I think its silly for people to assume you’re being too cautious when grooming. It’s much easier to say when you’re not the one face to face with a frightened animal.
Fear biters are the worse. Once u have been bitten it s a different story. I m sure all dogs sense when you’re apprehensive but she is really good and not appearing fearful. I don’t t think she was afraid anyway. She was given information re the dog and she responded with intelligence. Owners really should advise pp of dogs behavioural traits. What a huge difference. When my children were babies, i used to babysit dogs. I had a form and made sure to get a list of their shared vocabulary. That helped so much. Once i had a dog i wanted to take something off of. I kept saying give…… he would not . Then i said drop it and down it went. It was one of the most helpful bits of info, aiding in communication.
@WangGolden Predator noun : an animal that naturally preys on others. Preys,verb, 3rd person perfect: catch and kill for food Common prey for dogs: small animals - mice, voles, rabbits, birds, insects and so forth Hope this was somewhat elucidating.
@@WangGoldenbuddy humans domesticated dogs for hunting. Just because they can see us as family doesn't mean they can't become dangerous. There are definitely cases where people freak out over nothing but when someone who works with dogs for a living is cautious it's because they know better.
Wow, that silence from her is scary. You do a phenomenal job with these animals. Some people are born to do what they do and you’re one of them, Vanessa. It’s a rare gift you possess.
@@Skatejock21 Yeah I agree with this a thousand % People can have gifts but if they're not harnessed with hard work, they will never come to fruition. I also know people who never were gifted in what they're doing and they're among the best in the field. In my opinion, a gift is anything you're willing to put hard work on.
I completely agree. Vanessa is just amazing. Perfectly tuned into the dog's stressers and feelings, and takes the time to gain the dog's trust. That said, she does have an amazing gift. She is definitely doing what she was born to do.
One of my favourite things when you have a dangerous dog is seeing them go... Oh, I feel better now. It's so subtle, but it's mostly "this lady is nice to me, even though I'm scared" and it's a rare, precious gift. You're really talented Vanessa.
I had this moment with a wild baby bunny I was rehabbing. He had a bot fly, and he had to have it pulled out. Little man basically gave birth from a hole in his chest. Afterwards, he would come to my hand and let me touch him like he knew I was only gonna help him. 10/10 I miss my bot fly baby
someone i know had a rescued akita inu that fella was absolutely petrified of having any examination or grooming so my friend had to do a lot of his care with a professionals guidance because no one wants a akita biting them it's so sad but it is good that these dogs are cared for in my experience there is never a bad dog normally it's fear or they have had poor owners in the past.
I had a career ending dog bite from a Lhasa Apso. I was holding my breath when you started scissoring her face. Bravo to your courage and calming manner!
I’m not a dog groomer, but I got attacked and bitten by a Great Pyrenees a couple years ago and this video also had me holding my breath. Dog groomers are so courageous
I believe it. People don’t believe me when I tell them there are certain things I can’t do grooming wise with my rescued senior Lhasa Apso. She may be tiny and have 4 teeth but she’s deceptively strong and fast.
She's a Maremma mix, her bite force is designed to handle wolves. You were so brave, thank you for making her feel better and persevering! I hope her owners find her a regular groomer she can have a better relationship with in the future.
I've never heard of a Maremma, but wow, such a Beautiful Dog 🐾 I want 1. I had a Wolf Hybrid & he was Such a good Boy. He didn't like to be groomed, & would only let Me Brush & wash him. My Yorkie mix Loved Bathtime, she resembles this dog only very small. Both my Dogs passed away recently & I miss them so much 😥
@@audreyheather they're not exactly a house dog or family pet. They've been around for roughly 2000 years, with a very specific purpose in mind and selectively bred for the traits required to do that job well. The purpose was as an unmanaged livestock guardian that would independently protect a flock or herd for weeks or months of little to no human contact. They bond with their herd and protect them against all manner of predators, including wolves, without instruction or guidance from the human shepherd. The pups are generally trained by their parents, not a human, even still today. For this reason, they are often aloof with most humans and regard them with suspicion. They don't do well in obedience because thousands of years of thinking for themselves and making their own choices is what guides them, they don't believe that you know better or make the right call. They will bond with their family and other animals on their property, but if they decide that an animal they grew up with is a threat to their herd, they won't hesitate to attack it. If they decide that a visitor, including a child visitor, is a threat to their family or herd, they won't hesitate to attack it either and they won't necessarily believe you if you try to intervene and tell them it's safe. They have independent thought and make independent decisions about the safety of their family and herd. In their mind, you don't own them, they own you and they're responsible for your safety and protection. They do poorly in small yards and areas that have other people living close by, they require a large area of acreage to patrol and defend. Part of their natural defense is barking, they bark A LOT, especially at night when there's more likely to be predators around. They do this to declare their presence and reduce the risk of a predator entering their territory, they won't stop if you ask them to, they will only stop if they think they've barked enough for the moment to get their point across. They'll start again in 20 minutes or so in case a new predator has stumbled into the area and missed the earlier decree. They can make a great pet to a person in a rural area with acreage, as long as you're prepared to put up with the nightly vigil of barking. You also need to be extremely confident in your dog training and handling ability and be prepared to have that all thrown back in your face and fail miserably at getting them to do any of the things that you want to train them to do. They are lovely dogs, but they require an owner who has done their research well and is prepared for what the breed is like. Unless you've had another breed of livestock guardian dog in the past, they're nothing like any dog you've had in the past. A vast number of unprepared owners end up surrendering these dogs to rescues and shelters and they're sadly put to sleep because they've been ruined by a person who thought they could train one to be a back yard pet or apartment couch potato, they usually fail and it's at the expense of the dog. Key points are that the dog needs a lot of space, it is noisy, it needs a job to occupy its mind, it needs a herd or flock to bond with and protect, it isn't obedient, it's suspicious of people and can be aggressive. I have chickens and goats, my maremmas have a job, they have acreage to patrol and protect, they do provide us with broken sleep every night with their barking but we don't have neighbours to upset. Our dogs don't entirely trust us or our judgement, they make their own choices about how to react to things. I love them, they're wonderful, smart, perceptive big floof balls, but I can't bath or clip them with total confidence, any more than this groomer can with this dog that doesn't know her. The whole time I was watching this, all I could think was "why would you?!", why on earth would anyone cross a maremma with a poodle? What the heck were they thinking and did they leave their brain somewhere during birth or childhood 🤦♀ Don't get me wrong, I love poodles, I've had standard poodles and a poodle x golden retriever in the past, I have mini poodle house pet now, but they're an entirely different dog with an entirely different purpose and this is an insane cross that was asking for trouble from the get go. I'm not at all surprised by this poor dog's behaviour or emotional state, simply based on the nature of those two breeds and the poor cross that it would produce. I wish people would stop getting or especially breeding dogs based solely on the "this is cute" mentality, because it's always the dog that suffers the consequences in the end 😓
@@beccavaughan5595 I agree with most of your comment, especially bit about how many are put to sleep as owners have failed them. We have taken one in that was about to be put down because he bit his owner and literally snapped her arm in half. Not dog’s fault at all. We had him here for over 2 years now and he never once showed any aggression. I believe dog had no respect for previous owners . I am an owner of 10 well bred Maremmas and not one of them is aggressive. If bred and raised correctly, they are confident dogs and biting is the last resort. They will always give plenty of warning first. I trust my dogs 100% not to bite anyone and when it comes to small children, even though they didn’t grow up around small kids, they are extremely careful and gentle around them. When it comes to grooming, mine are the easiest dogs to groom but we make it our daily routine from day one. Few minutes of soft brushing, playing with feet, touching ears and so on. They get used to it. They are the best breed ever but to raise a well adjusted Maremma, you need lots of patience and great sense of humour. They are one of a kind breed.
A couple weeks back I was bit by a dog at my place of work. I kept going back over the even in my mind, trying to find any instance of aggressive behavior from him, but I could never find anything. Thanks to this video I now know that he was one of these types of dogs. The quiet but dangerous types. Once you explained it, the dog was exhibiting those signed of stress. Not making eye contact, shying away, and going really stiff. Thanks to this video, I know what happened and how to prevent it in the future. Thank you
I'm very afraid of dogs, but mainly it's because I don't know the signs. For example, I'm not afraid of cats because I know the behavior, the signs. Also I feel like dogs feel the fear I feel of them
One of our dogs is a rescue who came to us extremely matted. He was 14 months old and had never been brushed or groomed to the point his tail was partially matted to his body and he couldn't wag it properly. His first grooming experience was to remove the mats and was very stressful. Over a year later, we still struggle to brush him. It has improved quite a bit. I see a lot of comments blaming owners, but for many with rescues we didn't have the opportunity to get him used to grooming early.
I would still blame the owner…the previous owners that caused the poor pupper to need rescue. Good think they have a good, caring home now with responsible, loving pet parents.
@@AuskaDezjArdamaathUnfortunately, there are a lot of dogs who are born on the streets and never had a previous owner. My MIL's husky/collie is such a case. Poor thing is a nutcase, as is his siblings.
I'm sorry but WHY TF would you TAKE ON a dog like that!!?? If they are sooo difficult and a aggressive violent street there us NOOOOO FKING CHANCE I'm dealing with that fking dog!! They better off be euthanized so they don't suffer anymore!!
I want to add to this: even if your dog *has* been groomed from a young age, they may absolutely hate being groomed. My parents had, over the years, four Old English Sheepdogs. First one? Loved the attention of a groom, would patiently sit for any grooming. Unless you were overly aggressive about a bit of matted fur, he wouldn't make a noise or anything. Second one was similarly calm, but would passively resist a brushing by just lying on one side and refusing to do anything else, and would just shift his body and weight to keep you from working on one side or another as much as possible. Number 3 and 4 came together from the same litter. The female had a different coat than standard, didn't mind being brushed. The fourth? He *hated* brushing. He would actively hide if he thought you were opening a drawer that had ever had brushes in it. He didn't like being shaved either, and would snap at the groomer when he got his annual puppy cut if he wasn't muzzled. If he wasn't being groomed, he was absurdly friendly and gregarious, wanting to meet and cuddle absolutely every human being in the world. He loved even going to the vet's office, because people! Would pet him! He *hated* the groomers. Some dogs just hate being groomed. We tried a lot of things to get him to let us brush him; he did not care at all. Did not want it at all, and as you may figure out, that made all of his problems with his coat worse.
She was absolutely terrified. Instead of trying to force her through the experience, you stopped when she was agitated, you gave her space and respect, and as a result, she knew you weren’t going to hurt her. Respect goes both ways.
It’s a fine line of judgment between deciding to hold back when an animal is nervous or pushing through it to prove to them they will be okay. Sometimes very nervous dogs resort to biting to stop humans from doing things they don’t like and when that works, they always do it. So sometimes you have to keep going even though they are warning you because they need to know biting doesn’t get them what they want and yet they need to learn they will survive being uncomfortable.
have you ever tried composure? not a drug per se since it is made with mother's milk ie the component in milk that soothes/relaxes the baby, whether puppy, kitten or colt also has various herbals. really works
@@grl9917a good portion of groomers don't have the ability to spend as much time and care on a dog like Vanessa does, they're often working for companies and have set times and other appointments that they have to do. That's why Vanessa takes on the cases of dogs who have been refused by other groomers or are rescues from habitat for humanity, without payment
Not to downplay your skills in any way, you’re clearly an amazing groomer, but I really think the quiet environment you’re able to provide makes a huge difference as well. Most grooming places have all sorts of commotion going on, other dogs/people, machines, etc, that makes an anxious dog that much more nervous. It was awesome to see her warm up to you, even if she was still scared.
This was tenser than a horror movie. I was genuinely holding my breath at some parts and very concerned for the groomer's wellbeing. Being a pet groomer is no joke. Kudos to Vanessa for being so calm and patient!
I love how she has shifted to being able to look at you. Huge transformation for this terrified girl. You can practically see her nervous system letting in the possibilities of a new pattern of safety and trust. So beautifully done!
The cone and the bee keepers hat are brilliant! Some dogs just need a few more grooming appointments to understand it is going to happen whether they like it or not.
Saying you're a "dog whisperer" doesn't fully describe your gift. I'm in awe. I also learned in this video that you like accepting dogs with behavior issues. If you'll have us, I'd love to make the 4 hour drive with our Shiba Inu. He only accepted one groomer who retired early some years ago due to shoulder issues. I got the coral brush and it's preventing compacted hair. You're simply the gold standard for groomers. 💙
@@lolll69 I texted her (per her website). She didn't respond and I really didn't expect a response - She has a full plate and she's also featured a temperamental Shiba before on the channel. I think it's impossible for her to respond to 100s of fans, and I'm okay with it. 💟
I can definitely understand why other groomers would decline their services. They don't have the time to get the dog comfortable because of other appointments. I'm glad you can do this for dogs like her, even if it isn't perfect
@@lavero1810 A lot of the time it's also big companies decision to turn away these dogs and not the individual groomers working there. Again, they have that right, even if it's unfair to the dog
@@lavero1810 I don't blame them for not wanting to, they still got bills to pay, this dog took 3 almost 4 hours that's half a work day on one dog. Everything in the world is too expensive, Vanessa gets paid by the video it's not the same as getting paid by the dog like most groomers do, I would absolutely not give up half my day for a ill behaved client and the ever looming threat of harm to my person when I could get paid more and be comfortable in my work environment.
I have never seen a dog so quiet, even when showing their teeth. That alone is eerie. I do love how you can see her starting to trust you as the process moves forward, and you were even able to touch her face and get to her feet and nails. A great before and after of her, and, maybe, she will be more calm with other groomers, or you may have a repeat visit. Great work, and no injuries. She must have been a ninja in a former life.
"She doesn't like her face being touched.". You then proceed to brush her whole face and she doesn't snap once. You are an angel to all dogs, Vanessa, but especially to those that need to build trust. So glad I found your channels.
She seemed to enjoy her bath, her attitude started improving. I think she actually liked you. She behaved well enough that she looked really cute after her spa treatment! You were so patient with her and she did appreciate it, thus the completed job. Bet the owner was really surprised!
It was so good seeing her go from silent, electric and deeply on edge, to so much calmer and while not enjoying it, tolerating it. All worth it to see how happy she was at the end. She's gotta be feeling so much better. 💛
She was like a totally different dog by the end! It's crazy how much the stress of rushing to a time schedule can effect some animals (and humans). The fact you have the time to stop and comfort her every time she starts getting stressed made A HUGE difference I think. Time a normal groomer probably couldn't spare on one dog ever. It's great you can dedicate so much time to these dogs who otherwise would have nowhere to get groomed.
That's why I won't work for a company. I groom for the pets. When I see a stressed dog's attitude change, and are excited to see me. It makes my life complete
@@carylhill9354 Yeah, I probably should of differentiated between self employed groomers and ones working in a busy shop for a company with set prices and time slots. As I was mostly refering to the latter. 👍
I worked with a vet who would cause bleeding on every paw. Snip it short, cause them trauma and use QuikStop, was her go-to. I've watched thousands of nail trims in the business as a vet assistant, but I still get nervous when I have to do it, after seeing that. When pets are upset about nail trims, and working for that horrible person, I feel a lot of pressure.
God. Damn. QuikStop is JUST IN CASE not the NORM. Was there absolutely nowhere you could report this to? This vet clearly does not care about wellbeing in the slightest. Just about “getting a job done”. Yikes. 😟 Sounds like a person who would be pro- de-claw amputations too.
@@YuBeace She'd grab the quikstop before the clippers. :( Thank goodness I'm not there anymore. I reported them for some other stuff, namely surgeries just out on the table as if it were nothing. And yes, it was one of those "come down here since declaws aren't illegal yet" situations.
As another person in the animal service industry, this video is both impressive and easily the most nerve-wracking to watch. Her tells are so subtle and when the muzzle was on in the shower, she was anxious as shit. Like I could feel it. She had calmed considerably as the video has progressed. The paitence you showed her to get her done, and do so in a way that is at her pace impresses the fuck out of me. I have a suspicion that she had a really really bad experience with someone trying to get her matts out and her aggression was trying to prevent that experience again. I am glad you were able to show her it didn't have to be like that.
You should teach classes to groomers on recognizing anxiety, fear, aggression, etc. You do an exceptional job of being able to read the dog and keep both of you safe while completing grooms others won't touch. In the hierarchy of groomers, that puts you on the top tier and everyone else below you.
Well, there’s yet one more animal you have helped without even meeting her. My little seven-pound tortoiseshell, Harlequin Hemingway, is enjoying watching this video with me. You’ve provided a few minutes diversion for a senior cat, plus she seems to find your voice (and possibly the quiet rhythm of the grooming) relaxing.
I think it comes with the fact that she knows she has time to work with them (unlike other groomers, who usually have full schedules) and the fact that she understands they’re scared, not just being mean
Normally groomers have a tight schedule because those are the economic pressures of the profession. More dogs in a day allows for individual prices to be lower, fewer usually means higher. That's also the reason for the hourly rates. It's an attempt to balance these two things out. Vanessa is in the unique position that her actual main income stems from what she does _after_ the groom. And here having fewer clients often is more productive. Only one client per day that you can take your time with, as far as the pet(s) allow(s), does a lot for a groomer's patience. Also helps that Vanessa just seems to be a naturally calm person. Aware of dangers, but still getting the job done. While knowing the limits of both herself and the pet. There's no malice, just a lot understanding. And animals notice that. So they are often more relaxed around her than other groomers who just don't have the ability to do all of this. This isn't to defend groomers who genuinely mistreat their clients. Or to make light of all the effort Vanessa puts in. Just a bit of context why you would have more patience in this kind of environment as well. Plus at least the main channel exists for longer than Vanessa has stopped taking money from clients. At least if we assume that the ones where she openly talked about pricing indicated as such. With her patience, calm and understanding being major reasons why she was able to reach this point.
@@nestrior7733 she gets revenue from posting videos, has 2. channels, th more views, / clicks on, th more $$ allows her to do free grooms. U wonder why non from big Corp, Petsmart, Petco..?? don't need th money , AND, are horrible places. behind th scenes !!
I had a dog with her personality type and I appreciate that you realized that just because she’s quiet doesn’t mean she’s not going to snap. She’s not mean spirited but she’s clearly suspicious and takes no sh*t. 🖤
The personality reminds me of dogs like Chow Chows. They are very beautiful, wonderful dogs but grooming them can be scary because they will be silent and show very little body language. It takes a really special groomer and a really special owner to keep dogs like that. If you treat them right they can be a dream.
it's the livestock guardian breed half. that personality. they're bred to be suspicious of the unfamiliar since they're meant to protect livestock and property from predators and thieves.
@@GreenClassifiedyeah assuming it isn't a rescue dog with a bad history, not desensitising a dog to being handled and having her face etc touched whilst she was a young puppy is the owners fault. It's not the dogs fault that it is scared and nervous
She looked stressed out the moment you turned on the camera. She’s an example of those situations where people say the dog attack for no reason, or unprovoked. Suitable body language says a lot. Thank you for giving her a chance.❤
@@Nobynoby2763certain breeds have a very strong prey drive and can have that urge triggered by babies/small children. Especially when little ones start crawling and walking because they are now on the move and because little ones have to be taught not to cause harm to the animal.
You are such a professional. You’re like the “Dog Groomer Whisperer”; you’re very good at reading each dog’s temperament and limitations. You also never push or distress unnecessarily your dogs which is incredibly humane. Thank you!
Spot on! She’s incredible and was born to do this! She has helped so many dogs and owners, and regularly donates to animal charities. The world is blessed to have her, and I wish her all the success.
I challenge the term "whisperer" no matter if it's dog, horse, or any other animal. The term comes from the movie "The Horse Whisperer". The reason for my stance on this term is from a book by Monty Roberts, one of the top horse trainers in the nation. His book is titled "The Man Who Listens to Horses" A great read by the way. Mr. Roberts explains that he watches the horse's body language to assess what they are thinking and how he should react to get the horse to respond as he needs it to. It's horse's overall body language. The direction of the ears, how the horse is holding it's tail, the expression in the eyes, even the position of the feet. This is very much what Vanessa is doing. She watches and interprets the dog's body language to assess what the dog needs. To further understand this concept, I suggest the book, "Bones Would Rain From the Sky" by Suzanne Clothier. A wonderful read by a woman that was born loving dogs.
Dogs, like people, can associate specific stimuli with dangers, given the "right" initial experience. My dog, a rescue, came to us at 11 mos with a profound fear of anything largish and flat. Large pieces of paper, a cookie sheet, a flattened cardboard box, anything like that, if we picked it up, or if she came upon it unexpectedly, leaning out sitting up on edge, would send her fleeing in panic, body low to the ground. We never knew what that was about. It took her years to get to a point where she could remain in the same room when one of us pulled the cookie sheet out of the cupboard. Something must have happened that caused her brain and nervous system to couple the big flat thing with the sensations of fear and panic. Maybe a gate fell on her in her former country? Maybe she was cornered by a piece of plywood, together with her littermates, in order to take them into custody and care? She started life as a SATO, so it could be? Whatever, she's fine now. She knows big flat things often contain pizza, for one thing. 😂
OMG! I was SO relieved when you put the muzzle on her and then the cone. I recognized her tenseness and expected her at any time to snap or charge you. It is amazing how quickly a scared dog can turn on a groomer or owner. I was SHOCKED that you said some folks would think you were overly cautious. Geez. They may not know dogs well. You were giving a great gift to this dog but there was no reason to expect her to understand that. Your compassion and knowledge is so evident during this grooming. By taking all the precautions that you did, this allowed you to more safely (still a bit of a risk) to free her from her mats. The groomers who gave up on her and recognized that they could not safely handle her did the right thing for her and them as had she badly bitten them she might have been destroyed. By handling her safely you saved her from the misery of a compacted/matted coat that can lead to severe skin breakdown. Big hugs from Hawaii! You are my grooming heroine!
People tend to forget dogs are energy readers. I think you did a wonderful job staying calm, paying attention to her body language and she appreciates that. Dogs have preferences too!
I keep a few broiler roosters, n yep, I'd say you said it well: if the person is calm, they tend to be calm n better too. They get anxious around anxious people. Prolly it's more common in the animal world than just dogs. Cheers!
It’s the same with cats. One day my cat was very stressed from movers and scratched my grandmother. Now my grandmother is scared of him. Because of her energy and her fear, he tries to attack her out of defense because of her alertness. She is the only one he does this to.
It's like between humans too. Maybe body language is inherently somewhat compatible between different species if they evolved together even for a few thousand years. Maybe it's inherent to the domestication process, long-term. Regardless it's really cool and interesting.
By the end she looks utterly resigned to it. She knows it’s not scary any more and trusts to an extent. Amazing she let you do her paws when she wouldn’t even let you touch them at the beginning. Awesome job.
The only time I was ever nicked by a dog was a very old Akita. He stood directly beside me by his own choice, owners were with him. We had met and introduced us earlier that evening. But when I moved my hand like 10cm to touch him, he bit me right away. Zero warning, zero avoidance, nothing.
If the movement that sets them off is sudden, the bite can be just as sudden because they're just as surprised by what's happening as you are. If you don't know the dog you won't know what they may or may not be used to or comfortable with or how anxious/sensitive they are with certain people or environments or actions. Old dogs tend to have vision problems, especially with their peripheral vision, so sudden movements they can't see very well can scare them into reacting unexpectedly especially if they don't know you very well and thus don't feel as comfortable around you. Their vision problems can also potentially create a general anxiety they feel about their surroundings because it's more difficult to see danger coming so they may be more reactive to stuff that surprises them as a result. In cases like that it may come without warning to you because what set them off came without warning to them too.
Agreed. I can see where you succeed when others fail. You stop when they need a break, you talk to them all the time not just when they start to get wound up & need reassuring. My sheltie would have been petrified with the noise. Have to admit I used to pick her up from the bath & get her down stairs & out into the garden trying not to get myself soaked. Bless her heart she would extremely happy charging around the garden & rolling on the grass with a great big smile. Guess Tandy has been gone over 40 years. Still missing her terribly. Keep up the good work. M
Eye contact is a sign of challenge for most animals. This dog was immensely uncomfortable and wanted to avoid conflict, so she turns away. When dogs see each stranger dogs, they turn their heads away as a sign of respect and to say "I don't want any trouble".
@@Robbie-mw5uuWhich is why nobody should ever look dog’s dead in the eye unless they know them well. A lot of people don’t understand that and have been bitten as a result.
@@ScarletAngleGaaraI was learned not to look straight in their eyes but just above their heads. As a flyball team member we watch one another’s dogs if one is on the field but also talk when being with our dogs and I was standing talking to our coaches wife, about their dogs epilepsy and how Fly was doing if there was something I could do when they where out and I was watching, Fly was elderly and had her own dog pen to be in. And I saw my dogs fathers eyes shifting and no other signals he snapped giving me a scrape. Just one tit bit to late to pull my hand of the fence. She was firm with him because he had it worse in the past. I’m having his son and he doesn’t do that luckily. I teach now my granddaughter even she’s just 16 months old how to be around the dogs because she’s every week here on my babysit day.
@@nancywillaert5129 It’s good you teach your kids how to behave around animals. Not enough parents do that and it can result in devastating consequences. There have been kids who just absolutely manhandle dogs to the point they’re hitting them and throwing things at them and all kinds of stuff. Not always but it has resulted in kids either being seriously injured or dying from dog bites or being mauled. It’s pretty tragic. /:
I noticed a huge change in her demeanor when you did the trust thing w her paw. She instantly started trusting you. I hope they keep bringing her in a few times a year ao she continues to trust you❤ ❤❤❤
Outstanding job, thank you for showing what real threats are from dogs. Most people think its just growling, but there are so many other signs. This girl was obviously SO happy once she was clipped, bathed and groomed!! Thank you Vanessa!!
You do such a good job with all the dogs you groom. Hopefully she can come back to you and with time hopefully she will do better each time. Thank you for sharing what you do.
I believe that having the pets alone in the room with you (no other pets on sight) in a quiet environment truly helps them to be less stressed for the grooming. Thanks for your hard work and for educate us.
Vanessa can also take as much time as she wants, pause and calm down and reassess, since she no longer makes her living from the grooms themselves so she doesn’t have to fit in a certain number per day. It’s great that many of these “problem” cases were able to meet Vanessa and undergo these special circumstances to possibly improve their situations.
For the life of me, I don't know why anyone would think a Maremma/anything cross - especially one that made regular grooming by a stranger a good idea. Stock guards aren't exactly known for their trusting nature. The most stranger-aggressive dogs I have ever known have all been Maremmas. I hope those people have some goats/sheep for her to tend and a LOT of land to make her own territory. I am honestly shocked she was as tolerant as she was for you. Kudos to you, as always!!
Being mixed with a poodle I doubt she’s with livestock. It’s hard enough to get a good livestock dog even when purebred and from working farms. I wouldn’t even risk having a mix on my farm Plus this dog is obese it wouldn’t be able to even do it’s job.
@buttercup132 I disagree. In my personal experience, I have seen a mixed breed livestock guard dog be very good at its job. My grandmother had a st bernard and great pyrenees mix that fought off a bear from near the pig pen and walked away with only a scratch on its back leg.
@@nicholasneyhart396 I'm not saying LSG are agressive. I'm saying the dog here might be because it's mixed with poodle and meremma and doesn't have a job to do. I have a pyrness mix lsg
I was a canine beautician way back in the 1960's Your channel brings back so memories for me . I was just 14 years of age when I started working a 5-year apprenticeship in a grooming salon in the Home Counties of England . First year was Feet Face and Tail and brewing the tea! We only used Forfex electric clippers and scissors and a hand held hair dryer. Just a simple sink or bath with shower attachments. No restraints or muzzles. . I could watch your videos all day everyday. You're amazing. I empathize with every dog you groom, especially the nervy frightened ones. I always befriended my furry clients before working on them,, from Old English Sheepdogs, GSDs, poodles and all toy breeds. I always used gentle patience combined with confidence which gained their trust. I'm totally impressed with your professionalism and your empathy. Thank you so much.. You make me proud to be a retired canine beautician. I have English Cocker Spaniels now which I trim and groom myself. They are my joy. Thank you again. I wish you huge success with your profession. It takes its toll on you physically and emotionally but it's the most rewarding feeling when you've created a gorgeous and healthy dog. Love to all the fur faces. 🐕🐩🐾🐾
Watching people of any profession at the top of their game is incredibly impressive. From what I’ve just witness in this video, you are at the very pinnacle of your profession. A true professional in every sense.
Some people respond to dominance. Some respond to being asked permission. This dog responded to gentle but firm direction, calm, reassuring talking. Building a "team." This requires knowledge, patience, caring. Look at difference in her behavior and confidence. One has to be Smarter than the dog, CARE ABOUT THE DOG. HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE DOG. I do not believe ANY OL' GROOMER SHOULD WORK ON THIS SWEETHEART.
The so called dangerous dogs are less dangerous because of you. You are gentle you show them respect and you give them a chance to get to know you and trust you. You are a true dog whisperer. I love watching your videos. ❤❤❤
The fact she let you grab her face at the end seems like a magnificent feat in itself she looked at the start like she would burn you where you stood if she could. This dog can be worked with if someone has the patience and skil.
I hope we will see Mickie in the future. It was obvious she began to trust you thru the process. Haven't you said before some dogs are one groomer dogs? Seeing her look so much better and happier at the end was epic ❤
Yes! I hope she gets to be a regular client. It was incredible how much trust was formed in just the first visit with Vanessa. I’m sure regular grooming with Vanessa would turn her into a much more trusting and confident dog that can tolerate grooming and not be terrified, perhaps even muzzle free! You have to wonder if somewhere along the way in her grooming journey prior to this groom if there was some kind of trauma incurred. Building that trust was so monumental!
Her silence looked to me like maybe, just maybe, her brain was figuring out that you were making this experience fairly tolerable and not so traumatic. Excellent job Vanessa!! I think your patience and persistence, along with your respect for each animal as an individual, combined with your keen ability to read each animal's cues, are beyond compare!
On a more personal note, I love that YOUR OWN NAILS are lovely. I love Your manicures and the nail polish you choose. My absolute favorite is the red with white polka dots. So lovely.
I love how you're focusing more and more on the craft of grooming difficult dogs and finding their triggers in the process. It just seems like a good and logical jump up on the steps of your career. :)
Some groomers simply dont want to work with difficult dogs. Ive been grooming for almost 19 years. Never been bitten or injured, because i dont work with dangerous dogs. Im very glad there are people willing to work with aggressive dogs, because i most certainly am not.
My pup also skips most levels of communication when it comes to discomfort. She goes straights to biting. I had to seriously learn to read a dog's body language and she's taught me everything I know from eye contact, licking, stiffening, direction of tail wag, sitting etc. I believe this was because she was seperated from her mom at a week old. I am lucky I adopted her at 3.5 months old and focused on disentisizing her to everything I could which has made her a dog that can be handled easily. The way you handled this girl was inspiring.
Good for you for giving a dog a chance and for putting in the incredible amount of time it takes! Your dog is darn lucky to have a loving owner like you❤
The reason why you have dogs without warnings is because when they are young, people scold them when they growl. So the dog thinks "ok don't give warnings?" This is why it's very important to never correct a dog when they growl. You NEED them to growl because the next step of aggression is bite.
mine too but she was a grandma when we got her. lots of love and time later and she knows she is safe but i can read her body language much easier now and she is simply an anxious puppy, easily stressed out but conditioned to recoil and lash out at the last second. 😭 im a glad i learned to know what she needs now cuz i can support her better. she can handle a groom but no sudden movements or noises please and thank you!! and lots of praise!! 🥰
@@Robbie-mw5uusometimes dogs learn growling from F-ing around and finding out. Generally from a parent or sibling who growls to tell them to back off. If they don't interact with other dogs at a young age they basically get deprived of learning parts of their language. Similarly with cats I have a ladd who bothers his sister until she hisses at him and then he comes crying to me for attention since sis doesn't wanna play with him (he's twice her size and she hates wrestle play with him). Because they have their experience with growls and hisses they know to do so when they want folks to back off (i also reinforce this by using a low growling tone warning them not to jump on the counter or steal food off someone's plate).
I remember my mom smearing "lamb's fat" (cholesterol cream) into my hair and dematting me with a metal comb. I totally know where this dog is coming from!
@@maryapattersonsometimes it's just knowing How not so much What you use. My mom used to get any "curly" hair product she could to tame my mane but as I grew up I figured out how to use them properly.
Yeah, as a curly haired child of two straight haired parents I relate to this. I would get one matted clump at the nape of my neck because the brush didnt reach it. Thats why I’m always so slow with my dog is he ever needs dematting (obviously I try and avoid this but sometimes they just appear out of nowhere)
We get so used to Vanessa's skills that sometimes we think it's not that big of a deal. Then we get to see her work on doggies like this one. It's awesome to watch her work. Hats off to you, Vanessa!
@@studiosingernot the groom but how she treats the animals during the groom. The patience compassion and ability to read these animals and act Accordingly is what’s special. Not a lot of ppl can do that, including other groomers.
I am amazed at how patient this girl was being. I think she was surprised that you were actually listening to her with her signs and respecting them, so I think she gradually started to trust you. This appointment was so good for this girl, not just because she got groomed but because she learned that it wasn’t a painful or scary experience. You worked amazingly well with her Vanessa, bravo. ❤
Since she calmed down significantly after she got off the table, and in the shower, it seems to me that she was nicked, or abused in some way, early on at a groomer. She was calm while working on her face in the shower, too. She associates the grooming table with fear and possibly, pain. Even after her blow dry, she got nervous again, but not so much over scissors than she is with the trimmer. Considering her history, she was quite behaved, thanks to your gentle and compassionate methods, Vanessa. Great work!
I’m a former groomer, and in my experience, dogs behave this way more often from lack of exposure to grooming than abuse. I saw this behavior a lot as a groomer when dogs (especially guardians) were not exposed to grooming as early as they should have been.
👍 You did an amazing job. The E collar & muzzle is a good combo. Might even consider an umpire’s mask to protect your face. When our little Jack Russel went senile he somehow got out of his muzzle when we were trimming his toes & he bit hard.
As someone who has an aggressive dog (although he's always behaved well with grooming when he has gotten it done, just very anxious but no snapping) this means so much to me to see someone willing to try to work with them and not call them bad or a lost cause. After seeing you just working with some of these dogs, it makes me more confident that maybe a dog behaviorist would also be willing to work with my dog to make him less reactive and not just tell me he's a bad dog.
We would say that there’s no such thing as a ‘bad dog’, just bad owners. She’s a lovely animal, just nervous and unsure, and needs time and patience. Surely not much to ask.
I think your calm approach and soft-spoken manner is a benefit to keep your furry clients more comfortable. I'm sure she feels so much better after the matting is gone. The bath probably also felt pretty good too. 100/10
Theres no such thing as being overly cautious when it comes to anything with teeth. Anyone that says other wise must be unaware of how quick a dog can snap and how much damage they can do in a small amount of time. I think you're amount of patience and equipment you used was just right. You always try to communicate with them in a manner that balances their anxiety or aggression/fear. She certainly seemed to calm after her bath. And she did really well with you working around her face! I think she has great potential. She just needs someone like you who is willing to help her work through her stress and anxiety and give her the patience she needs
This was the most intense and unsettling grooming I’ve experienced since joining here. It felt as though I was in the room assisting Ms. Vanessa. Wanting to protect her and give this ‘Miky’ a huge hug 🤗.
Your calm demeanor with her gives her trust. She did good considering she had a lot of anxiety. Again, being in a private shop and her being the only dog takes much of the stress away. Great job!
You were so so brilliant with her,reading her body language and recognizing stress signs. The end result is much more than I thought you’d accomplish. Bravo again Vanessa !🎉
Seeing her face change when she started to trust you was totally heart warming. When a dog with previous bad experiences warms to you is the best feeling as a groomer! You are amazing 💖
It seems like she was soooo scared, but somewhat understanding that what you were doing was feeling good… and struggling past her automatic reactions. You did such an amazing job with her. ❤
Very interesting to see her start to calm and trust you, and open up her body language a bit. She went from just snapping without warning with the clippers to moving away from the dryer to show she disliked it. Such a good girl, just extremely nervous and fear reactive.
My own two doodles are like chalk and cheese when it comes to grooming. The smaller one (the older out of the two) loves being groomed, whereas her younger sister hates it, from going in the car, and all the rest of the process, but thankfully, she has never been very temperamental and she tolerates it. And weirdly, she also doesn’t like going out of the house, even for a walk.
I feel like I’ve seen a lot of LGD & LGD mix dogs around lately. And what people don’t realize is that they’re NOT at all like other dogs. They are really their own boss and they don’t necessarily listen to humans -even their owners sometimes. They’re bred to do a job & be independent from people. I really like that you’re including dogs like this in your video to show people the reality of how a LGD/LGD mix can behave
My first Guardian girl was a Great Pyrenees./ Komondor, everybody thought she was a giant doodle mix...I now have a Great Pyrenees / Anatolian Shepard, and now everybody thinks she's an extra tall Labrador with a curled up tail....both sweethearts!
Poodles are a water dog breed. Like Labradors. They are basically hunting companion dogs (used to retrieve game out of water), but can be trained for water rescues as well. Although I'd argue that they have been bred to be good pets for so long, that most of their working dog traits have been bred out long ago. However, they are not livestock guardians and have never been used as such.
You're amazing!! I'm a vet tech that worked at a shelter and you did what I don't think most could ever do with this pup. Doodles are such a sad breed now that they have been over bred. They are not trustworthy like their separate breeds would be. I also watched your Caucasian Shepard video and I was shocked. Such a good dog!!! 🖤🧡
It's so sad when a breed or xbreed becomes popular and unethical people breed them for $$ until the market is saturated and late to the game dogs wind up in shelters.
One of my dogs was attacked by a Doodle breed, bitten on her face and ears. I don’t think people know what they’re getting with a Doodle breed. The Poodle half can be aggressive. (That’s why I clicked on this video; the dog looks like the one that attacked my dog.)
@@SuperMir00 There are breeders who are working to standardize the cross. It usually takes 25 years of hard work. They are very close. When the standard is drawn and accepted by one of the Registries then papers will be awarded to those who do meet the standard.
I have yet to see someone as genuine, knowledgeable, and showing the level of care about grooming these pups AND cats as you on YT. Vanessa, you are truly the grooming GOAT!
Okay, I held my breath every time you worked on her front feet with her face so close to her (even when muzzled they can do some damage). At one point I even caught myself moving back from my computer screen! Glad that you were able to get it done safely, she really was eerily quiet.
I love how you consistantly show the dogs you groom -especially the nervous ones- you'll respond to the boundaries they communicate to you even faintly and use as much positive reinforcement as they need to show them there is nothing about you or your place that actually justifies anxiety and hypervigilence and how, doing that, you're able to earn some of their trust even if they don't have a lot to give at that point in their journey with grooming. I love to see you work, especially with those dogs. This big girl looks like she did as great a job as you did with her for the level of fear she came in with! Love her too!
it's great advice for humans as well! people of all ages respond really well when their signs of discomfort are acknowledged in respectful and patient ways.
Wow, this brought me to tears. Watching her go from being so fearful, to being more relaxed with you, was amazing. Thank you, so much, for taking the time to help her trust you.
Vanessa kept saying that it's not going to be a good haircut. Do not underestimate that what you accomplished was to help her with trusting someone to groom her. That is something you can't put a price on.
Watching you earn her trust and then at the end when she looks into your eyes I actually cried, this was amazing to see. She's just a scared dog, you're amazing
With the shaving portion you could tell by the end she a) was hurting with how close the mats were and b) understood you were trying to help and it felt better. Cute doggo and amazing groomer
Honestly Vanessa you really have a gift. To be able to treat this dog with such love and care despite being afraid of her biting, and willingness/talent to help her through a really stressful thing for her is something that transcends words. Great work as always ❤
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She is a bit scary and definitely dangerous, but she's also very smart. As the process continued she accepted it more and more, seeing that nothing particular is happening. She may have even been relieved after the haircut. You've definitely gained her trust :) Great video, thanks Vanessa!
Such a difference to her after the groom. She looks more relaxed but then she is outside. Having your working area quiet helps immensely, being the only person there as her groomer helps and your experiences and inbuilt calmness comes a cross in waves. Mikki would feel this. Thank you for sharing her with us and for caring for 'the untouchable' dogs.
It’s makes a HUGE difference when the person grooming has a consistent calm and reassuring voice which you have and demonstrated throughout the entire video. She gained trust with you because of your calm and reassuring demeanor. Great job!
That was one scared little girl! Yes, she's a big dog, but she's just a scared little puppy when it comes to grooming. You did a great job of calming her during the process. I don't know if she'll ever be a dog that can just go to any groomer, but she CAN get through the process with a little time and patience. Really a worthwhile job Vanessa.
Love the way you phrased this - such a perfect description of Vanessa's work! She helps a lot of stressed animals AND owners, not to mention orividing great advice to all the watchers and organising some amazing charitable efforts.
What a sweet and gorgeous girl! She was just so scared but she definitely started to trust you! If anyone had ever told me that I would spend so much time watching other peoples dogs to get groomed, I would’ve told them they were crazy. I love your videos so much! Especially when you have some poor dog who is getting turned away from other groomers. She looks so beautiful after her grooming And I’m glad she was able to have such a nice experience with you! You really are a miracle worker!❤
the way she would barely let you get close to her face in the beginning but at the end, even tho stressed and anxious, as able to let you finish the job its such a beautiful thing to see. with time im sure she'll get used to grooming eventually!
You really are the platinum standard that all groomers should strive to achieve. Your calm , no nonsense approach is reassuring to the dogs. Definitely a Dog Whisperer. I must admit as someone who has previously owned a poodle I can’t get my head around why anyone would cross breed these wonderful dogs. Back in the day they were mongrels. No offence to Doodle owners.
@@roems6396 So get a poodle. There are relatively few crosses with Poodles that improve them. Poodles are wonderful dogs on their own, intelligent and HIGHLY trainable and very personable. Wonderful dogs, but when you cross them with other retrievers and herding or livestock guardian dogs, all you're doing is creating suffering and ruining what makes poodles great.
@@roems6396 what most people want from doodles, they would get from a standard poodle. i think a lot of it is based on marketing, with retrievers (as a common cross) being thought of as family dogs more than poodles historically, so people think they're getting a retriever with no shedding when that's absolutely not the case. poodle mixes have different training needs, grooming needs, and temperaments.
My family had poodles, and my brother got a Bordoodle for his family. She seems to have inherited the best of the border collie and poodle, fortunately. She’s smart and sweet, and patient as well.
It really depends on the breed that it’s crossed with. I’ve found that Standard Poodle mixes with other similarly dispositioned breeds can be extremely well behaved and obedient. Unfortunately, backyard breeders are ruining it for everyone by creating unhealthy and ill tempered lines.
I think its silly for people to assume you’re being too cautious when grooming. It’s much easier to say when you’re not the one face to face with a frightened animal.
And a predator with powerful jaws and sharp teeth, at that
Fear biters are the worse. Once u have been bitten it s a different story. I m sure all dogs sense when you’re apprehensive but she is really good and not appearing fearful. I don’t t think she was afraid anyway. She was given information re the dog and she responded with intelligence. Owners really should advise pp of dogs behavioural traits. What a huge difference. When my children were babies, i used to babysit dogs. I had a form and made sure to get a list of their shared vocabulary. That helped so much. Once i had a dog i wanted to take something off of. I kept saying give…… he would not . Then i said drop it and down it went. It was one of the most helpful bits of info, aiding in communication.
@WangGolden
Predator noun : an animal that naturally preys on others.
Preys,verb, 3rd person perfect: catch and kill for food
Common prey for dogs: small animals - mice, voles, rabbits, birds, insects and so forth
Hope this was somewhat elucidating.
@@WangGoldenbuddy humans domesticated dogs for hunting. Just because they can see us as family doesn't mean they can't become dangerous. There are definitely cases where people freak out over nothing but when someone who works with dogs for a living is cautious it's because they know better.
You said word for word, what I was thinking
Wow, that silence from her is scary. You do a phenomenal job with these animals. Some people are born to do what they do and you’re one of them, Vanessa. It’s a rare gift you possess.
Amen she does!
a gift that also took practice. gifts also take experience and knowledge to develop.
@@Skatejock21 Yeah I agree with this a thousand % People can have gifts but if they're not harnessed with hard work, they will never come to fruition.
I also know people who never were gifted in what they're doing and they're among the best in the field. In my opinion, a gift is anything you're willing to put hard work on.
She probably was abused by a groomer at one point. Vanessa is a stone cold pro.
I completely agree. Vanessa is just amazing. Perfectly tuned into the dog's stressers and feelings, and takes the time to gain the dog's trust. That said, she does have an amazing gift. She is definitely doing what she was born to do.
One of my favourite things when you have a dangerous dog is seeing them go... Oh, I feel better now. It's so subtle, but it's mostly "this lady is nice to me, even though I'm scared" and it's a rare, precious gift. You're really talented Vanessa.
Yes, this. It's what has made fostering "dangerous" dogs and seeing them adopted so worthwhile over the years.
I had this moment with a wild baby bunny I was rehabbing. He had a bot fly, and he had to have it pulled out. Little man basically gave birth from a hole in his chest. Afterwards, he would come to my hand and let me touch him like he knew I was only gonna help him. 10/10 I miss my bot fly baby
someone i know had a rescued akita inu that fella was absolutely petrified of having any examination or grooming so my friend had to do a lot of his care with a professionals guidance because no one wants a akita biting them it's so sad but it is good that these dogs are cared for in my experience there is never a bad dog normally it's fear or they have had poor owners in the past.
Funny how some dogs love being professionally groomed, but absolutely dread and hate going to the animal hospital.
Crying because of this rn 🥲
I had a career ending dog bite from a Lhasa Apso. I was holding my breath when you started scissoring her face. Bravo to your courage and calming manner!
I'm so sorry to read that, it must've been awful for you.
Oh gosh, our baby is a lhasa apso and I'm so sorry that happened to you.
I’m not a dog groomer, but I got attacked and bitten by a Great Pyrenees a couple years ago and this video also had me holding my breath. Dog groomers are so courageous
I believe it. People don’t believe me when I tell them there are certain things I can’t do grooming wise with my rescued senior Lhasa Apso. She may be tiny and have 4 teeth but she’s deceptively strong and fast.
@@GlassofO.J.lord from a Great Pyrenees?! Hope you’re ok cause those dogs are huge but protective as hell
She's a Maremma mix, her bite force is designed to handle wolves. You were so brave, thank you for making her feel better and persevering! I hope her owners find her a regular groomer she can have a better relationship with in the future.
Oooh a breed I havnt heard of? Time to so some research. Thanks for the info!!
I've never heard of a Maremma, but wow, such a Beautiful Dog 🐾 I want 1.
I had a Wolf Hybrid & he was Such a good Boy. He didn't like to be groomed, & would only let Me Brush & wash him. My Yorkie mix Loved Bathtime, she resembles this dog only very small. Both my Dogs passed away recently & I miss them so much 😥
@@audreyheather they're not exactly a house dog or family pet. They've been around for roughly 2000 years, with a very specific purpose in mind and selectively bred for the traits required to do that job well. The purpose was as an unmanaged livestock guardian that would independently protect a flock or herd for weeks or months of little to no human contact. They bond with their herd and protect them against all manner of predators, including wolves, without instruction or guidance from the human shepherd. The pups are generally trained by their parents, not a human, even still today. For this reason, they are often aloof with most humans and regard them with suspicion. They don't do well in obedience because thousands of years of thinking for themselves and making their own choices is what guides them, they don't believe that you know better or make the right call. They will bond with their family and other animals on their property, but if they decide that an animal they grew up with is a threat to their herd, they won't hesitate to attack it. If they decide that a visitor, including a child visitor, is a threat to their family or herd, they won't hesitate to attack it either and they won't necessarily believe you if you try to intervene and tell them it's safe. They have independent thought and make independent decisions about the safety of their family and herd. In their mind, you don't own them, they own you and they're responsible for your safety and protection. They do poorly in small yards and areas that have other people living close by, they require a large area of acreage to patrol and defend. Part of their natural defense is barking, they bark A LOT, especially at night when there's more likely to be predators around. They do this to declare their presence and reduce the risk of a predator entering their territory, they won't stop if you ask them to, they will only stop if they think they've barked enough for the moment to get their point across. They'll start again in 20 minutes or so in case a new predator has stumbled into the area and missed the earlier decree. They can make a great pet to a person in a rural area with acreage, as long as you're prepared to put up with the nightly vigil of barking. You also need to be extremely confident in your dog training and handling ability and be prepared to have that all thrown back in your face and fail miserably at getting them to do any of the things that you want to train them to do. They are lovely dogs, but they require an owner who has done their research well and is prepared for what the breed is like. Unless you've had another breed of livestock guardian dog in the past, they're nothing like any dog you've had in the past. A vast number of unprepared owners end up surrendering these dogs to rescues and shelters and they're sadly put to sleep because they've been ruined by a person who thought they could train one to be a back yard pet or apartment couch potato, they usually fail and it's at the expense of the dog. Key points are that the dog needs a lot of space, it is noisy, it needs a job to occupy its mind, it needs a herd or flock to bond with and protect, it isn't obedient, it's suspicious of people and can be aggressive. I have chickens and goats, my maremmas have a job, they have acreage to patrol and protect, they do provide us with broken sleep every night with their barking but we don't have neighbours to upset. Our dogs don't entirely trust us or our judgement, they make their own choices about how to react to things. I love them, they're wonderful, smart, perceptive big floof balls, but I can't bath or clip them with total confidence, any more than this groomer can with this dog that doesn't know her. The whole time I was watching this, all I could think was "why would you?!", why on earth would anyone cross a maremma with a poodle? What the heck were they thinking and did they leave their brain somewhere during birth or childhood 🤦♀ Don't get me wrong, I love poodles, I've had standard poodles and a poodle x golden retriever in the past, I have mini poodle house pet now, but they're an entirely different dog with an entirely different purpose and this is an insane cross that was asking for trouble from the get go. I'm not at all surprised by this poor dog's behaviour or emotional state, simply based on the nature of those two breeds and the poor cross that it would produce. I wish people would stop getting or especially breeding dogs based solely on the "this is cute" mentality, because it's always the dog that suffers the consequences in the end 😓
@@beccavaughan5595i throughly enjoyed your post. Why was it a bad idea to cross it with a poodle?
@@beccavaughan5595 I agree with most of your comment, especially bit about how many are put to sleep as owners have failed them. We have taken one in that was about to be put down because he bit his owner and literally snapped her arm in half. Not dog’s fault at all. We had him here for over 2 years now and he never once showed any aggression. I believe dog had no respect for previous owners . I am an owner of 10 well bred Maremmas and not one of them is aggressive. If bred and raised correctly, they are confident dogs and biting is the last resort. They will always give plenty of warning first. I trust my dogs 100% not to bite anyone and when it comes to small children, even though they didn’t grow up around small kids, they are extremely careful and gentle around them.
When it comes to grooming, mine are the easiest dogs to groom but we make it our daily routine from day one. Few minutes of soft brushing, playing with feet, touching ears and so on. They get used to it. They are the best breed ever but to raise a well adjusted Maremma, you need lots of patience and great sense of humour. They are one of a kind breed.
A couple weeks back I was bit by a dog at my place of work. I kept going back over the even in my mind, trying to find any instance of aggressive behavior from him, but I could never find anything. Thanks to this video I now know that he was one of these types of dogs. The quiet but dangerous types. Once you explained it, the dog was exhibiting those signed of stress. Not making eye contact, shying away, and going really stiff. Thanks to this video, I know what happened and how to prevent it in the future. Thank you
I’m sorry, that must have been scary
Hope you are okay and not too traumatized. Are you a groomer?
@@cydkriletich6538 nah, I work at a place that will board your dog for a week or two. My official job title is “kennel tech”
I'm very afraid of dogs, but mainly it's because I don't know the signs. For example, I'm not afraid of cats because I know the behavior, the signs. Also I feel like dogs feel the fear I feel of them
@@priscillad8it's said that the animal can definitely pick up on how you're feeling. So try being confident even if you have to fake it!
One of our dogs is a rescue who came to us extremely matted. He was 14 months old and had never been brushed or groomed to the point his tail was partially matted to his body and he couldn't wag it properly. His first grooming experience was to remove the mats and was very stressful. Over a year later, we still struggle to brush him. It has improved quite a bit. I see a lot of comments blaming owners, but for many with rescues we didn't have the opportunity to get him used to grooming early.
I would still blame the owner…the previous owners that caused the poor pupper to need rescue. Good think they have a good, caring home now with responsible, loving pet parents.
Not your fault at all, but whoever dematted could have done a better job. No need for it to be that stressful.
@@AuskaDezjArdamaathUnfortunately, there are a lot of dogs who are born on the streets and never had a previous owner. My MIL's husky/collie is such a case. Poor thing is a nutcase, as is his siblings.
I'm sorry but WHY TF would you TAKE ON a dog like that!!??
If they are sooo difficult and a aggressive violent street there us NOOOOO FKING CHANCE I'm dealing with that fking dog!!
They better off be euthanized so they don't suffer anymore!!
I want to add to this: even if your dog *has* been groomed from a young age, they may absolutely hate being groomed. My parents had, over the years, four Old English Sheepdogs. First one? Loved the attention of a groom, would patiently sit for any grooming. Unless you were overly aggressive about a bit of matted fur, he wouldn't make a noise or anything.
Second one was similarly calm, but would passively resist a brushing by just lying on one side and refusing to do anything else, and would just shift his body and weight to keep you from working on one side or another as much as possible.
Number 3 and 4 came together from the same litter. The female had a different coat than standard, didn't mind being brushed.
The fourth? He *hated* brushing. He would actively hide if he thought you were opening a drawer that had ever had brushes in it. He didn't like being shaved either, and would snap at the groomer when he got his annual puppy cut if he wasn't muzzled. If he wasn't being groomed, he was absurdly friendly and gregarious, wanting to meet and cuddle absolutely every human being in the world. He loved even going to the vet's office, because people! Would pet him! He *hated* the groomers.
Some dogs just hate being groomed. We tried a lot of things to get him to let us brush him; he did not care at all. Did not want it at all, and as you may figure out, that made all of his problems with his coat worse.
She was absolutely terrified. Instead of trying to force her through the experience, you stopped when she was agitated, you gave her space and respect, and as a result, she knew you weren’t going to hurt her. Respect goes both ways.
It’s a fine line of judgment between deciding to hold back when an animal is nervous or pushing through it to prove to them they will be okay. Sometimes very nervous dogs resort to biting to stop humans from doing things they don’t like and when that works, they always do it. So sometimes you have to keep going even though they are warning you because they need to know biting doesn’t get them what they want and yet they need to learn they will survive being uncomfortable.
Yea, because groomers have all day. They don’t have any other people waiting or anything.
have you ever tried composure? not a drug per se since it is made with mother's milk ie the component in milk that soothes/relaxes the baby, whether puppy, kitten or colt also has various herbals. really works
@@grl9917a good portion of groomers don't have the ability to spend as much time and care on a dog like Vanessa does, they're often working for companies and have set times and other appointments that they have to do. That's why Vanessa takes on the cases of dogs who have been refused by other groomers or are rescues from habitat for humanity, without payment
Not to downplay your skills in any way, you’re clearly an amazing groomer, but I really think the quiet environment you’re able to provide makes a huge difference as well. Most grooming places have all sorts of commotion going on, other dogs/people, machines, etc, that makes an anxious dog that much more nervous. It was awesome to see her warm up to you, even if she was still scared.
Yes, she has said as much in other grooms. But it's great she has the luxury to do that.
I’ve been in grooming salons that make ME ANXIOUS with everything going on!
This is why I switched to a mobile groomer. It’s more expensive, but much less stressful for my senior pup.
Some human salons and large highschools make me nervous, too
Another thing is time. Most groomers don’t have time to be patient or take breaks.
This was tenser than a horror movie. I was genuinely holding my breath at some parts and very concerned for the groomer's wellbeing. Being a pet groomer is no joke. Kudos to Vanessa for being so calm and patient!
🎯💯
I thought the same thing! Felt like I was waiting for a jump scare most of the time. Lol
Yes! I was just waiting for the jump scare, especially when the gopro was near the dog's face.
Kudo sounds too close to Cujo ... just sayin' :D
Right? Last time I held my breath so much I was watching hereditary 😂
I love how she has shifted to being able to look at you. Huge transformation for this terrified girl. You can practically see her nervous system letting in the possibilities of a new pattern of safety and trust. So beautifully done!
All in the span of one video! She’s really got the magic touch for her!
I think something must have happened in the past if she is finally starting to calm down.
Yes!!! I was right there too! It took a long time but when she started looking at Vanessa I felt huge relief!
@@gidget101Yes, it was so amazing and wonderful! ❤ Btw, you have such a cute dog! Chinese Crested, maybe?
The cone and the bee keepers hat are brilliant! Some dogs just need a few more grooming appointments to understand it is going to happen whether they like it or not.
Saying you're a "dog whisperer" doesn't fully describe your gift. I'm in awe. I also learned in this video that you like accepting dogs with behavior issues. If you'll have us, I'd love to make the 4 hour drive with our Shiba Inu. He only accepted one groomer who retired early some years ago due to shoulder issues. I got the coral brush and it's preventing compacted hair. You're simply the gold standard for groomers.
💙
Email Vanessa and see if she has room to groom your Shiba!
Maybe you should dm her? She might be more likely to respond that way?
@@lolll69 I texted her (per her website). She didn't respond and I really didn't expect a response - She has a full plate and she's also featured a temperamental Shiba before on the channel. I think it's impossible for her to respond to 100s of fans, and I'm okay with it. 💟
I can definitely understand why other groomers would decline their services. They don't have the time to get the dog comfortable because of other appointments. I'm glad you can do this for dogs like her, even if it isn't perfect
I feel like it wouldn't be impossible to go an extra mile for fearful dogs at least once a week for most groomers. They just don't want to.
@@dzglms yah, you're probably right :/
@@lavero1810 A lot of the time it's also big companies decision to turn away these dogs and not the individual groomers working there. Again, they have that right, even if it's unfair to the dog
@@lavero1810 I don't blame them for not wanting to, they still got bills to pay, this dog took 3 almost 4 hours that's half a work day on one dog. Everything in the world is too expensive, Vanessa gets paid by the video it's not the same as getting paid by the dog like most groomers do, I would absolutely not give up half my day for a ill behaved client and the ever looming threat of harm to my person when I could get paid more and be comfortable in my work environment.
It's perfect!
I have never seen a dog so quiet, even when showing their teeth. That alone is eerie. I do love how you can see her starting to trust you as the process moves forward, and you were even able to touch her face and get to her feet and nails. A great before and after of her, and, maybe, she will be more calm with other groomers, or you may have a repeat visit. Great work, and no injuries. She must have been a ninja in a former life.
Wait did she show her teeth? I didn't notice that
@@hem138 It was at 4:54
(EDIT: and other times too, but that's where I was when I saw it. She does it at 6:33 too, and probably later as well.)
You're right. She was wearing a muzzle, so i didn't notice at first
Really? I see this all the time. SMH.
@@hem138 she did not show her teeth. She looked back and was licking. At 6:33 she did show her teeth. But this is not uncommon.
"She doesn't like her face being touched.". You then proceed to brush her whole face and she doesn't snap once. You are an angel to all dogs, Vanessa, but especially to those that need to build trust. So glad I found your channels.
Without a doubt, this is Vanessa's calling.
15:24
Beautiful….❤❤❤
Vanessa I just found your channel. I love it
She seemed to enjoy her bath, her attitude started improving. I think she actually liked you. She behaved well enough that she looked really cute after her spa treatment! You were so patient with her and she did appreciate it, thus the completed job. Bet the owner was really surprised!
It was so good seeing her go from silent, electric and deeply on edge, to so much calmer and while not enjoying it, tolerating it. All worth it to see how happy she was at the end. She's gotta be feeling so much better. 💛
Yes, as if she started to think it is a bit nice to be pampered after all.
She was enjoying the bath, that was the turning point.
Dogs respond when treated with respect and dignity, so do horses.
She was like a totally different dog by the end! It's crazy how much the stress of rushing to a time schedule can effect some animals (and humans). The fact you have the time to stop and comfort her every time she starts getting stressed made A HUGE difference I think. Time a normal groomer probably couldn't spare on one dog ever. It's great you can dedicate so much time to these dogs who otherwise would have nowhere to get groomed.
That's why I won't work for a company. I groom for the pets. When I see a stressed dog's attitude change, and are excited to see me. It makes my life complete
@@carylhill9354 Yeah, I probably should of differentiated between self employed groomers and ones working in a busy shop for a company with set prices and time slots. As I was mostly refering to the latter. 👍
Agree one hundred percent
The respect you have for these fearful dogs is just phenomenal - you keep yourself safe, but you don't let them believe they are the boss.
I just feel so bad for how scared they all are. 🥺
Those positives affirmations of , "good. Girl"
Are so important, the dogs can tell if mean it.
I worked with a vet who would cause bleeding on every paw. Snip it short, cause them trauma and use QuikStop, was her go-to. I've watched thousands of nail trims in the business as a vet assistant, but I still get nervous when I have to do it, after seeing that. When pets are upset about nail trims, and working for that horrible person, I feel a lot of pressure.
God. Damn. QuikStop is JUST IN CASE not the NORM. Was there absolutely nowhere you could report this to? This vet clearly does not care about wellbeing in the slightest. Just about “getting a job done”. Yikes. 😟 Sounds like a person who would be pro- de-claw amputations too.
Sicko vet who is supposed to CARE for animals. I hope she was outed on reviews.
@@YuBeace She'd grab the quikstop before the clippers. :( Thank goodness I'm not there anymore. I reported them for some other stuff, namely surgeries just out on the table as if it were nothing. And yes, it was one of those "come down here since declaws aren't illegal yet" situations.
@@mavisbeacon6770 YIKES Malpractice McGee! I’m also glad for you you’re out of there.
I don't wanna give up though. I'm working on my vet tech degree, and a lot of people (like our girl) are good people.
As another person in the animal service industry, this video is both impressive and easily the most nerve-wracking to watch. Her tells are so subtle and when the muzzle was on in the shower, she was anxious as shit. Like I could feel it. She had calmed considerably as the video has progressed. The paitence you showed her to get her done, and do so in a way that is at her pace impresses the fuck out of me.
I have a suspicion that she had a really really bad experience with someone trying to get her matts out and her aggression was trying to prevent that experience again. I am glad you were able to show her it didn't have to be like that.
You could tell by the tail position alone.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You should teach classes to groomers on recognizing anxiety, fear, aggression, etc. You do an exceptional job of being able to read the dog and keep both of you safe while completing grooms others won't touch. In the hierarchy of groomers, that puts you on the top tier and everyone else below you.
This channel is a learning center and serotonin source for many
I want to be an animal caretaker and am learning so much from these videos!
Well said!
Well, there’s yet one more animal you have helped without even meeting her. My little seven-pound tortoiseshell, Harlequin Hemingway, is enjoying watching this video with me. You’ve provided a few minutes diversion for a senior cat, plus she seems to find your voice (and possibly the quiet rhythm of the grooming) relaxing.
That is an EXCELLENT name
Aww , my love to the darling Tortie cat ! 💛💛💛😻😻😻😻😻😻
I don’t have any animals, but I love them and find that these videos are very relaxing.
Greetings to you and Harlequin from the UK!
I've never seen anyone with your level of patience for difficult dogs.
I think it comes with the fact that she knows she has time to work with them (unlike other groomers, who usually have full schedules) and the fact that she understands they’re scared, not just being mean
Normally groomers have a tight schedule because those are the economic pressures of the profession. More dogs in a day allows for individual prices to be lower, fewer usually means higher. That's also the reason for the hourly rates. It's an attempt to balance these two things out.
Vanessa is in the unique position that her actual main income stems from what she does _after_ the groom. And here having fewer clients often is more productive. Only one client per day that you can take your time with, as far as the pet(s) allow(s), does a lot for a groomer's patience.
Also helps that Vanessa just seems to be a naturally calm person. Aware of dangers, but still getting the job done. While knowing the limits of both herself and the pet. There's no malice, just a lot understanding. And animals notice that. So they are often more relaxed around her than other groomers who just don't have the ability to do all of this.
This isn't to defend groomers who genuinely mistreat their clients. Or to make light of all the effort Vanessa puts in. Just a bit of context why you would have more patience in this kind of environment as well. Plus at least the main channel exists for longer than Vanessa has stopped taking money from clients. At least if we assume that the ones where she openly talked about pricing indicated as such. With her patience, calm and understanding being major reasons why she was able to reach this point.
@@nestrior7733 she gets revenue from posting videos, has 2. channels, th more views, / clicks on, th more $$
allows her to do free grooms.
U wonder why non from big Corp, Petsmart, Petco..??
don't need th money , AND, are horrible places. behind th scenes !!
@@nestrior7733Thank you for the informative comment
I had a dog with her personality type and I appreciate that you realized that just because she’s quiet doesn’t mean she’s not going to snap. She’s not mean spirited but she’s clearly suspicious and takes no sh*t. 🖤
The personality reminds me of dogs like Chow Chows. They are very beautiful, wonderful dogs but grooming them can be scary because they will be silent and show very little body language. It takes a really special groomer and a really special owner to keep dogs like that. If you treat them right they can be a dream.
@@Hi_Im_Akward My late dog was part chow chow and he was exactly as you described.
it's the livestock guardian breed half. that personality. they're bred to be suspicious of the unfamiliar since they're meant to protect livestock and property from predators and thieves.
She snaps at her owner as well, & she's only 2! Yeah good luck with that! Seems to me it's bad breeding and lax training. No thx
@@GreenClassifiedyeah assuming it isn't a rescue dog with a bad history, not desensitising a dog to being handled and having her face etc touched whilst she was a young puppy is the owners fault. It's not the dogs fault that it is scared and nervous
She looked stressed out the moment you turned on the camera. She’s an example of those situations where people say the dog attack for no reason, or unprovoked. Suitable body language says a lot. Thank you for giving her a chance.❤
Is that why dogs attack 1, or 2 month old newborn babies?
@@Nobynoby2763certain breeds have a very strong prey drive and can have that urge triggered by babies/small children. Especially when little ones start crawling and walking because they are now on the move and because little ones have to be taught not to cause harm to the animal.
I don’t think ur being overly cautious, ur being smart.
The way you gently push her limits so she learns she’s in a safe space but you’re in charge is amazing
You are such a professional. You’re like the “Dog Groomer Whisperer”; you’re very good at reading each dog’s temperament and limitations. You also never push or distress unnecessarily your dogs which is incredibly humane. Thank you!
Def. I was thinking the same exact thing, “dog groomer whisperer”. It’s exactly what she is. It’s very seldom there’s a dog she cannot do!
Spot on! She’s incredible and was born to do this! She has helped so many dogs and owners, and regularly donates to animal charities. The world is blessed to have her, and I wish her all the success.
I challenge the term "whisperer" no matter if it's dog, horse, or any other animal. The term comes from the movie "The Horse Whisperer". The reason for my stance on this term is from a book by Monty Roberts, one of the top horse trainers in the nation. His book is titled "The Man Who Listens to Horses" A great read by the way.
Mr. Roberts explains that he watches the horse's body language to assess what they are thinking and how he should react to get the horse to respond as he needs it to. It's horse's overall body language. The direction of the ears, how the horse is holding it's tail, the expression in the eyes, even the position of the feet. This is very much what Vanessa is doing. She watches and interprets the dog's body language to assess what the dog needs.
To further understand this concept, I suggest the book, "Bones Would Rain From the Sky" by Suzanne Clothier. A wonderful read by a woman that was born loving dogs.
Dogs, like people, can associate specific stimuli with dangers, given the "right" initial experience.
My dog, a rescue, came to us at 11 mos with a profound fear of anything largish and flat. Large pieces of paper, a cookie sheet, a flattened cardboard box, anything like that, if we picked it up, or if she came upon it unexpectedly, leaning out sitting up on edge, would send her fleeing in panic, body low to the ground. We never knew what that was about. It took her years to get to a point where she could remain in the same room when one of us pulled the cookie sheet out of the cupboard. Something must have happened that caused her brain and nervous system to couple the big flat thing with the sensations of fear and panic. Maybe a gate fell on her in her former country? Maybe she was cornered by a piece of plywood, together with her littermates, in order to take them into custody and care? She started life as a SATO, so it could be? Whatever, she's fine now. She knows big flat things often contain pizza, for one thing. 😂
I was thinking the same thing. She’s very patience with these animals.
We've seen you groom many "difficult" dogs. I believe you are a calming presence for the frightened dogs. You Rock!!
OMG! I was SO relieved when you put the muzzle on her and then the cone. I recognized her tenseness and expected her at any time to snap or charge you. It is amazing how quickly a scared dog can turn on a groomer or owner. I was SHOCKED that you said some folks would think you were overly cautious. Geez. They may not know dogs well. You were giving a great gift to this dog but there was no reason to expect her to understand that. Your compassion and knowledge is so evident during this grooming. By taking all the precautions that you did, this allowed you to more safely (still a bit of a risk) to free her from her mats. The groomers who gave up on her and recognized that they could not safely handle her did the right thing for her and them as had she badly bitten them she might have been destroyed. By handling her safely you saved her from the misery of a compacted/matted coat that can lead to severe skin breakdown. Big hugs from Hawaii! You are my grooming heroine!
This groom was possibly life changing for this young dog, and her owners. You have done so much to set them up for future success. Thank you, Vanessa.
Amen
100%
Its a haircut 🙄🙄
@@NgocnitoYou do it then if it's that easy 🙄
People tend to forget dogs are energy readers. I think you did a wonderful job staying calm, paying attention to her body language and she appreciates that. Dogs have preferences too!
I keep a few broiler roosters, n yep, I'd say you said it well: if the person is calm, they tend to be calm n better too. They get anxious around anxious people. Prolly it's more common in the animal world than just dogs. Cheers!
It’s the same with cats. One day my cat was very stressed from movers and scratched my grandmother. Now my grandmother is scared of him. Because of her energy and her fear, he tries to attack her out of defense because of her alertness. She is the only one he does this to.
Well said
It's like between humans too.
Maybe body language is inherently somewhat compatible between different species if they evolved together even for a few thousand years. Maybe it's inherent to the domestication process, long-term.
Regardless it's really cool and interesting.
U took the words out of my mouth!
By the end she looks utterly resigned to it. She knows it’s not scary any more and trusts to an extent. Amazing she let you do her paws when she wouldn’t even let you touch them at the beginning. Awesome job.
The only time I was ever nicked by a dog was a very old Akita. He stood directly beside me by his own choice, owners were with him. We had met and introduced us earlier that evening. But when I moved my hand like 10cm to touch him, he bit me right away. Zero warning, zero avoidance, nothing.
That's super unusual... Hope that boy didn't have any mental disorders to cause that, those can end up super nasty as they age and hormones change.
If the movement that sets them off is sudden, the bite can be just as sudden because they're just as surprised by what's happening as you are. If you don't know the dog you won't know what they may or may not be used to or comfortable with or how anxious/sensitive they are with certain people or environments or actions. Old dogs tend to have vision problems, especially with their peripheral vision, so sudden movements they can't see very well can scare them into reacting unexpectedly especially if they don't know you very well and thus don't feel as comfortable around you. Their vision problems can also potentially create a general anxiety they feel about their surroundings because it's more difficult to see danger coming so they may be more reactive to stuff that surprises them as a result. In cases like that it may come without warning to you because what set them off came without warning to them too.
This dog gives new meaning to the term "silent but deadly." Glad it all actually went okay! And thank you for your patience with her, so impressive
Agreed lol That smile that baby was giving at the beginning of the video was extremely deceiving
Agreed. I can see where you succeed when others fail. You stop when they need a break, you talk to them all the time not just when they start to get wound up & need reassuring. My sheltie would have been petrified with the noise. Have to admit I used to pick her up from the bath & get her down stairs & out into the garden trying not to get myself soaked. Bless her heart she would extremely happy charging around the garden & rolling on the grass with a great big smile. Guess Tandy has been gone over 40 years. Still missing her terribly. Keep up the good work. M
thank you for taking care of her, you're an amazing groomer vanessa!
I've never seen a dog avoid eye contact SO MUCH. This was so incredibly tense! My heart is pounding. Well done!
Eye contact is a sign of challenge for most animals. This dog was immensely uncomfortable and wanted to avoid conflict, so she turns away. When dogs see each stranger dogs, they turn their heads away as a sign of respect and to say "I don't want any trouble".
@@Robbie-mw5uuWhich is why nobody should ever look dog’s dead in the eye unless they know them well. A lot of people don’t understand that and have been bitten as a result.
@@ScarletAngleGaaraI was learned not to look straight in their eyes but just above their heads. As a flyball team member we watch one another’s dogs if one is on the field but also talk when being with our dogs and I was standing talking to our coaches wife, about their dogs epilepsy and how Fly was doing if there was something I could do when they where out and I was watching, Fly was elderly and had her own dog pen to be in. And I saw my dogs fathers eyes shifting and no other signals he snapped giving me a scrape. Just one tit bit to late to pull my hand of the fence. She was firm with him because he had it worse in the past. I’m having his son and he doesn’t do that luckily. I teach now my granddaughter even she’s just 16 months old how to be around the dogs because she’s every week here on my babysit day.
@@nancywillaert5129 It’s good you teach your kids how to behave around animals. Not enough parents do that and it can result in devastating consequences. There have been kids who just absolutely manhandle dogs to the point they’re hitting them and throwing things at them and all kinds of stuff. Not always but it has resulted in kids either being seriously injured or dying from dog bites or being mauled. It’s pretty tragic. /:
I noticed a huge change in her demeanor when you did the trust thing w her paw. She instantly started trusting you.
I hope they keep bringing her in a few times a year ao she continues to trust you❤ ❤❤❤
That was fascinating - is it a particular technique?
Outstanding job, thank you for showing what real threats are from dogs. Most people think its just growling, but there are so many other signs. This girl was obviously SO happy once she was clipped, bathed and groomed!! Thank you Vanessa!!
Not too careful at all she’s obviously ready to defend herself
Your patience is impressive as is your attitude: congratulations on a tough job well donr
You do such a good job with all the dogs you groom. Hopefully she can come back to you and with time hopefully she will do better each time. Thank you for sharing what you do.
Wow, the way she started trusting you after the shower...
I wish we all have such compassion to understand each others triggers🥺
Seems like a dog who can be acclimated to tolerate grooming.
Yes! You could see in the dogs eyes and demeanor how much calmer she was after the bath!
I believe that having the pets alone in the room with you (no other pets on sight) in a quiet environment truly helps them to be less stressed for the grooming. Thanks for your hard work and for educate us.
Vanessa can also take as much time as she wants, pause and calm down and reassess, since she no longer makes her living from the grooms themselves so she doesn’t have to fit in a certain number per day. It’s great that many of these “problem” cases were able to meet Vanessa and undergo these special circumstances to possibly improve their situations.
Poor sweet girl was so frightened. She gave you so much side eye!! Another brilliant job.
For the life of me, I don't know why anyone would think a Maremma/anything cross - especially one that made regular grooming by a stranger a good idea. Stock guards aren't exactly known for their trusting nature. The most stranger-aggressive dogs I have ever known have all been Maremmas. I hope those people have some goats/sheep for her to tend and a LOT of land to make her own territory. I am honestly shocked she was as tolerant as she was for you. Kudos to you, as always!!
Probably why she is agressive. Has a ton of built up energy because she doesn't have a job to do.
Being mixed with a poodle I doubt she’s with livestock. It’s hard enough to get a good livestock dog even when purebred and from working farms. I wouldn’t even risk having a mix on my farm
Plus this dog is obese it wouldn’t be able to even do it’s job.
@buttercup132 I disagree. In my personal experience, I have seen a mixed breed livestock guard dog be very good at its job. My grandmother had a st bernard and great pyrenees mix that fought off a bear from near the pig pen and walked away with only a scratch on its back leg.
@@nicholasneyhart396 I'm not saying LSG are agressive. I'm saying the dog here might be because it's mixed with poodle and meremma and doesn't have a job to do. I have a pyrness mix lsg
@@Boudicaisback ah, sorry I misunderstood you.
I was a canine beautician way back in the 1960's Your channel brings back so memories for me . I was just 14 years of age when I started working a 5-year apprenticeship in a grooming salon in the Home Counties of England . First year was Feet Face and Tail and brewing the tea! We only used Forfex electric clippers and scissors and a hand held hair dryer. Just a simple sink or bath with shower attachments. No restraints or muzzles. . I could watch your videos all day everyday. You're amazing. I empathize with every dog you groom, especially the nervy frightened ones. I always befriended my furry clients before working on them,, from Old English Sheepdogs, GSDs, poodles and all toy breeds. I always used gentle patience combined with confidence which gained their trust. I'm totally impressed with your professionalism and your empathy. Thank you so much.. You make me proud to be a retired canine beautician. I have English Cocker Spaniels now which I trim and groom myself. They are my joy. Thank you again. I wish you huge success with your profession. It takes its toll on you physically and emotionally but it's the most rewarding feeling when you've created a gorgeous and healthy dog. Love to all the fur faces. 🐕🐩🐾🐾
this was so cool to read! thank you for sharing, it’s so interesting to learn about different walks of life both new and old
@@crazysimtheone6321 I agree with you 💯
Wow, you are an inspiration Ms. Eve. Thank you for sharing your story.❤
This was a lovely read.
That was nice to read. Cheers, Ms. Eve, from an aspiring dog owner.
Watching people of any profession at the top of their game is incredibly impressive. From what I’ve just witness in this video, you are at the very pinnacle of your profession. A true professional in every sense.
It really is right! She’s excellent.
Some people respond to dominance. Some respond to being asked permission. This dog responded to gentle but firm direction, calm, reassuring talking. Building a "team." This requires knowledge, patience, caring. Look at difference in her behavior and confidence. One has to be Smarter than the dog, CARE ABOUT THE DOG. HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE DOG. I do not believe ANY OL' GROOMER SHOULD WORK ON THIS SWEETHEART.
I also suggest watching baumgartner restoration for this sense of expertise, he repairs paintings and is unbelievably skilled at it
The so called dangerous dogs are less dangerous because of you. You are gentle you show them respect and you give them a chance to get to know you and trust you. You are a true dog whisperer. I love watching your videos. ❤❤❤
The fact she let you grab her face at the end seems like a magnificent feat in itself she looked at the start like she would burn you where you stood if she could. This dog can be worked with if someone has the patience and skil.
I hope we will see Mickie in the future. It was obvious she began to trust you thru the process. Haven't you said before some dogs are one groomer dogs? Seeing her look so much better and happier at the end was epic ❤
Agreed!
Yes! I hope she gets to be a regular client. It was incredible how much trust was formed in just the first visit with Vanessa. I’m sure regular grooming with Vanessa would turn her into a much more trusting and confident dog that can tolerate grooming and not be terrified, perhaps even muzzle free! You have to wonder if somewhere along the way in her grooming journey prior to this groom if there was some kind of trauma incurred. Building that trust was so monumental!
Please more Mickey becoming friends with her groomer
I would love to see her again in future, it's always great seeing dogs getting more and more comfortable grooming session after session
Her silence looked to me like maybe, just maybe, her brain was figuring out that you were making this experience fairly tolerable and not so traumatic. Excellent job Vanessa!! I think your patience and persistence, along with your respect for each animal as an individual, combined with your keen ability to read each animal's cues, are beyond compare!
The sheepdog part of her breed, that constant utter silence is pretty common.
Masterful.
On a more personal note, I love that YOUR OWN NAILS are lovely. I love Your manicures and the nail polish you choose. My absolute favorite is the red with white polka dots. So lovely.
Honestly this is a masterclass on active listening. People can learn a lot about dogs and other people by listening the way you do.
As someone who has worked with nonverbal humans, I wholeheartedly agree.
It's fortunate they could bring their dog to Vanessa as I think those silent signs would've been completely missed in a busy, loud grooming studio.
I love how you're focusing more and more on the craft of grooming difficult dogs and finding their triggers in the process. It just seems like a good and logical jump up on the steps of your career. :)
Or maybe teaching other groomers how to deal with difficult dogs.....
Some groomers simply dont want to work with difficult dogs. Ive been grooming for almost 19 years. Never been bitten or injured, because i dont work with dangerous dogs. Im very glad there are people willing to work with aggressive dogs, because i most certainly am not.
@@maryapattersonthey shouldn’t be obligated to risk getting attacked especially with the pay
My pup also skips most levels of communication when it comes to discomfort. She goes straights to biting. I had to seriously learn to read a dog's body language and she's taught me everything I know from eye contact, licking, stiffening, direction of tail wag, sitting etc. I believe this was because she was seperated from her mom at a week old. I am lucky I adopted her at 3.5 months old and focused on disentisizing her to everything I could which has made her a dog that can be handled easily. The way you handled this girl was inspiring.
Good for you for giving a dog a chance and for putting in the incredible amount of time it takes! Your dog is darn lucky to have a loving owner like you❤
The reason why you have dogs without warnings is because when they are young, people scold them when they growl. So the dog thinks "ok don't give warnings?" This is why it's very important to never correct a dog when they growl. You NEED them to growl because the next step of aggression is bite.
@@Robbie-mw5uu It can be the case but not always. It can also genetics and temperament.
mine too but she was a grandma when we got her. lots of love and time later and she knows she is safe but i can read her body language much easier now and she is simply an anxious puppy, easily stressed out but conditioned to recoil and lash out at the last second. 😭 im a glad i learned to know what she needs now cuz i can support her better. she can handle a groom but no sudden movements or noises please and thank you!! and lots of praise!! 🥰
@@Robbie-mw5uusometimes dogs learn growling from F-ing around and finding out. Generally from a parent or sibling who growls to tell them to back off. If they don't interact with other dogs at a young age they basically get deprived of learning parts of their language.
Similarly with cats I have a ladd who bothers his sister until she hisses at him and then he comes crying to me for attention since sis doesn't wanna play with him (he's twice her size and she hates wrestle play with him). Because they have their experience with growls and hisses they know to do so when they want folks to back off (i also reinforce this by using a low growling tone warning them not to jump on the counter or steal food off someone's plate).
It's amazing how much calmer she became. The panting stopped and she was so much better with you touching her feet. You're the dog whisperer. ❤
As someone who spent many hours having her curly hair detangled as a child, I can empathize with this sweet girl. ❤ great job as usual!!
I remember my mom smearing "lamb's fat" (cholesterol cream) into my hair and dematting me with a metal comb. I totally know where this dog is coming from!
@@Raelven😢. Thank goodness there are plenty of products now on the market....
@@maryapattersonsometimes it's just knowing How not so much What you use. My mom used to get any "curly" hair product she could to tame my mane but as I grew up I figured out how to use them properly.
Yeah, as a curly haired child of two straight haired parents I relate to this. I would get one matted clump at the nape of my neck because the brush didnt reach it.
Thats why I’m always so slow with my dog is he ever needs dematting (obviously I try and avoid this but sometimes they just appear out of nowhere)
Oh lord you brought back memories 😭 I was always in tears after having my hair combed.
We get so used to Vanessa's skills that sometimes we think it's not that big of a deal. Then we get to see her work on doggies like this one. It's awesome to watch her work. Hats off to you, Vanessa!
You’re incredibly talented with grooming. Your love for the dogs shines through!
What’s so special about shaving them down to their skin?
@@studiosingernot the groom but how she treats the animals during the groom. The patience compassion and ability to read these animals and act Accordingly is what’s special. Not a lot of ppl can do that, including other groomers.
@@studiosinger I just feel sorry for you.
I am amazed at how patient this girl was being. I think she was surprised that you were actually listening to her with her signs and respecting them, so I think she gradually started to trust you. This appointment was so good for this girl, not just because she got groomed but because she learned that it wasn’t a painful or scary experience. You worked amazingly well with her Vanessa, bravo. ❤
Since she calmed down significantly after she got off the table, and in the shower, it seems to me that she was nicked, or abused in some way, early on at a groomer. She was calm while working on her face in the shower, too. She associates the grooming table with fear and possibly, pain. Even after her blow dry, she got nervous again, but not so much over scissors than she is with the trimmer.
Considering her history, she was quite behaved, thanks to your gentle and compassionate methods, Vanessa. Great work!
I was going to mention this too. Someone in the past did something to make her hate the table part of grooming.
I’m a former groomer, and in my experience, dogs behave this way more often from lack of exposure to grooming than abuse. I saw this behavior a lot as a groomer when dogs (especially guardians) were not exposed to grooming as early as they should have been.
👍 You did an amazing job. The E collar & muzzle is a good combo. Might even consider an umpire’s mask to protect your face.
When our little Jack Russel went senile he somehow got out of his muzzle when we were trimming his toes & he bit hard.
Anyone else tear up when she took the muzzle off and was able to wash her face? Just the look on her sweet face and Vanessa reflections in her. 😊❤
Yep.
I'm so glad that this pup was able to not just get groomed but was able to build some kind of trust. You handled the situation so well.
As someone who has an aggressive dog (although he's always behaved well with grooming when he has gotten it done, just very anxious but no snapping) this means so much to me to see someone willing to try to work with them and not call them bad or a lost cause. After seeing you just working with some of these dogs, it makes me more confident that maybe a dog behaviorist would also be willing to work with my dog to make him less reactive and not just tell me he's a bad dog.
We would say that there’s no such thing as a ‘bad dog’, just bad owners. She’s a lovely animal, just nervous and unsure, and needs time and patience. Surely not much to ask.
I think your calm approach and soft-spoken manner is a benefit to keep your furry clients more comfortable.
I'm sure she feels so much better after the matting is gone. The bath probably also felt pretty good too.
100/10
Theres no such thing as being overly cautious when it comes to anything with teeth. Anyone that says other wise must be unaware of how quick a dog can snap and how much damage they can do in a small amount of time. I think you're amount of patience and equipment you used was just right. You always try to communicate with them in a manner that balances their anxiety or aggression/fear.
She certainly seemed to calm after her bath. And she did really well with you working around her face! I think she has great potential. She just needs someone like you who is willing to help her work through her stress and anxiety and give her the patience she needs
This was the most intense and unsettling grooming I’ve experienced since joining here. It felt as though I was in the room assisting Ms. Vanessa. Wanting to protect her and give this ‘Miky’ a huge hug 🤗.
I felt anxious just watching and waiving for the SNAP.
That would've been the last hug you'd of ever given.
@@smilesandthetwistedmd7608 🤣👀
Your patience is remarkable! You're in the right job!
Was that a smile we saw at the end? Vanessa your patience and compassion and firmness is so healing for your clients.
You’re an actual wizard - I feel like with repeat trips, she could break through/be more receptive. Her trust in the shower was just so sweet.
Your calm demeanor with her gives her trust. She did good considering she had a lot of anxiety. Again, being in a private shop and her being the only dog takes much of the stress away. Great job!
You were so so brilliant with her,reading her body language and recognizing stress signs. The end result is much more than I thought you’d accomplish. Bravo again Vanessa !🎉
Seeing her face change when she started to trust you was totally heart warming. When a dog with previous bad experiences warms to you is the best feeling as a groomer! You are amazing 💖
It seems like she was soooo scared, but somewhat understanding that what you were doing was feeling good… and struggling past her automatic reactions. You did such an amazing job with her. ❤
Very interesting to see her start to calm and trust you, and open up her body language a bit. She went from just snapping without warning with the clippers to moving away from the dryer to show she disliked it. Such a good girl, just extremely nervous and fear reactive.
I’ve heard a lot of doodle type dogs hate grooming but you did so good
My own two doodles are like chalk and cheese when it comes to grooming. The smaller one (the older out of the two) loves being groomed, whereas her younger sister hates it, from going in the car, and all the rest of the process, but thankfully, she has never been very temperamental and she tolerates it. And weirdly, she also doesn’t like going out of the house, even for a walk.
I feel like I’ve seen a lot of LGD & LGD mix dogs around lately. And what people don’t realize is that they’re NOT at all like other dogs. They are really their own boss and they don’t necessarily listen to humans -even their owners sometimes. They’re bred to do a job & be independent from people. I really like that you’re including dogs like this in your video to show people the reality of how a LGD/LGD mix can behave
A happy LGD is one out amongst the sheep. My neighbour has a Maremma/Kuvasz who is usually sunbathing amongst her flock and so happy.
I hate seeing city people getting working dogs and then wondering why they are having problems.
@@unacceptablesisterpeter3431
"I don't understand why my collie keeps eating the furniture and the baseboards. I walk him 20 minutes a day"
😅
My first Guardian girl was a Great Pyrenees./ Komondor, everybody thought she was a giant doodle mix...I now have a Great Pyrenees / Anatolian Shepard, and now everybody thinks she's an extra tall Labrador with a curled up tail....both sweethearts!
Poodles are a water dog breed. Like Labradors. They are basically hunting companion dogs (used to retrieve game out of water), but can be trained for water rescues as well.
Although I'd argue that they have been bred to be good pets for so long, that most of their working dog traits have been bred out long ago.
However, they are not livestock guardians and have never been used as such.
Look at how happy and healthy she looks at the end. You’re an angel, Vanessa. I know she and her owners must have been so grateful.
You're amazing!! I'm a vet tech that worked at a shelter and you did what I don't think most could ever do with this pup. Doodles are such a sad breed now that they have been over bred. They are not trustworthy like their separate breeds would be. I also watched your Caucasian Shepard video and I was shocked. Such a good dog!!! 🖤🧡
It's so sad when a breed or xbreed becomes popular and unethical people breed them for $$ until the market is saturated and late to the game dogs wind up in shelters.
One of my dogs was attacked by a Doodle breed, bitten on her face and ears. I don’t think people know what they’re getting with a Doodle breed. The Poodle half can be aggressive.
(That’s why I clicked on this video; the dog looks like the one that attacked my dog.)
Doodles are not a recognized breed. I hate that people think they are. Of course they're not a safe breed - there are no standards
I was saddened but not surprised to see someone had even bred a poodle with a Maremma.
@@SuperMir00 There are breeders who are working to standardize the cross. It usually takes 25 years of hard work. They are very close. When the standard is drawn and accepted by one of the Registries then papers will be awarded to those who do meet the standard.
I mean, we call her the groomer whisperer for a reason! Another fantastic job! She really calmed down!
I have yet to see someone as genuine, knowledgeable, and showing the level of care about grooming these pups AND cats as you on YT. Vanessa, you are truly the grooming GOAT!
Okay, I held my breath every time you worked on her front feet with her face so close to her (even when muzzled they can do some damage). At one point I even caught myself moving back from my computer screen! Glad that you were able to get it done safely, she really was eerily quiet.
I love how you consistantly show the dogs you groom -especially the nervous ones- you'll respond to the boundaries they communicate to you even faintly and use as much positive reinforcement as they need to show them there is nothing about you or your place that actually justifies anxiety and hypervigilence and how, doing that, you're able to earn some of their trust even if they don't have a lot to give at that point in their journey with grooming. I love to see you work, especially with those dogs. This big girl looks like she did as great a job as you did with her for the level of fear she came in with! Love her too!
it's great advice for humans as well! people of all ages respond really well when their signs of discomfort are acknowledged in respectful and patient ways.
What an incredible transformation. Truly a labor of love and patience - all built on trust.
Wow, this brought me to tears. Watching her go from being so fearful, to being more relaxed with you, was amazing. Thank you, so much, for taking the time to help her trust you.
Vanessa kept saying that it's not going to be a good haircut. Do not underestimate that what you accomplished was to help her with trusting someone to groom her. That is something you can't put a price on.
Watching you earn her trust and then at the end when she looks into your eyes I actually cried, this was amazing to see. She's just a scared dog, you're amazing
She tries to bite her own owner sometimes she said.😮
With the shaving portion you could tell by the end she a) was hurting with how close the mats were and b) understood you were trying to help and it felt better. Cute doggo and amazing groomer
Honestly Vanessa you really have a gift. To be able to treat this dog with such love and care despite being afraid of her biting, and willingness/talent to help her through a really stressful thing for her is something that transcends words. Great work as always ❤
She is a bit scary and definitely dangerous, but she's also very smart. As the process continued she accepted it more and more, seeing that nothing particular is happening. She may have even been relieved after the haircut. You've definitely gained her trust :)
Great video, thanks Vanessa!
Dogs know who they can trust. I can only imagine how happy these nicely groomed dogs feel after their time spent under Vanessa's care.❤
Such a difference to her after the groom. She looks more relaxed but then she is outside. Having your working area quiet helps immensely, being the only person there as her groomer helps and your experiences and inbuilt calmness comes a cross in waves. Mikki would feel this. Thank you for sharing her with us and for caring for 'the untouchable' dogs.
your willingness to gently work with her made all the difference. great job
This has to be up there as one of my favourite grooms by you. Your patience, care and understanding earning this dogs trust was lovely to watch.
It’s makes a HUGE difference when the person grooming has a consistent calm and reassuring voice which you have and demonstrated throughout the entire video. She gained trust with you because of your calm and reassuring demeanor. Great job!
That was one scared little girl! Yes, she's a big dog, but she's just a scared little puppy when it comes to grooming. You did a great job of calming her during the process. I don't know if she'll ever be a dog that can just go to any groomer, but she CAN get through the process with a little time and patience. Really a worthwhile job Vanessa.
Your patience and fearlessness is such a gift for these struggling souls. Thank you for all you do for them!
Love the way you phrased this - such a perfect description of Vanessa's work! She helps a lot of stressed animals AND owners, not to mention orividing great advice to all the watchers and organising some amazing charitable efforts.
What a sweet and gorgeous girl! She was just so scared but she definitely started to trust you! If anyone had ever told me that I would spend so much time watching other peoples dogs to get groomed, I would’ve told them they were crazy. I love your videos so much! Especially when you have some poor dog who is getting turned away from other groomers. She looks so beautiful after her grooming And I’m glad she was able to have such a nice experience with you! You really are a miracle worker!❤
the way she would barely let you get close to her face in the beginning but at the end, even tho stressed and anxious, as able to let you finish the job its such a beautiful thing to see. with time im sure she'll get used to grooming eventually!
You really are the platinum standard that all groomers should strive to achieve. Your calm , no nonsense approach is reassuring to the dogs. Definitely a Dog Whisperer.
I must admit as someone who has previously owned a poodle I can’t get my head around why anyone would cross breed these wonderful dogs. Back in the day they were mongrels. No offence to Doodle owners.
The lack of shedding is really important for some people.
@@roems6396 So get a poodle. There are relatively few crosses with Poodles that improve them. Poodles are wonderful dogs on their own, intelligent and HIGHLY trainable and very personable. Wonderful dogs, but when you cross them with other retrievers and herding or livestock guardian dogs, all you're doing is creating suffering and ruining what makes poodles great.
@@roems6396 what most people want from doodles, they would get from a standard poodle. i think a lot of it is based on marketing, with retrievers (as a common cross) being thought of as family dogs more than poodles historically, so people think they're getting a retriever with no shedding when that's absolutely not the case. poodle mixes have different training needs, grooming needs, and temperaments.
My family had poodles, and my brother got a Bordoodle for his family. She seems to have inherited the best of the border collie and poodle, fortunately. She’s smart and sweet, and patient as well.
It really depends on the breed that it’s crossed with. I’ve found that Standard Poodle mixes with other similarly dispositioned breeds can be extremely well behaved and obedient. Unfortunately, backyard breeders are ruining it for everyone by creating unhealthy and ill tempered lines.
You’re amazing--I find myself watching almost 2 hours of your incredibly patient & compassionate care for these dogs!!