Ms Stella was our newest member of the Bigfoot Pack and overall she did really well for her first visit!

That said… she wasn’t 100% sold on the whole “bath day is fun” idea just yet.

She came in a little unsure of everything. Not nervous to the point of freaking out, but definitely giving that “I’m not convinced this is a good idea” look. Totally fair for a first visit.

Once we got her in the tub, she needed a little time to settle in. At first she leaned away from the water and tried to figure out her escape options, but after a few minutes she started to relax and realized nothing bad was happening.

As the groom went on, she got more comfortable:

• Stood better in the tub
• Let me work through her coat
• Didn’t fight the process, just needed reassurance

We kept things nice and simple for her first groom:

• Full bath with a gentle shampoo
• Conditioner to help keep her coat soft
• Took our time to make it a positive experience

No rushing, no forcing — just building trust.

By the end of it, she looked great! Coat cleaned up nicely and she handled everything better than she probably thought she would.

She’s not quite at the “Abbi bath party” level yet… but she’s absolutely on the right track.

With a couple more visits, I wouldn’t be surprised if she starts settling in a lot quicker and getting more comfortable each time.