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Restraining Dogs Safely
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Reprinted with permission from Pet Age- July 2006 Restraining Dogs Safely Trying to scissor a whirling dervish? Take advantage of the wide array of grooming restraints that are available to keep both you and your customers’ pets safe. By Daryl Conner I was almost done trimming the face of a large, bouncy Airedale mix when his owner came a few moments early to pick him up. Because there is a window between the lobby and the grooming room, the dog was able to see his owner and he attempted to leap off the grooming table. Thankfully, the grooming loop around his neck prevented him from falling and possibly injuring himself. However, when the loop pressed against his neck, he coughed. His owner became extremely distressed, thinking her precious pet was being harmed. She insisted I take him off the table that instant, crying out, “He is choking, it’s terrible to see!” In reality, he was not choking; the loop was properly adjusted so that it did not put any pressure on his neck when he stood normally. But the incident got me thinking about the restraint systems we use on the pets we groom, how we use them and how our clients perceive that use. Even the terminology you use when referring to grooming restraints can shape the way your customers perceive them. For instance, use the words “grooming loop” or “safety loop” rather than “noose,” a word with a scary connotation. While some stylists work on dogs without using any form of restraint, most of us take advantage of the wide array of restraints that are available to keep both pets and ourselves safe. “I look at restraints like the seat belts in a car,” said Deb Waddel, owner of Gentle Touch Grooming (Port Clinton, Ohio). “You may never need them, but you will be very glad you used them if there is an accident.” Grooming Loops Most groomers use a basic grooming loop, attached to a grooming arm, to help remind dogs to stay on the grooming table. With about a zillion different types of loops to choose from, there is one to suit everyone’s taste. Loops of nylon webbing come in every color of the rainbow. Some offer locking mechanisms so dogs can’t back out of them, and some have squishy padding at the throat to assure the comfort of “leaners” or “pullers.” Proguard Pet Products (Brooklyn, N.Y.) makes unique cable loops that are coated in clear plastic. Owner David Dietz said he invented them when he was a groomer because he had a couple of dogs that “would chew through a loop in three minutes flat.” Dietz added, “I had a friend who made cable sail lashes. He and I got together and came up with these loops. They are flexible, durable and come in multi colors so they are attractive as well.” Proguard’s waterproof cable loops are particularly great for use in the bathtub, and are easy to sanitize. Any grooming loop must be used safely, however. If a dog is unattended and steps or falls off the table, it can be seriously injured or killed. Since accidents do happen, using safety equipment such as panic snaps is imperative. These snaps, originally designed for people who work with horses, also are used by folks who have sled dogs. The heavy metal snaps cannot release with pressure, but open instantly with a simple movement of the groomer’s thumb and forefinger. One style of loop is designed with a Velcro closure between the snap hook and the loop. Although this seems like a good idea, a pet easily could release the loop by leaning its body weight against it, which could result in a dangerous fall off the table. Grooming Arms Most stylists are familiar with traditional grooming arms, which are shaped like upside-down L’s and attach to one end of the grooming table. Eleven years ago, Curtis Hanvey, president of Hanvey Specialty Engineering (Boiling Springs, N.C.), introduced an innovative full arm called LIPS, which stands for Linked Interval Positioning System. This tool takes restraints to a whole new level by extending the arm the entire length of the table, attaching at both ends by way of a flat flange that can be used on any table top. The arm comes in three pieces—two side arms and a top bar—and can be attached or removed in seconds. LIPS allows stylists to infinitely adjust where they attach grooming loops, making it easy to adapt from large dogs to small ones. “This system offers two-point control,” said Lorraine Hanvey, sales manager. “We are not so big on restraining dogs are we are on positioning. We find that the more an animal is restrained, the harder it will fight. This system allows the pet to have a range of motion, but it is limited. The dog feels like it still has control, but it cannot come off the table and ‘hang.’ The beauty of this system is that it allows the groomer to work quickly and get the dog off the table as soon as possible.” Another terrific invention is the Groomers Helper (Margate, N.J.). This restraint system was invented by a veterinarian and was first called AlphaLock, according to company owner Chuck Simons, who purchased the entire stock of AlphaLocks and the rights to manufacture them in 2000. The product was renamed to reflect the fact that groomers who used them no longer needed an assistant to hold wiggly or fractious dogs. The Groomers Helper enables stylists to cross-tie dogs. “Animals are calmer when they are cross-tied, and it is safer for the pet and the groomer,” said Simons, who estimates that 30,000 dogs a day are being groomed by stylists using the product. “It makes grooming a lot easier. Because pets stand more calmly, groomers are able to achieve a nicer finish on the pet.” The Groomers Helper is particularly terrific for elderly dogs that tend to wobble a lot, and for puppies or pets that like to spin and dance on the table. “I haven’t had a dog or cat yet that I cannot handle with this, and I am so glad that I don’t have to muzzle,” said Karen Kinleyside, owner of Pets by Design (Celina, Ohio). “I think the animals do much better this way. It does the trick nicely.” Muzzles and More So far, we’ve talked about products designed to help keep pets from jumping or falling off the grooming table. What do we do about pets that want to bite us while they are there? Most stylists keep some form of muzzle on hand to prevent bites, but the use of muzzles is not without some controversy. Some pet owners—and even some groomers—think that using a muzzle is somehow cruel. Many groomers refer to muzzles as “nose mittens,” a fun term that often makes owners laugh and feel a bit more comfortable with their use. “I explain to clients who see me using them that the muzzle helps to take the dog’s mind off what I am doing,” said Rose Lee Begley, owner of Miss Rose’s Grooming Salon (Stuart, Fla.). “I explain that, rather than the dog thinking about what I am doing to its foot, it suddenly becomes very concerned with, ‘what’s on my nose?’ I tell them that the muzzle tends to help the dog relax more. This usually works very well to help my clients understand a little better.” Used correctly, muzzles can prevent groomers from suffering a bite that could put them out of work for an extended period or even permanently. Muzzles also can be used to keep dogs from hurting themselves by snapping at sharp tools. “We have one Shih Tzu whose card reads, ‘muzzle for front legs, licks scissors,” said Mary Anne Stout, a groomer in Middletown, Ky. “This dog has an incredibly long tongue, and can easily reach the shiny moving things even with his head as high as the loop will safely go.” There is one danger associated with muzzles that groomers should be aware of: Many muzzles prevent dogs from opening their mouths to pant. Since dogs cool themselves by panting, these types of muzzles should never be left on a dog any longer than necessary, because dogs can easily overheat if prevented from panting. Softi muzzles from Proguard, designed with groomers in mind, allow dogs to open their mouths to ventilate but prevent them from nipping the stylist. While they are not suitable for dogs that are truly vicious, they are great to prevent dogs from biting while being groomed. Being mindful of dogs’ panting is especially important when we are caring for dogs that have short muzzles such as pugs, Shih Tzus, bulldogs and more. These dogs often have breathing problems and a tendency to overheat easily. They also can be tricky to put a muzzle on. Thanks to the shape of their faces, some of these dogs can remove a muzzle quite easily—so dogs bent on biting can pose a problem. Dogs like this, or any dog that becomes distressed when it is muzzled, often are good candidates for Elizabethan collars. These rigid plastic lampshade look-alikes fasten around the dog’s neck and jut out around its head. They were developed to prevent dogs from licking or chewing injuries or surgical sites, but they can be a great grooming aid because a dog wearing one will have a difficult time reaching your hands and tools if it tries to snap. They are inexpensive and come in a variety of sizes, so keeping several on hand won’t break the bank. If you have muzzled and restrained and still think you may get bitten, check out gloves from BiteBuster Safety Wear (Gilbert, Ariz.). These excellent tools, specifically designed for pet professionals, are made from specially formulated polymers that offer excellent protection while still allowing good dexterity. This company offers a variety of gloves and sleeves that are excellent additions to any groomer’s tack box. Experience and Common Sense Experienced stylists will convey to the pets they groom what is expected of them just by the confident way they handle them. “My biggest control/restraint is my voice, my body language and my alpha attitude with the dogs,” said Mary Arnold, owner of Bit O’ Blarney Pet Services (Salina, Calif.). Experienced stylists also are quick to figure out which pets are not safe to groom, and they refuse to groom dogs that might be dangerous. Using common sense, skill and the great tools available to help us keep both pets and ourselves safe, we can continue to create our own magical brand of art on the living, breathing creatures we groom every day. pa Daryl Conner is certified by the International Society of Canine Cosmetologists as a Dermatech Petcare Specialist and as a Master Pet Stylist Meritus. Happily employed at Yankee Clipper Pet Grooming in Rockport, Maine, she has loved styling cats and dogs for more than 20 years.
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