Sundays with Stacie

Gus….

Every once in a while, a dog comes into my grooming room and reminds me why I do this.

Yesterday was Gus.

Gus is a big boy—a beautiful Bernedoodle with a gentle soul and a heart as large as his frame. This was only his second or third visit with me, and we’re still getting to know one another.

Trust takes time.

Especially for dogs who may have had experiences that taught them to be cautious.

As I worked with Gus, I noticed he was especially sensitive about his feet and lower legs. The clipper around his ankles made him uneasy, and when it came time to work through the thick mats packed into his paw pads, I could tell this wasn’t his favorite part of the day.

So we slowed down.

Sometimes grooming isn’t about getting through the appointment.

Sometimes it’s about meeting the dog where they are.

The mats in his feet were tight and close to the skin, so I switched to my smaller clipper and worked carefully, little by little. There was no rushing. No forcing. Just patience, reassurance, and allowing him time to process each step.

And that’s when something beautiful happens.

A dog begins to realize that they have a voice.

That someone is listening.

That they are safe.

Gus was still nervous.

But he stayed with me.

He kept trying.

And every time he allowed me to continue, he was offering a little more trust than before.

Those moments mean more to me than any finished haircut ever could.

People often think grooming is about hair.

For me, it’s about relationships.

The haircut grows out.

The trust remains.

By the end of our time together, I felt calmer than when I started. Working with Gus was therapeutic in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it yourself.

Sometimes healing doesn’t happen all at once.

Sometimes it happens quietly.

One paw.

One breath.

One moment of trust at a time.

Thank you, Gus.

I think we both learned something yesterday.

💜

With gratitude,

and so much love 💕

Stacie

Stacie’s Intuitive Grooming