Expert: Alison Hester Date: 1/7/2008 Subject: Grooming and ill-mannered pup
Question I have a Golden Retriever (runt we believe) who is gets heat rash. She has long thick fur and living in Florida makes it more difficult for her. We have been advised to take her to the groomer to get her shaved occasionally. The only problem is she is very timid and does not let anyone but her family get close to her. She will bark and attempt to bite. She has not bit any one yet but its only a matter of time it seems. What I am asking is should we just muzzle her and take her to get shaved or is it simply not worth the trauma?
Answer Hmmmm, this is one of those "your darned if you do, darned if you don't" questions. If you leave her with a full coat she's uncomfortable all the time, unless you turn the air down reallllly low. Where as a muzzle for 2 hours at the groomers seems almost like a vacation. A moment of trauma or days of uncomfortable itch. There is one other alternative, sedation from a vet. I hope this answers your question. If it any comfort, you can take her to the groomer a few times before you have her shaved just to introduce them, maybe this will ease her into the hole process eliminating the need for a muzzle at all. Good luck, I hope things work out for you and her.
