A Cockapoo left with lasting grooming anxiety after the pandemic has finally learned to tolerate being trimmed, following months of patient work to rebuild his confidence.

Chewie, now five, became so anxious around grooming that even the sight of a salon would trigger distress. His coat grew severely overgrown and matted, at one point covering his eyes completely and leaving him, as his owner puts it, “more like a little Wookiee than a dog”.

His owner, Natalie Catchpole, from Grays in Essex, believes the behaviour stemmed from missed early socialisation during Covid restrictions.

“At his worst, he just couldn’t cope,” she says. “He would bark constantly, refuse to be handled and try to bite if anyone attempted to groom him. It was traumatic for everyone involved.”

On one occasion, Chewie sat outside a grooming salon barking and crying for two hours, unable to go inside.

Over time, his anxiety escalated further. He became highly sensitive to touch and began guarding parts of his body.

“He wouldn’t let anyone near his legs,” Natalie says. “I honestly thought I might have to rehome him.”

Despite working with behaviourists and following structured training plans, progress remained limited.

A turning point came when Chewie was referred to specialist behaviour groomer Nikki Pahlke, who works with anxious and reactive dogs.

“There are a lot of dogs like Chewie now,” Pahlke says. “Covid puppies who missed those early experiences can become extremely sensitive and overwhelmed.”

Even with specialist handling, progress was slow. It took nine sessions before Chewie could be safely approached on the grooming table.

“He would bark constantly and could still react unpredictably,” she says. “You have to work entirely at the dog’s pace.”

Over time, through consistent, low-pressure sessions, Chewie began to show signs of improvement. He started tolerating short periods of handling and gradually allowed more of his coat to be trimmed.

Now, after months of steady work, he is finally able to cope with regular grooming sessions – a milestone that once felt out of reach.

“He’s still Chewie,” Natalie says, “but he’s comfortable, happier, and he can finally see again.”

She adds that small changes at home have also helped support his progress, including routine, patience and exploring ways to support his overall wellbeing. This included trialling OxyPet, an oxygen-infused spring water designed to support hydration, which she feels may have contributed to his increased calmness.