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A new trend in dog grooming, known as ‘force-free’ grooming, has arrived in Jersey in the form of K9 Tangle Stop, located at K9 Wellness Centre. Force-free dog grooming is carried out without neck and belly restraints, allowing the grooming experience to be more dog-led. Through time and training, it’s aim is to help dogs to become more comfortable with grooming. This can be particularly helpful for dogs who have health problems such as being overweight, suffering from arthritis, recovering from surgery or who are particularly young or elderly. It can also be beneficial for dogs who find the grooming experience stressful, allowing them to feel more at ease.
All the usual grooming protocol is followed, with the key difference being that grooming is carried out on the floor for our four legged friends who suffer from anxiety, particularly during grooming. Dogs who are happy to sit or lie down on the grooming table and don’t attempt to jump off, are groomed on the table without straps. Importantly, this allows dogs to sit and lie down when they need to, ensuring they can rest during what can be a long and onerous procedure. Without restraints, groomers are trained in appropriate handling and how to understand dog body language to assist with force-free grooming.
This is not to say that grooming with restraints is bad or cruel. Indeed, grooming with restraints offers many benefits, such as ensuring the dog does not fall or jump off the table. However, K9 Tangle Stop is taking a different approach to dog grooming focusing on the dog and reaching grooming-related comfort goals whilst ensuring their utmost safety.
Force-free grooming is only just breaking through in the UK and Owner of K9 Wellness Centre, Lucy Falle, says, “The opening of K9 Tangle Stop is an exciting new development in K9 Wellness Centre’s short 10 month history, allowing for a new and different approach to grooming which we believe many of the dogs we treat and care for will benefit from. Whether your dog is fit and healthy, elderly and arthritic or recovering from surgery, many dogs can benefit from this new and relaxed grooming method. My business Partner, Hannah Maden-Adams, is City & Guilds qualified at Distinction level meaning you can be confident you’ll receive a quality groom as well as a happy dog.”
In addition to an exclusive offering of ‘force-free’ grooming, K9 Tangle Stop also provides free essential health checks – key to ensuring the health and wellbeing of your dog – and is certified in Kind & Excellent Handling & Control. It is K9 Wellness Centre’s aim to become ‘destination dog‘ as they continue to grow and extend their canine care services for the Island’s many dogs and dog owners.
