personality changes AFTER grooming

• personality changes AFTER grooming ann nickes Posted : 6/4/2006 6:16:45 PM [align=left]I have been searching the internet for hours today with no results. I need help! Samuri is a five year old male Pekingese. He is my best friend. Samuri came to live with me almost three years ago. he's full of energy; he thinks he's a 75 pound watch dog! He loves cats and having his coat brushed! Wherever I sleep, he sleeps. He's a great listener!   Yesterday Samuri went to the groomers.  This was a new groomer. She came highly recommended. He didn't go last year because his groomer died. I cut Samuri's hair at home.  When we arrived at the groomers, Samuri & I went into all the rooms he was to be in, we visited the cage when he would stay and met everyone  he would be with that day. We watched another dog being groomed. I told Samuri by and hugged him. About an hour after leaving I phoned and spoke with the groomer as to Samuri's actions. She assured me he was fine and getting his bath. About two jours later I returned. Samuri was sitting in his cage with a colorful bandana around his neck. As I approached the cage, Samuri did nothing. Normally, he would attempt to get to me. I spoke to him and started talking to him as I opened the cage. I had to reach in for him. As I held him in my arms he did not respond. I carried him to my car, placed him on the seat and he curled up in a ball. This is not my dog! When we arrived home, he jumped out the car went to the drive and rolled around in the dirt!  He went to the bathroom and took a seat on the ground stairing at me. I did everything to get him to come to me and nothing worked. As I picked him up he growled at me! The only time that happened was if he was in pain. Samuri has bad knees and suffers from cronic pair which I medicate. I gave Samuri his meds which he normally chews up immediately. This time he held the tablet in his mouth a few seconds and dropped it on the floor unchewed! Samuri has attempted to bite me several times in the past twenty four hours and his attacts are directed at my hands and vicious! They frighten me. He has directed these attacts toward my granddaughter and my son. It appears his body can not be touched. The only place I've touched him he did not try to bite my hands was his back. It's as if his entire body is in pain. I don't see anything that may be causing pain. Samuri will take moments and run around in circles and then lie down. This is not my dog!He chews on his feet constantly! What has happened to my best friend? LIKE 9 REPLIES 21303 VIEWS LAST POST JULITZA Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• spiritdogs Posted : 6/5/2006 6:12:30 AM Having worked as a groomer for a short while, I am always reluctant to blame a groomer for a change in a dog, since, most of the time, it isn't the cause - just that the owners need someone to blame beside themselves.  But, I am struck by the fact that your dog suddenly attacks hands.  It could be that the groomer had to demat him, or she might have accidentally brush burned him.  Was your other groomer's place quieter, or was she?  I don't know, but if his behavior change was as sudden as you say, I'd talk to this groomer about what happened while he was there... Also, ask what products were used on your dog.  The foot-chewing thing might be an allergic reaction.  Your groomer might be willing to rebathe him with a hypoallergenic shampoo. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Firestorm Posted : 6/5/2006 3:23:44 PM Did the groomer sedate your dog? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Kristi Kivett Posted : 6/14/2006 1:27:12 PM Anickes,   I am so glad I found your post as I am having the same problem.  I have an 8 year old Shi Tzu and only have him groomed in the summer (we live in the south and I groom him for comfort from the heat).  He is always a little strange after being groomed, but this time it is much worse.  I has been 1 1/2 weeks since he went and he is very lethargic, gets scared easily and has tremors alot.  He started shaking as soon as my little niece and nephew came over yesterday and growled at them.  He constantly wants to be by my side or on my lap.  I thought at first that he was just hypersensitive to any stimuli because he felt "naked" so to speak.  But he doesn't seem to be getting over it.  Any ideas on how to help him?  Thanks! 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Margaret Tyler Posted : 6/14/2006 8:47:57 PM I also worked for a groomer at one time.  First of all if you have a Shitzu, you should get he/she groomed more than once a year.  That is of course unless you're really good about brushing your dog.  If your dog was really matted when you brought the dog in, it will hurt the dog to brush it - groomers have no magic tools to make it not hurt.  If your dog was shaved, then this is not the case because the groomer doesn't need to brush the dog to shave it, but when the dog is not shaved on a regular bases his/her skin becomes sensitive to the shaver - called razor burn. Just in case, I would take your dog to the vet and have his blood checked for sedation meds.  Also some groomers dry the dogs in cages, which can cause your dog to become over heated and if they were metal cages, burned. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Kristi Kivett Posted : 6/15/2006 8:54:45 AM Thanks Jojo.  I should explain that I do have him groomed several times a year, but only shaved in the summer.  Also, I board him there whenever I have too (only 1-2 times per year) and he seems to love it there.  I swear I think that the older he gets, the more of a "sensory overload" situation it becomes for him.  I suppose I am going to have to keep him trimmed down all year so that it is not such a shock for him.  He did seem better yesterday and actually started running around the house and playing again. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• jennie_c_d Posted : 6/15/2006 3:38:22 PM Maybe something like Rescue Remedy will help him not become overwhelmed? It might be a good idea to keep him in a shorter hairdo all year, with him being an older dog. Shih Tzus look CUTE in about a #4 on the body, and a #2 comb on the legs. Then, they're a little fluffy, but not so heavy coated. It's easier on older dogs to not need so much brushing and maintenance. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Margaret Tyler Posted : 6/15/2006 5:16:26 PM ORIGINAL: jennie_c_d Maybe something like Rescue Remedy will help him not become overwhelmed? That's a good idea.  Some sort of natural anxiety suppliment may help.  Just make sure he/she is not so doppy they can't stand up.  It's really hard to give a good hair cut when the dog's laying down.  I know the groomer I used to work for put lavender extract in her shampoo to calm the dogs down.  See if the groomer you go to can offer that. You know, now that I think about it, my dog was kind of wierd the last time I took him to the groomer and I'm friends with my groomer so I know she wouldn't hurt him.  With mine it might be an abandonment issue.  Maybe they don't understand that their bodies feel wierd because their hair's shorter. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• jennie_c_d Posted : 6/15/2006 7:30:38 PM Just make sure he/she is not so doppy they can't stand up. Haha, we groom one who HAS to be that dopey. He gets Elavil, and grins from ear to ear, the whole time he's there.... Otherwise, he's ungroomable. He lays on the table, body parts hanging off, smiling his little heart out. It's pretty amusing, actually. All we offer, for that particular dog, is a shavedown. No fancy haircuts. He gets his bath, nails, and ears, and goes home damp. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Julitza Posted : 6/15/2006 8:33:51 PM My first pup was a cockapoo and very tempermental. He was people aggressive and we had to think it over  a million times before we decided to have him groomed for the first time.   Our first groomer worked miracles on that pup! I swear he was not sedated what so ever and he allowed himself to be groomed and adored that lady. He was groomed by her until the last day we had him 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login