Many people believe that going to the groomers is like going to the vet for their pup. This doesn't have to be the case. Follow NY Dog Nanny's easy to remember 10 readiness cues to get your dog groom-ready. 1) Practice mini-grooms at home- Grooming can be scary, esp. for first timers or those who've had a scary experience at the groomers before. Anxiety can be reduced by doing mini-grooms at home-- gently brushing the hair daily, touching the feet, paws and nails, and brushing the teeth every day. 2) Reward with Treats and Praise: Give your dog a treat on the way to the groomers, at the groomers, and have the groomers give the dog a treat when the first meet. This positive association will help the dog see being groomed in a positive way. Don't forget to reward your pup with verbal praise for calm behavior. 3) Do your homework. Do you get a good vibe from the groomer? Talk to your fellow dog owners in your building or at the dog run and see who they like and why. 4) Set regular grooming appointments. Part of being a responsible dog owner is knowing how often your dog needs to be groomed. Grooming is not just about the dog smelling fresh and clean. It's also about clean ears, belly, teeth and skin. Remember your dogs main line of defense is its skin/coat. A good groomer will let you know if they notice a rash, infection, fleas or tick and can make appropriate recommendations. Most people go to the vet for the annual check up. Regular visits to the groomer is not only preventative, it's responsible. 5) Know what's normal length 's for your dog's nails. Many clients think that their dogs nails need to be trimmed extremely short. This is not always healthy. If you ask the groomer to go really really short this can actually have an adverse affect. If the groomer goes too short your dog will be at risk for a bloody nail which hurts the pup. Th pup may then HATE getting their nails trimmed next time and each subsequent time and make the grooming experience one full of squirming and wiggling. This can be dangerous to the dog because moving around excessively can increase the risk of getting nicked or cut, not to mention the increase stress hormones released while having their nails trimmed. Your groomer knows how short is short enough and the goal is so the dog feels comfortable each and every time he/she gets their nails trimmed. 6) State how much hair you want LEFT on the body. Many clients say they want 1 inch taken off, but 9 times out of ten, you can reduce miscommunication errors by saying how long you want the fur. 7) Puppy cut is generic term. You will get the style you want when you specify with a picture or are specific. Short ears and body are typical for a puppy cut, but how long the hair is on each body part should be specified to increase your satisfaction with the groom! 8) Keep your appointment. Dog grooming is a demanding business. Many dogs want to get groomed by your groomer and by keeping your appointment you are saying, "I respect your time, your service". Missed appointments mean that someone else could have had your dogs spot and good groomers will want to accommodate as many clients as possible every day. Courtesy is contagious. 9) Pre-book your next appointment. Want to make sure that your dog gets groomed by your favorite groomer? Book them ahead of time. This will make it so that you don't have to scramble at the last minute to get a grooming appointment when you really need it. 10) Tip, tip, tip. Tipping means to "To Insure Proper Service". A substantial part of groomers sustain themselves from their tips. Many groomers go out of their way to make sure your dog looks cute and adorable. Every time you look at your dog, you get warm butterflies because your baby is so cute. Groomers enhance your dogs natural cuteness. Thank them for a job well done. Like this article? Share it with your friends and fellow dog owners.