Tails on the Rails LLC is a small one-on-one, appointment based grooming shop located near Hanover, PA. We proudly advocate for fear- and force-free grooming for all pets entrusted in our care. We specialize in the unique and oft overlooked grooming care and maintenance needs of bulldogs, understanding and educating clients on the distinctive grooming necessities of rabbits, catering to the special needs of senior dogs, and working with dogs with certain behavioral issues related to grooming. This is our story, as told by our groomer, Jen:

Like so many stories, this one has a dog. A French Bulldog to be exact. His name is Linus. Linus came into my life in 2018. I hadn’t planned on getting a puppy; it certainly was not a great time in my life to be buying a dog. But God seemingly had other plans. He was just so cute, with his squishy face and bulldog rolls covering his chubby little body. He was sweet and oh so smart. Linus was everything I’d ever wanted in a dog…. until he wasn’t.

About a year or so after we met, Linus began displaying some troubling behavior. While he was your typical (perfect) frenchie most of the time, he would suddenly lash out at the most unexpected times. There was no telling when or where these episodes would occur; the only similarity between them was when it did happen you needed to get the heck out of Dodge. The episodes were violent and terrifying, lasting a couple of minutes at a time. A vet tech at the time, I lamented that I had done everything to make sure my dog was properly socialized and handled, ensuring he’d become that “perfect dog”. I beat myself up, wondering where I possibly went wrong, resorting to tears whenever another episode surfaced. I described what I was seeing to others, but no one had any answers.
Finally one afternoon, whilst at the company Christmas party, it happened. Linus was with me, and as the girls and I began another party game, he suddenly erupted into a violent rage. Fortunately for us both, all three of the veterinarians on staff were present at the time and witnessed his bizarre behavior. All three exclaimed that he was having a seizure.

Wait… what?!

Once he came out of it and was back to his usual self, the doctors asked if this was the behavior I’d been describing. I was reassured that I hadn’t been doing anything wrong in his upbringing; rather, signals in his brain were getting crossed causing him to suddenly go into fits of rage. A seizure, albeit a type not commonly seen. He was put on medication, and while the episodes have not disappeared completely, they occur less frequently and are far shorter in duration.

• • • •

My experience with Linus has greatly opened my eyes to the fact that one size does not indeed fit all. Tails on the Rails LLC offers a one on one, compassionate grooming experience catered to each dog’s individual needs. In the past, and even now, many grooming shops operate on a “quantity over quality” approach, with a “just get it done” mindset. Dogs are forced through procedures that may not seem scary to us (because we understand it), but are absolutely terrifying to a dog. Loud noises, sharp tools, a stranger putting their hands all over their body…. this is the grooming environment. Fearful dogs are often forced through the process despite their protests, and if they aren’t “good” for it, are then pushed to the next groomer. This creates a perpetual cycle of fear and stress, putting both dog and groomer at serious risk of injury. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Even working as a vet tech at various hospitals over the years (where these things also happen all too commonly), I knew the importance of a fear free approach. Most of these “bad” dogs aren’t really “bad” at all. Linus is still considered a “bad” dog by some of my old colleagues. But he’s not. He has a neurological disorder that causes him to be that way. For some dogs like Linus, it’s a health issue. For others, it’s fear or anxiety. They are not GIVING us a hard time, they are HAVING a hard time. This mentality is the core of what Tails on the Rails LLC is all about. Grooming shouldn’t be just a haircut, but rather should emphasize the safety and sanity of both pet and groomer. Our services are one on one to eliminate certain safety risks and to keep a calmer, quieter, more personal atmosphere for the pet. Our focus is on the pet’s wellbeing, both physical and mental, emphasizing their comfort and looking to teach cooperation between pet and groomer, in order to make the process a less stressful (and maybe even fun!) experience for everyone involved. This includes a thorough questionaire at intake for each owner addressing their dog’s behavior, likes, dislikes, etc. It also includes various training tactics and tools all customized to fit that particular dog’s preferences. I also believe wholeheartedly in the importance of educating clients and including them in their dog’s behavioral journey, encouraging better relationships between dog and client, and client and groomer. It is certainly tough, there’s no doubt about it. Challenges abound in this field, even more so with the application of sanity over vanity. Undesirable behavioral habits and reflexes are hard to unlearn. And there will always be the naysayers and those who get upset, still thinking that forcing the dog through a service just to get it done is the way it should work. But I know better. I’ve seen firsthand what it’s like when that dog who got kicked out of his last couple of groomers for biting, or being “too old” and crotchety, responds to my different approach and becomes a dog who trusts me completely. He knows that he doesn’t ever have to resort to biting to let me know if he doesn’t feel comfortable with something. I’ll listen to his more subtle body language and together we’ll find another way. That right there, folks, is the reason I do this and the reason Tails on the Rails LLC is so important to me. It’s the reason I think like-minded owners will love it, too. Because dogs like the little guy I just described and Linus DESERVE a chance to be listened to and not just be cast aside as yet another “bad” dog.

Thanks, Linus. I hear you, and I’ll do my best to hear them, too. 💛