Piper’s First Haircut

Lindsey took Piper to the groomer yesterday. It was Piper’s first time. It did not go well. Apparently the groomer was not able to give her a bath. Lindsey and I have done it 2 or 3 times, and it is an adventure. The last time I thought she was going to break my arm (I usually hold her collar while Lindsey does the washing), or that she was going to destroy the bathroom trying to get out of the tub. 

The groomer did manage to cut her hair, but Lindsey said it was only really possible when they had Samson right with her. We tried to give her a mild sedative (what we used for the car trip to Myrtle Beach), but apparently when the groom was trimming her fur, she found the pill in her facial hair. Oops. Giving her a pill like that is a chore as well. She takes anxiety medicine that we mix in with her food, but since the sedative has to be taken like an hour before, we cannot just put it in food and hope. Piper will avoid eating her food for hours (the majority of the time she likes to eat when we crate her before bed OR she will eat her food once she is in her crate, and we leave the house…I guess she does not like people watching her). She will not take a treat from your hand. She will not eat peanut butter off a spoon. I have tried giving her bacon, pork loin, ham, turkey, cheese…anything. She will not take it. Samson? Oh yeah, he will eat anything. Crayons, paper, dirty diapers, his own vomit, and even Jason’s chicken parm sandwich.

I came home last night from work, and honestly I barely recognized her. Lindsey said the same thing when she picked her up, she thought they had the wrong dog. Without the majority of her fur, she is much smaller, and you can definitely see how underweight she is. She gained over ten pounds since joining our family, but she needs to gain more. 

I am a little nervous that the experience may have set her back. She was really doing well with us. She would come over and every once in awhile rub against your leg, especially if I was folding laundry. Like it was a reminder that was still here. But today? She is terrified, staying in her crate, running when I look at her. I am guessing the trip to the groomer will take a few days to get over. Hopefully.