A Word on Real Holistic Grooming

[Helly]

Here's the real deal. Holistic anything is based on involving both aspects of the individual; soma (the tangible physical body) and psyche (emotions, spirit, the intangible self).

Doctors have known for centuries that our minds can make us physically ill. They call those illnesses psychosomatic. See the root words? Psyche and soma? Eventually some doctors got the idea that if the mind can make the body ill, maybe the mind can also help heal the body.

Everyone one has heard of plecebo effect, I'm sure. A completely innocuous pill or treatment bringing about healing or pain relief. Holistic treatment takes that one step further, putting as much emphasis on the mental aspect of treatment as the physical.

So, is there any way we can transfer that to the grooming experience. We can't exactly ask the dog how he's feeling, what his thoughts are, or suggest he "go to a happy place" when we're doing the nails. So how can we get inside the dog's mind? How can we influence his responses?

I think the best way to do this is to learn about what makes a dog a dog. His basic instincts. Those things that are hard wired into his mind. Learn his body language. Learn how to respond appropriately to put him at ease. Learn how to communicate on his level, even if he knows yours. Keep his mind engaged throughout the process.

I'm not convinced that things like aromatherapy have the same effect on animals (who have a much greater sense of smell) as they do on humans. Actually, I'm not all convinced aromatherapy has anything other than a plecebo effect on people. I, for one, know that some of those aromas have a very bad effect on me due to past associations, while others have no effect at all. The only ones that have a good effect are the ones I associate with good experiences. I don't think that's quite the same thing. I could be mistaken, however.

Holism for animals has nothing to do with spa treatments, or natural anything. It's about including the mind with the phsyical. If we aren't doing that, we aren't holistic, no matter how many expensive (or inexpensive) natural products we use. If we really want to be holistic, we need to learn how to get inside that animals mind, and keep his mind engaged.

We can't encourage him to go to a happy place, or visualize fighting off that tumor. But maybe we can help him develop a positive attitude. That's what being holistic is all about.

[rach58]

step one: watch cesar millan to learn the effects being calm and assertive

[Beanermom]

I am also uncertain of the effects of aromatherapy on dogs- however, I recently decided to try it- and I have to say I've noticed a difference when I wasn't really expecting one. Now, whether or not it's a placebo effect- the dogs reacting to me, reacting to the idea of the aromatherapy- it doesn't really matter, does it, in the long run? The dogs are calmer, the shop is calmer, it's a good thing.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, just offering a thought... :0)

[windywaycavaliers]

Excellent thread. Helly, I would honestly have to agree with your points. Also I do think that the role that "added services" play is as a medium for us to offer more opportunities to effectively and helpfully address the issues we see in our salons every day. I do also feel that there is a small amount of media hype over a certain coined phrase that can be misinterpreted and molded into something it really isn't to sell things, but that is for the dishonest people. But, it can also as you stated above Helly, and it can be a wonderful way of doing our daily work and genuinely helping our clients on a much broader scope.

[Helly]

I really don't think I'd recommend Cesar Milan over some of the other people who actually have credentials...like Temple Grandin. I know most of her work has been with livestock, and cattle in particular, but she can speak to what's going on in a dog's mind probably as well as anyone, better than most.

Not trying to take anything away from Mr. Milan, but I've seen him do some things that make behaviorists cringe. I've seen him miss, time and again, the calming signals the dogs are sending him. And that's a shame, really. The dogs are trying to communicate, and he's just not hearing them.

Another person I'd recommend; Monty Roberts. Again, an individual born with what others would consider a handicap (he's totally color blind, only sees black, white, shades of gray) but it has allowed him to see things the rest of us can't. And his understanding of horses and other prey animals can work in reverse; if we better understand the prey, we can better understand the preditor.

I've always been impressed with Barbara Woodhouse, and would highly recommend reading her books, too. And Carol Lea Benjamin's "Mother Knows Best."

All in all, I kinda feel like grooming can be part of a total package of holistic animal husbandry. I'm still not really convinced we can groom holistically...just like there really isn't any such thing as holistic food. It's part of the overall picture, but not really holistic in itself. If you get what I'm trying to say.

[rach58]

Thank you for the recommendations Helly. I just recently found out that I do indeed have the NG channel so watching ceasars shows opened my eyes on his new(to me)method of training but I will look into your other suggestions.

[brownlikewoah]

I've got a question.... I've been confused by it for a long time. At petsomething there is a section of their food listed under "holistic" how is this possible for them to label it like that?

[Fluff and Puff]

I have been using Cesars methods of just being calm and assertive for over a year. I am really like his methods. I also wait and let a nervous dog calm down befor I even get them out of the cage and just let them get used to the noises and smells. Sometimes it takes 30 min. befor they start to calm down. If your are nervous or anxious they are. Also if there is another groomer that is upset and having a difficult time the dog feels that groomers tension. Anyway, iti seems to work real well for me. Not 100% of the time but most. I'm still learning everyday after 14 years of grooming. Im always ready to learn something new.

[sheilabgroomer]

I've got a question.... I've been confused by it for a long time. At petsomething there is a section of their food listed under "holistic" how is this possible for them to label it like that?

Not positive on this, but I imagine it is because "Holistic" is a becoming a buzz word like "Natural" and is used incorrectly in marketing because the average consumer doens't know any better. They just see the label and assume it's "the best".

[Helly]

I have been using Cesars methods of just being calm and assertive for over a year. I am really like his methods. I also wait and let a nervous dog calm down befor I even get them out of the cage and just let them get used to the noises and smells. Sometimes it takes 30 min. befor they start to calm down. If your are nervous or anxious they are. Also if there is another groomer that is upset and having a difficult time the dog feels that groomers tension. Anyway, iti seems to work real well for me. Not 100% of the time but most. I'm still learning everyday after 14 years of grooming. Im always ready to learn something new.

You're missing part of the equation. You can't just focus on what YOU do, and how it affects the animal. If you think of yourself as being holistic, you have to learn what THEY are saying. That's what so many people miss. There are a lot of calming signals that we misinterpret...and Cesar is just as guilty of that as many other folks are.

Cesar's techniques can work. So can the Koehler (sp?) method. That works really well. But I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I have seen Cesar do things I don't agree with. Like chasing a frightened dog around with a tennis racket. I understand the racket was for protection. But there's a much better way to handle that dog, and that situation, and I hope he figures it out one of these days, because fearful dogs deserve better.

My partner of 11 years was one of the most amazing behaviorists I've ever seen. She had the credentials, and it's a pity she died before she finished her dissertation. It would have opened a lot of eyes. Watching her work was really insightfull.

I've seen her calm an anxious dog in 30 seconds, not 30 minutes. And she did it by knowing what the dog was saying, and responding appropriately, in a manner the dog could understand. Like Temple Grandin and Monty Roberts, Kathy had a handicap that allowed her to see the world in a different way than most of us do.

I was lucky enough to learn many of her communication and calming techniques. The look on a dog's face is priceless. "HEY! You speak dog! YOU SPEAK DOG! Well, how 'bout that!" I so wish I'd had the time to learn more.

[Helly]

I've got a question.... I've been confused by it for a long time. At petsomething there is a section of their food listed under "holistic" how is this possible for them to label it like that?

They're using holistic when they should be using all natural (if it indeed is) or natural and organic. It's just a marketing ploy, and I'd stear clear on any company that uses that term for their food, because it's dishonest. It's possible for them to label it that way because there's no real oversight on such matters.

Food can be part of the holistic approach to the care of an animal. But the food itself is not.

[MydogMissy]

Sounds like you should write a book Helly. Or at least a blog. Great topic.

[scullysmom]

Helly, do you have a blog-that was very well written!!

[Smart-n-Pretty]

Sounds like you should write a book Helly. Or at least a blog. Great topic.

Um, yeah...last year I remember people saying you should have a blog, too.

[MydogMissy]

Um, yeah...last year I remember people saying you should have a blog, too.

Don't remember hearing that... ?? I don't, so fear not.

Just thought this was a worthy blog topic cause it's balanced and not focused on hype.