Seniors, Puppies & Special Needs
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Every pet deserves grooming that fits their unique stage of life and individual needs. At Fluff It! Pet Spa, we know a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work—especially for seniors, puppies, and pets with special needs.
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Seniors may need slower sessions, softer handling, or special accommodations for mobility.
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Puppies need positive first experiences and gradual introductions that build lifelong confidence.
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Special needs pets—whether living with medical conditions, disabilities, or behavioral challenges—thrive with thoughtful adjustments and patience.
In this section, you’ll find our answers to common questions about adapting grooming for pets with different needs, along with articles and resources to help you prepare at home. Our goal is always the same: to make grooming safe, comfortable, and stress-free for every pet, no matter their age, ability, or background.
*Check back weekly for new Question & Answers!
*New* How do you groom a senior pet safely?
Grooming senior pets takes extra care and attention. As pets age, they may develop mobility challenges, vision or hearing loss, incontinence, or other medical conditions that can make grooming more difficult. We take note of each pet’s unique needs and adjust our grooming plan accordingly—whether that means shorter sessions, extra support, softer handling, or more breaks.
We have multiple techniques and tools to help keep older pets comfortable, all outlined in this post [link]. Watching your best friend grow older can be hard, and we’re here to support you in caring for them every step of the way.
What’s the best way to introduce a puppy to grooming?
The key is to go at your puppy’s pace. Some pups take to the process right away, while others need more time to feel comfortable. Patience is everything—your puppy’s first 4–5 grooming sessions often set the tone for how they’ll handle grooming for the rest of their life.
At Fluff It! Pet Spa, we guide puppies through grooming in a way that’s firm enough to help them understand what’s expected, but gentle and patient enough to let them build confidence with each step. We never push a puppy—or any pet—through something they aren’t ready for.
Many anxious, reactive, or aggressive dogs we work with missed out on a patient, desensitized introduction to grooming early on. Most of our work with these pets is slow, consistent desensitization. Giving your puppy that positive start now helps prevent stress later—and can even save you from higher grooming costs down the road.
How do you handle nervous or scared dogs?
Nervous dogs need a patient, clear approach that helps them feel more at ease with the grooming process. We take our time, keep the experience as positive as possible, and adapt our methods to each individual dog.
Every pet is different—some have constant anxiety, some are nervous around strangers, and others are specifically anxious about certain grooming steps. Taking the time to understand where a dog’s anxiety comes from, and being able to read their behavior in the moment, is key to helping them through a process that can feel unnatural (but is still necessary for their health).
We have several articles on the methods, tools, and equipment we use to support anxious pets—you can find those linked below.
Can aggressive dogs be groomed safely?
Absolutely! In most cases, aggression stems from fear, and these pets need a groomer who is confident, skilled, and patient. Aggressive dogs can’t safely go to just any grooming salon—it’s important to work with someone experienced in handling their unique needs.
At Fluff It! Pet Spa, our groomer Victoria specializes in difficult-to-groom pets, using a combination of patience, specialized equipment, and flexible methods to guide even the most challenging dogs through the grooming process. With over nine years of experience working with fearful and reactive pets, she understands how to balance safety with compassion.
Check out one of our success stories below to see the incredible transformations aggressive pups can have over time, and explore our in-depth guides on the tools, equipment, and approaches we use to help them succeed.
How do you groom pets with mobility challenges or disabilities?
Grooming pets with mobility issues or disabilities requires the right setup and a patient, adaptive approach. At Fluff It! Pet Spa, we’ve invested in specialized equipment—like grooming hammocks, super-low hydraulic tables, ramps, and more—to make the process as easy, safe, and stress-free as possible.
For pets who need extra support, our owners, Victoria and Chelsey, often work together so two people can assist during the groom. This teamwork can make all the difference for pets who struggle with balance, strength, or stability. Many salons can only have one person working with a pet at a time, but we’re able to provide an extra set of hands whenever it’s needed.
Every pet’s needs are unique, so we adjust our methods to make sure each one is comfortable, supported, and cared for throughout the entire process.
Do you recommend full grooms for puppies or just partials?
We usually recommend starting with partial grooms until your puppy is fully comfortable with all the grooming equipment and handling. Some pups are ready for a full groom by their second or third visit, while others need more time—it’s all about how quickly they adjust to the process.
The goal is to do as much as they can comfortably handle while keeping each session a net positive experience. Grooming can feel a bit unnatural to a dog, so patience and gradual exposure go a long way toward building their confidence for a lifetime of stress-free grooms.