Grooming is a regular welfare event for many dogs, with procedures ranging from routine brushing to professional grooming sessions that can be highly stressful without appropriate conditioning.
Grooming welfare is often overlooked as a routine management activity, but for fearful dogs it represents a significant regular welfare challenge. Stress during grooming causes acute fear responses and may cumulatively sensitise dogs to handling. Fear-free grooming approaches using positive reinforcement conditioning, rest breaks, low-stimulation environments, and avoiding rough restraint can make grooming tolerably positive or at least neutral for most dogs. For dogs with extreme grooming fear, veterinary prescribed sedation for essential procedures may be more welfare-positive than forcing the procedure without sedation.