether or not they breed well together. I'd imagine it's a common mix solely because of appearances- Huskies already look "wolfy" to people so they want an even wolfier looking dog. Plus Huskies are a good size to pair with a wolf compared to, say, a chihuahua or something smaller.
Your patience and tenacity is an inspiration! Willow looks like she feels so much better for your hard work - and it obviously was *very* hard!
What a good girl. No aggression, even though she is SO stressed
She was never exactly calm, but you could tell she was much calmer, much more comfortable, and less itchy after her bath and crate dry. She wasn't panting in that hoarse frantic way anymore.
This is why I won't do once a year grooms anymore. I am old and can't take it. I always try and tell the people how stressful it is on the dog. It is much easier to do three to 4 times a year. Easier for the groomer and the dog! You did awesome! She look great at the end. I bet she went home and slept for two day after!
Yeah, some people can't afford it what was 50 when you got the dog is now 130
@@alittlewoowoo2214Vet bills also get more expensive when pets get older. It’s just a part of having a pet. Grooming a dog less than 4 times a year puts them under unnecessary stress. If you can’t afford it, learn how to do it at home.
@@thicciesmallsI mean not everyone as the physical strength nor space to groom a dog at home some only have tiny sinks and little squares upright showers. The cost of everything as Triple , lot's of people that got a dog 10-15years ago the dog is now old and the economy as gone down the drain. I don't think anyone planned for covid etc. It was covid our water heater was broken for over a year and half , it was hard just showering ourselves, 😂At that point my 120lbs dogs didn't get bathed for over a year and the other groomer before that charged us 400$ and he never had space to groom him , luckily we found a better groomer now and my dog actually loves her. But were all just human and we can't plan 100% of everything that could possibly happen to us or how our circumstances can change. That's just part of life. At least the owner is bringing her now , she's just doing the best she can, it sucks for the groomer but she did awesome and each groomer is free to say yes or no on the job depending on their own capacity. Also a reminder that it sucks too for the dog to not be groomed but wild animals can also have it much worse than dry skin and matted hair. Just keeping things in perspective
@@alittlewoowoo2214it's absolutely understandable that more than once a year may be too expensive for people, but in this case, you have to learn to care for and groom your dog yourself. My dog is a very anxious stray, adopted from a shelter and we never go to a groomer but she has a meticulous grooming regimen at home, including weekly deep brushings, monthly overall fur trimming (less on winter) and nail clipping or trimming as necessary. If people aren't letting their children's hygiene go, they shouldn't let their animals' hygiene go either
Yeah who the fuck only grooms them once a year. That's fucking abuse and ridiculous
She must feel so much better. Imagine being that itchy and unable to make it go away yourself. I'd go insane!
Poor dog, she needed that ages ago. Must have been a great feeling.
I’m trying to figure out how you own a long hair dog breed and don’t even brush them….like I know grooming is expensive but like that was unacceptable 😢
Bust up laughing when you were suddenly on the table with her. She was grateful and seemed cooperative after she felt good from her bath. Your patience is an amazing trait and it makes these videos so relaxing.
My wee dog has went to the same groomer. Unfortunately there was times I couldn’t afford the fee. She showed me one day how hard letting her grow was on her and offered me a payment plan. Thankfully now my financial position has improved and I recommend my groomer to everyone. My wee dog runs into the shop and enjoys spending time there. Groomers are amazing people xx
That's really wonderful to hear about you and the groomer cooperating for the well being of the dog
@@lanasinapayen3354OP said "the same groomer", I think it's Vanessa.
For an older girl, I think Willow behaved rather well. You have the patience on Job & the artistic skills of a master. Her stress level caused you to stress. You worryied about health. Vanessa you are a blessing for the critters you groom. GOD BLESS your hands.
I had a purebred Wheaten who acted just like this at the groomer. We were uninvited from all of them. Our home grooming attempts were *interesting*
😂😂😂😅
Poor Willow looked so so very sad before. After she seemed alot more happy. Probably really sore and tired after her much needed groom and bath. Now she deserves a nice nap in her favorite spot. She was a pretty good girl.
I can't believe her owners didn't even brush her for so long. They have a brand new start to take better care of her. She's a strong old girl who deserves to be.
i agree
Poor thing. She deserves better.
That poor baby! Once a year? I doubt it....seemed longer to me. To let the dog get to the point of painful matting, urine infused fur and itchy skin is abuse. No question. If you didn't charge them, why don't they bring her more often? That would help desensitize her also. What a sweet girl she was. Great job!
I feel the same way willow. I am old and uncomfortable too. Willows groom is amazing. I could not believe how much better she felt after her bath. Bless her heart.
Praying Willow Lives Long after her Stressful Grooming!😮🙏🐶🐶❤❤ You made her look Great, despite the Struggle! Her Owners must be so Thankful for your attention to her details once they heard how difficult her grooming was!😊❤❤❤❤
For as old and as matted as she was, she does seem like a really nice dog. She was anxious but didn't show any signs of a bad temper or meanness. Her groom turned out really nice and I'm sure her owners were grateful. Thanks for such a long and detailed video.
You can tell; Willow feels SOOOO much better after that incredible grooming.
She looked like a small dog when she came in, but once she stood on the table one could see how big she actually is! Great job - I know who this feels
I thought the same! I thought she was beagle sized until she stood next to her then I was like WHAAAAT?!
@@arlathvhenashamariachi2031 IKR! She’s not as small as she appeared at all, which tracks.
Can't imagine wearing like two layers of blankets and then its just gone
Usually they’ll have to wear some clothes to compensation for lack of warmth.
It’s just like getting out of bed in the morning 🙂
As an owner of a 15 and a half year old wolfdog...i can attest how incredibly strong they still are into old age. Willow looks very happy after her transformation
I wish there were a way to tell a dog like her that she'll feel much better once it's all over. It just is heartbreaking to see them not understand
It sucks but it's for their own good, she's helping these dogs and reading the dogs behavior to her best ability to make the experience the least traumatizing
@@mikuenjoyerXD she really is making a good difference, I in no way meant to come off like she was doing bad, it's just difficult that dogs don't understand since we'll. They're dogs hahah
For as uncomfortable as she was , not snapping or even growling is incredible. You both did wonderfully.
After many of your videos, I do my best now to give owners grace, because we don't always know their situation, but I just can't with this one. Even if they couldn't get her to a groomer, there's no excuse for them to have let her get _this_ bad. That poor dog was sooo uncomfortable and clearly in pain and discomfort from how bad that matting was. You don't have to be a professional groomer to brush your dog. Old age or not, her temperament wasn't anything like some of the other bad cases you've groomed, where I could at least understand how the owners might not have been able to take care of their elderly dog. This poor girl looks like they haven't bathed or brushed her since the last time she saw you. There's no reason to let a dog with her temperament ever get this bad. The difference in her body language (the fidgeting, stress, etc) before and after only reinforces my opinion that, as kind as you try to be, the owners are 100% to blame. The state she came into your home in toes the line of abuse.
You still don't know what went down though, do you?
The pandemic disrupted people's lives, and there's been who survived but are disabled from it. God's grace is limitless, but that of his own creation isn't, and that's on us. We like to pretend we know things, that our interpretation of the facts is the right one, even when the evidence we draw on is sketchy at best. Feelings are not facts, and judging on facts is just a lot more safer that judging on feelings. It might be hard, but it's not right or fair fair to judge on feelings.
@@BigHenFor The facts we do have outweigh my feelings about the matter. Anybody who knows anything about pets, on the most basic level, can see that this dog has not even been brushed at home. Using the pandemic as an excuse to neglect your pet is the dumbest response I've seen. She's had other dogs come in that have pretty bad matting, due to the others not being able to afford, or get to a groomer during pandemic times. Those owners STILL brushed their pets at home, and the matting was MILES away from this situation. When you take care of your pet at home, to the best of your ability, it's sections of fur that are matted, not an entire cost like this. The facts in this video are that this dog has not been brushed or bathed in months, at minimum. Maybe it's a difficult dog to bathe, but that's STILL doesn't justify the owners not brushing it. Caring for your pet is more than just feeding and playing with them, especially for certain cats and dogs with high maintenance coats (which this really isn't when compared to akitas, huskies, etc), and your life problems don't justify neglecting your responsibilities as a pet owner - whether you consider them a family member or just a pet. If you can't handle those responsibilities, don't own a pet. Period.
@@BigHenForI’m so over people using the pandemic as an excuse for everything under the sun. It’s 2024! Are you saying that since the pandemic began in 2020, that now, 4 years later, that it’s an excuse not to do the most basic care for your pet? Now I’ve heard it all. And IF you watched the video, the family traditionally only had Willow groomed ONCE A YEAR! So if you want to make excuses for neglect, go for it. Clearly the majority of us see if for what it is.
@@BigHenForwow someone who believes the PLANDEMIC is bad enough. You talk about facts? Well look at the FACTS on that disaster of government abusing its citizens. Suppose it makes sense you use the pandemic to excuse not caring for your dog. You don't have to be a groomer to bathe your dog. You don't need to be a groomer to brush your dog on a regular basis and make sure they are comfortable. You sound like you are just virtue signalling but are talking nonsence.
Willow must have been horrendously uncomfortable. She is sweet. The owners need to do it more often.
That was the most epic groom I've seen yet. The litter of puppies was less difficult.
You can tell she is SO much more comfortable now that all that matting is gone and she's had a nice bath and isn't itchy anymore!! When she walks around your back yard at the end, it's so clear 'cause she holds her head much higher and seems so much more comfortable and happy
You are a master of your craft. Your patience and ability turned Willow into a thing of beauty. As uncomfortable as Willow was during the grooming, I am sure she appreciated your efforts. Thanks for allowing us to watch a master craftsperson at work.
While I believe every pet deserves a home where they are loved and their needs are taken care of, I still admire that you don't judge the owners even when their pet comes in a bad condition. I'm sure a lot of owners feel comfortable coming to you to get their pets groomed, even when things get bad because embarrassment can be a hell of a deterrent and your kindness and compassion to both the owner and the pet probably makes them less embarrassed.
So true.
Poor pup! She was obviously stressed but I’m sure she felt better. She certainly looks better.
For a dog so stressed, she showed no ill temper… she must be such a lovely old dog when she’s feeling good :)
All that matted coat must have been so heavy. On an older dog like her, I bet she feels so much relief, especially after that bath. Thank you for all you do.
I hope they bring her back more frequently. The job would be way easier on her, and whoever does it, if her coat condition wasn't so far gone, I think.
Despite Willow's stress level she actually did better than I was expecting. Willow definitely calmed down a little after the bath. You did a phenomenal job, and Willow looks like she's feeling much better.
I wonder if she wasn't so stressed because she was so matted and uncomfortable, and didn't exactly remember/recognize where she was.
@@rokelle_2012 that's a very real possibility.
Dog is under so much stress, yet she never once tried to bite you. Incredible work!
Poor Willow. How could the owners let Willow get into such a state. Poor Willow. As usual, you did a wonderful job. 👍
Looks like neglect to me
@@PaladinDansesGirlfriend Exactly
If I was Vanessa I would've reported Willow's owners. I am not sure about Canadian laws, but it's obvious case of neglect.
Maybe they're old or disabled or something.
@@christinastokes5534 If you can't take care of a dog, you should give it away to someone who can.
I honestly don’t know how you do it. It exhausted me watching you groom Willow. It’s also so impressive to watch you use the scissors so effortlessly. Thank you for caring so much to help out these amazing fur babies!
What a beautiful transformation!! Despite being incredibly anxious.. Willow seems like such a sweet girl.
It's got to feel so much better for her too!
She doesn’t look or act her age she looks way younger
I believe Willow is a really sweet little old lady. She never snapped at you. She came out beautifully. You did a fantastic job on a very difficult older dog. Your care for the animals is touching. Such good work.
I grew up with a Wheaton. She was my princess and that dog lived to love people. Seeing this dog come in such bad shape is heart breaking. These dogs have a nervous temperament to begin with and any amount of sustained discomfort or stress feels like a punishment to them. You don't have to be a professional to brush, bathe, or even groom your dog for comfort. Doesn't have to be pretty, just practical. A lot of wheaton terriors live to 15, 16, 17. I hope this dog gets better care going forward.
You poor baby Willow! You're just a beautiful soul!
It's so cruel to allow her to get to this state! It's so upsetting to see her so agitated and no doubt filled with pain!
I had to skip foreword bc it was too much to wat h her stress!
To the owners: Do better by this beautiful girl, she deserves to be comfortable like you are!
Willow literally looks like a whole new dog after the grooming! You did an amazing job!
It most definitely isn't the dogs fault, you are correct on that. But there are many things the owners could be doing at home so that she doesn't get this bad and only once a year get cleaned up.... Poor girl. And I say that respectfully. This was one of the most incredible transformations you've done, and did it with a dog that was very stressed.... Maybe the owners could bring her every 6 months to help her with that anxiety...
There are also 'treats' a vet can prescribe that help relieve anxiety in pets. Great for grooming, car rides/travel, fireworks, guests, etc.
@@melissaharris3389 yes.... And I know you have to be careful based on age, but they can help....
@@rondameier8168 Always consult your vetanarian.
@@melissaharris3389 absolutely!!!
@@melissaharris3389 And those get less advised the older the dog is. She's an old dog. It's likely a vet would warn AWAY from this!
Your ability to have so much patience and keep your sense of humor through that groom is commendable. It was stressing me out to watch Willow stress out . I’m sure she feels 100% like a new dog and will sleep so hard when she gets home.
I am exhausted just watching you work. You are one strong woman. Hopefully Willow's owners will treat her to a quarterly groom so maintenance and stress is a minimum for Willow and the groomer.
As ever, you did a very good job. In my experience, wolf crosses are not like dogs. They are terrified of everything. My husband's family used to have wolf crosses as they lived in the mountains of central Europe and they are common there. At one point they had three of them. The biggest was the Rhodesian Ridgeback/wolf cross. She was a tank who would hide in the bath and scream for hours whenever a storm was coming because they still have wild instincts that everything they encounter may cause death. Lots of people don't realise that dogs have had those instincts bred out of them. They had huge litters of puppies - largest litter size was 12 puppies, all healthy. Travelling anywhere with them was a nightmare - my husband once had to transport them for three hours in a van and he was a wreck afterwards because they were terrified screaming and pooping for the whole journey. Experiences that dogs become accustomed were difficult with wolf crosses. Many people won't consider taking a wolf cross into their home, so even if owners are struggling it is difficult to re-home. It used to take three people to hold my in-law's Rhodesian Ridgeback wolf cross for the groomers to do their work. Doing that at home was.... interesting. They aren't dogs and it's difficult to treat them as dogs.
We never had issues traveling with ours and they were never fearful or exhibited anxiety. They didn't like being bathed, but would tolerate it. Malmute/Arctic Tundra Wolf (1/4,3/4) and GSD/Timber Wolf (1/8, 7/8). I miss them greatly even after 15+ years. We did have them from pups and they were heavily socialized and handled.
There’s like no chance this dog has wolf, is they did maybe like 1%. But quite honestly this dog has 0 wolf qualities.
@@idkman6496 Your visual guess based on a less than 20 minute video is irrelevant and worthless compared to the DNA test the owners probably did
Dingos are much the same.
@@idkman6496 What makes you an expert? With mixes, there's no telling what characteristics they'll get from which parent, even more so when breeds in question are grandparents rather than parents.
But you're wrong about her exhibiting "0 wolf qualities."
She looked a lot smaller before seeing you stand near her, but she’s actually bigger than her mix has her looking on her own (without scale)
Just FYI Vanessa is 4’10 & 100lbs for context. So most dogs look big next to her.
Wolf, husky, & wheaton
I hope her owners get her groomed more often now!
And brush her every day…even a little
I hope you hear this a lot but I'm so grateful at how patient you are with the more challenging groomings. You are so understanding and you don't typically lay blame anywhere just tell us the facts. I enjoy your channel
Poor Willow... My dog is 16 and I couldn't even imagine neglecting him like this.
The owners are probably old and/or disabled. They live on acres of land? They must be old. They probably *love* her, they just can't
OMG, if her arthritis is anything like mine, standing still is all but impossible. You are a hero for grooming her with such kindness. Her life just got better.
12:50 Just incredible to see the difference in Willow's level of stress and discomfort once she was dematted & bathed! She was still being fidgety for feet etc, but no longer seemed to be continuously uncomfortable? Really sad to see a dog (esp. an older one) in this condition, hope that Vanessa was able to give the owners some off-camera encouragement on how to avoid that recurring 😬
she definitely did, i know my mom's favorite place for her dogs gave tips
It really seems like having itchy lady parts made her so antsy at least in part. I can't imagine wanting to hold still if my undercarriage was that matted and dirty :(
Bless your and Willow’s heart. ❤️ Vanessa, your mom and family should be so proud of you.
Hi Vanessa. This has to be the most stressful groom I've ever seen you do - both for you and for the dog. Bless you for powering through it while being careful not to cut Willow. That was a very hard task and took a lot of patience, determination, and skill. I don't blame the dog. I do blame the owners for letting her get in that bad of a condition; it's flat out neglect.
I feel like Willow and older dogs like her would benefit from getting painkillers before a grooming appointment since she's so antsy and probably sore. Getting proper grooming done is SO important for her wellbeing and getting her as comfortable as possible should be the ultimate goal.
You did great
A dose of anti-anxiety medication can also be helpful
If an animal is very difficult, some veterinary practices will offer sedated grooms as well. But it won't be to look good, it'll be for medical purposes.
😊my vet gave us trazadone which we use for grooming and vet appointment to help with anxiety
My cat is very old. She doesn't get groomed but they can't just sedate because it's hard on kidney and such
@@girffrommars trazadone is excellent and should have been used for this poor pup. Her stress was far too great for her age
WOW, that was a bit difficult to watch. I'm sure that neither party wanted to be there, but your skill and talent won out. You look GREAT, Willow!
My dog is 14 years old. I can certainly say that Willow was not trying to be difficult. She is just a beautifully aged lady who was doing her. I hope she feels better now. This was an amazing transformation!!
The matting is appalling. I’m guessing her owners may be elderly and didn’t realize how bad it got. What an outstanding job you did! My favorite quote: “Why are you so agile at your age?” 😂
i was just thinking that. if THAT'S how her coat got after a year, i dont get why she gets groomed only once a year. i cant imagine washing my hair and body once a year. my head gets itchy after just a couple days, so imagining how itchy and uncomfortable she was makes me miserable just thinking about it
My dog also has wheaten terrier in him, his coat is sooo fluffy and out of control sometimes and he abhors being brushed. I try to get him shaved atleast twice a year to get it before it gets as bad as willow. But I always feel so bad because of how anxious and upset it makes him.
You can tell from the way she walked around before and after that she felt SO much better. She looks incredible, and clearly feels incredible too!!
If stress was defined with a video this is it. You are a true professional to put Willow’s health and safety before anything even if it means powering through a tough groom. Willow never nipped or growled and definitely seemed grateful to you and understood what you were trying to do but of course those old ladies aren’t going to give you an easy time.
And she apologized to Willow for needing to use a restraint on her for her wellbeing.
Bless her elderly and fidgety little heart ❤❤ you did a great job on such a stressed out doggy 😘
Grooming an old girl like that is not only stressful for the dog but for the groomer as well. Beautiful transformation.
Your expertise and dedication really shine through in this one. She looked almost like an escaped sheep with a terribly overgrown fleece. I was almost in despair at how uncomfortable that must have been for her and how daunting for you. Well done!!
I was a groomer when I was your age and this dog brings back memories, I was the groomer that all the dogs came to after they had been asked not to come back by their previous groomers. I applaud your perseverance. I had lots of clients that were well behaved and most of the ones that came to me because of bad behavior or just difficult grooms became better over time if I could convince the owners to keep them on a routine grooming schedule
I had a groomer like you. I had a little blind from birth poodle mix rescue who also had seizures. Before we found this one groomer, they would medicate her, I can't think of the word. Then I found a great groomer who was able to groom her. She was awesome because she just put us on the schedule and then came to get the dogs on the day of their appointment. She picked up all her clients! One time I was gone in the morning, and right after I got home, there was a ring at my door, and she had all four of my dogs. I didn't even know they had gone to the groomers. My husband at the time had been home when she picked them up and didn't think to tell that the dogs were all at the groomers. We had the best laugh about it, that I didn't even realize that all four of my dogs were not at home. I just thought they were in the backyard and hadn't asked to come in. We both worked from home, so they would come in and out all day long. I have ADHD, so having her pick up my dogs was so perfect. She always told me it was so her clients humans didn't forget their appointments. I would laugh and tell her I felt so seen in that comment. Finding a good groomer who can teach the nervous dogs it is all okay is priceless. Finding a groomer like that, that will also pick up your 4 dogs on the day of their appointments is also priceless! That is exactly why my dogs got regular grooms because it was just always on the schedule.
This was beyond impressive. Thank you so much for looking after elderly dogs and understanding that just like humans, temperament and behaviour can change and it’s through no fault of their own. And the things you did to try and help her or make her feel comfortable and not giving up because you wanted her to be comfortable. I hope there’s more people like you out there. You certainly gotta work out
Poor Willow. She’s a beautiful dog. I wish her parents would bring her in every 3-6 months.
My dog was 15, almost 16. It became significantly harder to get through a groom as she neared the end. For me, it was better to do what I could at home and take her in every 9 months. Her marvelous groomer was patient and knew the limits (almost life long groomer, so it wasn't as stressful as having someone new every time) but she definitely wouldn't have been a happy camper on that raised table every 3 to 6 months.
older dogs are very difficult to get groomed consistently. the constant stress is NOT good or easy on them at all, shes not a young dog anymore.
@@sora1498 I do get that. I just also don’t think it’s smart to let it get to this point either? Might not be so bad if her condition didn’t get so bad. But, I do understand it’s a difficult line to know which is best.