Gizmo got a haricut!
By ecaron
@ecaron (678)
Canada
April 3, 2012 10:41am CST
My little dog got a haircut the other day. We can't afford to go to a dog groomer so we do it ourselves. Gizmo's hair grows in quite thick over the winter so now in the Spring, it's time for a haircut. My husband used a buzz hair cutter we borrowed from our friend who used to be a hair dresser. I told him not to shave him bald like he did last year because the poor dog gets cold easily and becomes quite timid. Well , this time he left some hair on him and I just trimmed with sizzors the tender spots. Gizmo was once quite traumatized by a groomer who shaved him bald. He was very afraid of everything and shook all the time and just wasn't himself for about two weeks. I guess he's never forgotten it because he still acts a little timid after a haircut. Although, my husband says he'll be back to being himself sooner because we did it and he trusts us. I feel sorry for my little dog but if I don't treat any different , he should bounce back quickly. Do dogs get traumatized easily? Do they remember an unpleasant event from years ago? I read in a dog book once that dogs have a very short memory, especially small dogs, I don't know what to think about it. Anyway, Your thoughts, my lot , friends!
1 person likes this
3 responses
@Octav1 (1419)
• Romania
2 Jul 12
It is true that dogs have a short memory. But this happens only for everyday events. For something that made him feel terrible, the dogs will remember that thing for all his life. If Gizmo was traumatized by that groomer, he will always associate the scissors with that trauma. It won't be easy for you to groom him but, with patience and gentle movements you'll make him trust you to cut his hair. But this doesn't mean he will ever like being groomed.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
8 Apr 12
hi ecaron I think most dogs are pretty intelligent and they well
might remember and be traumatized. I know my dog seemed to sense when my blood sugar was going low and I needed to get something to
raise it. he would grab my wrist and tug at ms til I ot up then would run to the kitchen door and bark like get in here and eat something. so I grabbed my glucometer sure nuff I was only 5o so hurried into the kitchen and poured a six ou nce glass of orange juice while Swap my dog watched me, then satisfied he went into the living room and got up on my sofa as if to say I saved you from being sick so I deserve to sit here.I did not have the heart to reprimand him.When we moved to an apt we had to find Swap a home
which was so hard but the family loved him and he had a good home too
