What's with the noose around my dogs neck?

Most dogs are used to boundaries and limitations communicated to them through a leash and collar. A noose is the combination of those two things to help the dog figure out where he can stand and move on a grooming table. The noose also helps secure the dog and prevents uneccesary wiggling during the grooming process. Most dogs will communicate discomfort and protest with their mouth and teeth (which is natural), and noosing the dog up in a natural upright position (Slack enough for sitting and standing, but not much else) prevents accidental mouths and teeth on sharp objects like clippers and scissors. In some cases, having a dog in a brave and tall stance actually encourages confidence! Show trainers also sometimes use a noose and table to help train their dogs to "stack" for a judge in the show ring, to show off that confident stance!

As a groomer, I have the opportunity to look over all the nooks and crannys of your dogs body, checking for warts, ticks, mats, sticker burrs and a number of other health problems while he or she is on my table. Having the dog at a this vantage point makes it easier for both me and him/her and reduces the unnatural movement and lifting of inspection and grooming. Also, it is a technique to place the dog in a position where he or she is more inclined to trust and respond to my touch, as being off the ground is a situation that the dog isn't used to, and in most cases will reduce the inclination to protest, contrary to popular belief. Lastly, it helps to get all the hairs as straight and even as I can because I can look over the entire dog from nose to chest to tail and beyond.

Being an animal professional means knowing what the animal needs. If the height or the noosing seems counterproductive to the dogs experience, I always strive to find the right situation and medium to help the communication between dog and groomer so a groom or bath may be accomplished. The answer to this is often times grooming on the floor, but it makes it difficult to get the dog completely dry and produce and even finish.

I'll give you a definition:
"In dogs, these glands are occasionally referred to as "scent glands", because they enable the animals to mark their territory and identify other dogs. The glands can spontaneously empty, especially under times of stress, and create a very sudden unpleasant change in the odor of the dog. Dog feces are normally firm, and the anal glands usually empty when the dog defecates, lubricating the anal opening in the process. When the dog's stools are soft they may not exert enough pressure on the glands, which then may fail to empty. This may cause discomfort as the full anal gland pushes on the anus. The glands can be emptied by the dog's keeper, or more typically by a groomer or veterinarian, by squeezing the gland so the contents are released through the small openings on either side of the anus. Discomfort is evidenced by the dog dragging its posterior on the ground, licking or biting at the anus, sitting uncomfortably, having difficulty sitting or standing, or chasing its tail. Discomfort may also be evident with impaction or infection of the anal glands. Anal gland impaction results from blockage of the duct leading from the gland to the opening. The gland is usually nonpainful and swollen. Anal gland infection results in pain, swelling, and sometimes abscessation and fever. "

The long and short of it is, depending on your dogs activity and diet, these glands must be regularly expressed or they may become impacted or, worse, rupture. I express anal glands externally, and it is normally a quick and painless process. If they are impacted, or feel very full, I will normally suggest an internal expression and a check up, which can be performed by any vet.

The Dremmel is the common name for compact rotating file (if you've ever had your nails done, you've seen the stylist use a Dremmel to file and shape your acrylic nails). I suggest Dremmeling because it helps elimination of excess toenail with much more prescision than a clipper alone, and can aid in receding the quicks of nails that perhaps don't get as much attention (the natural filing of cement, concrete, and daily wear). Additionally, it is a soft vibrating motion, and for dogs that have insecurity with toenail clipping (the sometimes immediate pressure and cutting action), it is a different and less stressful experience. There is little to no bleeding, because the tool actually carterizes the quick, and is almost entirely painless.