How to teach a dog to stand still for grooming

Footing comes first. A dog that slides on a tiled kitchen or a slick tabletop braces or shifts to stay upright, and every shift looks like fidgeting. A rubber-backed bath mat or a yoga mat gives it grip. The AKC points out that suction-cup lick mats fasten securely to slippery surfaces such as tubs and sinks, and that a favorite treat spread on one can make trimming fur or cleaning ears easier. Supervise every session and wash the mat after each use, as the AKC advises.

Choose the spread with care. The AKC warns that some peanut butter contains xylitol, which is toxic to dogs, so read the label, or use your dog's own wet food. Have a soft brush ready rather than the slicker you use on tangles, because the early sessions are about standing, not about the coat. The skill pays off beyond the studio too: in the tub, at the vet, and when wiping salt off paws after a winter walk on the beach.

Licking holds the head fairly still and keeps the mouth busy, which is why the AKC suggests a lick mat to make trimming or ear cleaning easier. Used well, it does more: it tells your dog when grooming is on and gives it a way to say it has had enough. While your dog licks, you brush; when it lifts its head or turns away, you stop and wait. Lift the mat between short spells, so the brush and the lick mat always arrive together.

Watch the body as well as the tongue. A dog that stiffens under the brush even while it keeps licking is telling you the strokes are too much, so go back to touch with your hand only. At Dogtown, a lick mat is a $5 enrichment add-on on daycare, Dogtown Academy and overnight days; at home, any suction-cup mat does the job, as long as you clean it after every session.

A dog in the middle of learning can still be groomed. Tell the studio your dog is practicing a stand at home, and book through the online calendar or the Dogtown app; grooming needs no evaluation. A bath runs $55 to $95 and a full service $75 to $120 by size. Dogs who need slower, more careful handling carry a $20 behavior or handling surcharge for the extra time and hands, which is one more reason to keep practicing.

If your dog growls, snaps or panics when handled, it needs a training plan before it needs a groom. Brave & Balanced, for pups from 4 months, covers handling sensitivity and cooperative care, and Calm & Connected covers handling sensitivity for adolescents, rescues and adult dogs, with sessions from $94. Call 978 491-5922 or send the training form, and bring your dog to 210 Eastern Ave in Gloucester once the plan is set.