From Alphonse owner... Alphonse underwent extensive socialization and exposure to various environments in accordance with COVID regulations during his critical developmental stages. However, it seems that the information regarding this was not accurately conveyed at the end of the video. It should be noted that there were a few inessential environments, such as a grooming salon, that were not explored. This is because Great Danes, like Alphonse, do not typically require regular grooming from a professional. They can be easily bathed at home, and due to COVID restrictions, it was not deemed necessary for his essential exposure to perform tasks. On the other hand, Alphonse was thoroughly familiarized with commonly visited areas such as hospitals, grocery stores, and other hectic public spaces. It is important to clarify that Alphonse is a legally and professionally evaluated mobility assistance service dog in the province of Ontario. He was specifically chosen by his reputable breeder for this role and was raised from a puppy with the necessary training. After the video was filmed, Alphonse was temporarily withdrawn from public access in order to reassess his temperament and behavior. This was done to ensure that he is suitable for his handler and to work on building his confidence independently. A preliminarily greeting before transferring the leash may have helped Alphonse feel more at ease with the groomer, however it's noticed how much he relaxed after the harness was removed. It is worth noting that growling is a normal and appropriate means for a dog to express their discomfort. Regarding the harness, it was discussed and deliberate to keep it on for the purpose of capturing footage. We recognize and acknowledge the areas where mistakes were made and are continually striving to improve for the safety of all parties. Alphonse has undergone professional assessment and has been deemed fit to continue his work in the province of Ontario under the guidelines outlined in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) section 191/11. Your concern and support is both acknowledged and appreciated!

His face while Vanessa is introducing the situation. He knows she's talking about him, but he suspects it isn't all good, and he's thinking she's not so great herself. He's just so skeptical. 😂

I can’t believe you actually got to groom the world-famous Scooby-Doo!

i love when dogs move their little eyebrows like when she was explaining how he growled at her 😭🥺

I'm not going to lie, his face at 0:36 had me rolling! 😂 He looks so confused, but sweet at the same time xD

It's mindblowing how great danes are always so easily scared by everything while they are always the biggest dog on the playground :D

The motto on his harness is an accurate description of his mood 😂 “Unless invited, don’t approach”

I can understand why Vanessa thought she could handle this giant’s groom on her own. He’s a mobility service dog. One would have expected him to be seriously chilled. Not a nervous wreck because he’s being groomed. Bless him. His eyebrows had a life of their own. So animated. They told their own story. Vanessa as always was the consummate professional. Alphonse did his best considering his skittishness.

I have a service dog. They are with us 24/7. When I am out of sight she is also very nervous and wants to be back near me.

His eyebrow lift & facial expressions when Vanessa was talking about him were hilarious.

As a Dane owner I will say they are afraid of everything. Mine had to be desensitized to leaves because those things were sketchy . Mine doesn’t like fast movement so children are scary too . Scooby is truly a great representation of the Dane

"Tucked tail Great Dane" was funny to me because Great Danes naturally hold their tails lower and they're often tucked at rest. In this situation he was nervous, but a tucked tail on a Great Dane doesn't *necessarily* mean they're nervous. I get told all the time that my Great Dane service dog "must be scared" when he's not at all simply because of where he is holding his tail. I think he did great for a first time introduction to grooming. Remember, service dogs aren't robots; they are first and foremost dogs. Communicating his uneasiness with a growl doesn't mean he's aggressive. It means he's unsure of that weird situation and is letting Vanessa know that he's uncomfortable. He seems like a sweet pup. Thanks for taking care of your human, Alphonse!

I can't believe it. She said he growled and I (having nearly lost an eye to a dog before) expected the muzzle. Vanessa is truly amazing, she established rapport and everyone benefited. She's is amazing and one of a kind.

I love that Alphonse is sitting on the shower in the classic "Ruh-roh" gentleman's pose. He's not sure what the heck is happening, so he's gonna try to Scooby himself as small as a pony-dog could possibly be. Edit: Oh, look. The Scooby Snax worked, too!

the zoom-ins on his indignant face are EVERYTHING

I think once his harness was off, he felt “off duty” and more relaxed. He looked stoic and resigned but did warm up. ❤❤❤

as a st bernard owner... i freakin LOOOOOOOVE watching you with the big dogs. its absolutely amazing how you treat them with such care and patience... groomers are the unsung heroes of the pet world...

As a proud Great Dane owner I have to say, it's very typical for them to be afraid of their own shadow. Anything, ANYTHING they haven't already experienced scares the crap out of them. My girl literally ran under a bed once (don't ask me how she managed to fit there) because of a hairbrush I had in my hand that I tried to have her sniff to understand it doesn't bite. She literally ran like her life depended on it 😂 Also I was sure you would not be able to put him on the table 😆 I put her on the vet's metal table one time and she started shaking so hard the actual table started shaking. Probably the most needy breed I have ever experienced, you could walk her to the park without a leash because she was the one checking back every 5 seconds to make sure I didn't run away, it's like having an oversized baby that constantly wants to hold your hand in fear of getting lost. She's now approaching 12 years of age, she's half blind, half deaf and can barely hold her weight, but she never lost that puppy-like expression of scared curiosity 😊

Vanessa is a very responsible dog groomer because she can see the dog’s reaction and acts appropriately to the situation . Hopefully Alfonze will be less nervous at his next appointment

I have lived with CPTSD my entire life and I don't know how to explain this but watching you slowly and calmly introduce Alfonse and wait for him to warm up to you was incredibly calming. Beautiful to watch ❤️

7:38 the way he gives his paws is so cute and funny 😂 I love it!

It’s amazing how his demeanor just changed on a dime. He’s like, “oh it’s just a bath… I get it. We cool girl.” 😂

I loudly cheered when he accepted the treat 🥹 what a good boy

He's such a gentle giant baby, the way he takes treats is adorable - and he almost looks ashamed when Vanessa tells us about the growl 😂 His raised eyebrows look like he's saying "Who,me? Not me!"

Working dogs are "on duty" when in their harness/vest. His demeanor changed once the vest came off.

She is equally as concerned about his comfort, as she is about not getting attacked. She is wonderful, and does such a good job.

I'm glad to see a Great Dane that doesn't have cropped ears. ❤

He was seriously thinking of breaking out through the window while you were drying him. Those expressions on his face were killing me! He is precious!

He was uncomfortable with the situation but still well behaved. And he ate all the scooby snacks.

What a nice note from the owner. I agree with one of the comments about the growl. My daughter has a black lab. This lab loves me a lot I know. However, she is very, very sensitive about her paws - especially the front paws. One day I touched her front paw and she gave me a little growl - I was surprised. I gave her a gentle apology and she looked sad about growling but she was right. Wouldn't we as humans say "hey" in a defensive manner. in the same situation? Alphonso is a lovely young dog.

GWTD is a master. I wish everyone understood this well that when dogs make things scary for us, they've already been upset themselves. Best wishes to all for Alphonse's continued learning and increased comfort.

Worst mistake I ever made was teaching my cute German Shepherd puppy to shake.. Now he's 105lbs. Nothing like getting smacked in the face with a 1lb paw, and he looks so proud too every time he waves his giant paw in the air. Not like I can really get mad at him for doing something I taught him.

He’s very nervous. You can see his tail tucked in. But he’s probably as nervous with you as you are with him. 190 lbs is very intimidating. I’m glad it all worked out.

He has this type of very smart dog eyes that I love. He looks at you like he understands every word and is ready for some intellectual discussion anytime.

I appreciate it that you are so gentle and respectful with Alphonse. He truly is a good boy and he was beautifully behaved given what was a scary situation for him. Much appreciation to the owner as well for their thoughtful post here. Good luck to all with this wonderful boy.

Sooo cute!! The way he kept looking at you in the start of the video with those huge puppy dog eyes!! He was so apprehensive 😅

My respect for you just doubled! You recognized his fear and didn’t take it as some sign he needed to be “dominated”. That drives me up a wall! I’ve always had large dogs. I know the feeling of having a dog who is basically a mini-horse who can be a big baby at home with me and my kids but become a completely different creature if fearful or protective. It ranks up there with people who get mad and angry if their child gets mad. They’re still emotive creatures. Whether you like it or not, they have the same emotions, feelings, reactions as everyone else. Show them kindness more often than not. Help them learn what’s safe and what isn’t. Domination is for when you’re dressed up in leather! Not for fearful creatures! Thank you for sharing this!!

I think he did very well for his level of nervousness. never freaked out, didnt whine, gave you good signs that sent the message without aggression, all around good boy! Luckily, for both of you, he was a well-mannered gentleman.

Worth your weight in GOLD, the amount of professionalism, you apply to all the dogs; this gigantic Alphonse❤. Listening to you chat to him and the occasional tail wag it works for him..chatting monotone 😊🐕

The way he looks taken aback that his growl was such a big deal as she explains why she didn’t get in the shower with him 😂 He’s looking like, “you just startled me a bit. No need to question my entire character to your audience. And why are you filming this anyway?!” 😂

Vanessa truly is a master. i’ve never seen grooming process before watching her videos and thought that her behaviour with dogs is common practice in grooming. then youtube started to suggest another grooming channels to me and i saw the difference and managed to appreciate Vanessa’s mastery, professionalism and kindness

His face is genuinely SO expressive despite only betraying worry and anxiety!

They look scarier than they really are. I used to have two of them. They were the biggest lap dog you can have. Sadly they both passed away but I loved every minute I had with them.

What a beautiful GREAT DANE. You treated him so professionally, sensitively and respectfully. Kudos to you!!!!

As a owner of great dane. They are big babies. Not big jumpers but will climb over things when pushed. My advice next time is to talk to them constantly. You notice how he relaxed enough. To take treats when you started talking to him. Combine firm voice for commands and over the top good boy voice rewards. That's how to motivate great wussy dogs. I mean great Danes. LOL

Even though this is a more difficult groom, it’s so important as a lesson for handling dogs that are scared and cornered-regardless if the latter is necessary for the job

Whenever I feel anxious or low I turn on a video on this channel and enjoy watching a cute dog get washed and dried and brushed. It doesn't get much more soothing than this :-)

❤ You are so kind to these scared babies! I can’t imagine any of them not loving you after your session with them. Your voice is so soft and sweet. Great Danes are my very favorite breed. I have had 5 over the years and they are so funny, loving and protective. I had to take mine to the vet for grooming! I was never strong enough to do it myself! 😂

Alphonse is so cute and regal looking. I kinda understand his dismay - due to his size being in that small shower cubicle, I wonder if poor puppy thought he did something wrong and is being punished. You can tell by his tail he was very nervous. You did the right thing to give him both time and space.

So many paradoxes, a huge Great Dane who looks absolutely terrified (ears back, tail between his legs, frightened eyes) and a label on his harness that says "UNLESS INVITED DO NOT APPROACH". Your patience and the way you gain his trust is wonderful.

It might have been better for the owner to take the harness of because the dog was still on duty and obviously hugely yay he’d to his owner. I love the way you managed this with such care and patience

Your compassion and understand always amazes me. You didn't push him and respected his boundries which is so important. You're such a wonderful person and groomer.

What a good boy. I am happy he was showing you his discomfort instead of just springing into action. At least he was still open to warning you! You treated him very well for his bath. I'm 4'10" and watching you with him made me go "Oh that's what I look like beside a Dane.." haha. I also loved his harness giving warning to how to approach (or not approach) him. His owners have his comfort in mind. He has an awesome name too. He really looks like an Alphonse.

I think he’s beautiful with such a sober face of concern. And for as worried as he was I thought he was a good example of a well behaved dog. Hopefully he can learn that there’s other good people besides his best people buddies

I loved when you took him out of the shower to remove his harness. Shows great understanding. Its a amazing the number of people who don't really think about things from a pets perspective. He is cornered, in a new area, and a stranger wants to reach into a very vulnerable area. Its not really surprising he's a little anxious about that. Simply moving him to another position, where he isn't so pinned in, and the harness was easily removed and he made absolutely no fuss. Really is the same for many animals, I mainly deal with cats and understanding things from their perspective can keep both you and them, free of injury.

Such a handsome dog so cute wirh that facial expression in the beginning in the shower 😂 hes dangerous, dog's looking at her like that i cant 😂

The very first 90 seconds of Alphonse; it's like many of us humanoids frozen in fear in the Dentist's chair, nervously looking around whilst hearing voices you can only understand a few words of.

This is a great example of how to work with a large dog that's new to you. I appreciate how Vanessa explains everything so thoroughly and always keeps her safety and the safety of the animal her top priority. What a professional.

I have heard that it's not uncommon for a service dog to become nervous when their handler isn't present. I've been told that it stems from a type of separation anxiety.

Animals are intelligent, they know you are safe and kind! 😊💜 I love how he gave you his paws 🐾 💜 Adorable!

What let's you appreciate the size of the dog is the camera angle that shows the size difference between Alphose and Vanessa. He's got some REAL HEIGHT (that and Vanessa is also super short) on him but he seems more nervous than angry. He did a good job to be so nervous.

Offering his paw in the beginning… obviously trying to communicate! So wonderful to see you immediately catching up on that and building his confidence. Animals speak to us and they want to be understood… And you know ALL this and that’s why you are such an exceptional groomer!

We always had Great Danes as kids and I've never seen one so unsettled or ready to be aggressive. You did a great job helping him calm down. I hope he becomes a happier Dane.

up up UP UP UP! cuts to Alphonse on the floor 🤣 you are a wonder! 😃 another success!

Alphonse is so large, he doesn’t have paws but ‘Paddles’🤣🤣❤️❤️

Alphonse is so dapper and collegiate looking. He looks like he’s from a small town in the England. His response would be: Alphonse: Excuse me but my owner seemed to have made a big mistake in leaving me here. Let me go at once!😂

He's gorgeous and you were marvelous with him!!!

You have such a deep understanding of the psychology of dogs, and it's fascinating to watch how you handle the nervous or aggressive ones. And how much attention you are constantly paying to their body language.

You did a great job calming him down! Coming from a country where service dogs are carefully chosen and strictly monitored, it seems odd that a dog this timid and reserved of people has been chosen and has met the requirements. What if the user happens to need strangers' assistance in close quarters and is unable to give the dog the reassurance it needs? But I do wish all the best for them! He seems gentle and lovely. Great expression, even if his signs on discomfort are quite subtle for a non-doggy person to interpret. (In case somebody finds the term user offensive: Where I live service dogs are legally considered to be medical tools, that's why the owner is "a user". It emphasizes the importance of these dogs and justifies the public funding. )

I liked the “do not approach unless invited” I need that in my life😂

Great Danes aren’t the worst to dry on the floor, especially for us short ladies! Less strain on the back compared to little ones like your gidget!

That's great that he's a mobility service dog. Alphonse was really wondering what was going on. He kept his tail tucked in a lot. Maybe his growls meant "Now what?" All those calming techniques were perfect. 🥰

I do love how he keeps giving you his paw. Almost looks like he feels the space is too small for the both of you!

The look on this dog's face as the girl explains her trepidation at 0:39 is precious; " Well, lady I'm not so sure about you either so we're just gonna have to see where this takes us both...." It doesn't ever look like he was ever completely sold on the experience throughout the entire video - you can see him giving the whole thing the benefit of the doubt but not much else.

You are a true Professional! Kind, gentle, firm, understanding, hard working and knowledgeable, just to list a few. This 'horse' was so scared but you did the absolute best for him. 👏👏👏

I am completely amazed with your patience with all the dogs that come through your shop. You truly have a gift.

It was interesting to hear you talk about reading his body language, and not getting in his space while he was boxes in. He was a good boy! Gave you a warning growl when you crossed his lines but clearly was not actually interested in hurting you

so scared but so well behaved.... he deserved the all the goodies...

His face at the beginning had me rolling. He’s like, “you think you’re going to bathe me? I don’t think so!” He’s so cute! ❤

What a good boy for his first grooming. Thank you for grooming him so carefully. I had a fawn Dane growing up so seeing this sweetie gave me all the feels ❤

"Growling is not polite" needs to be on a GWTD tee-shirt. Alphonse has some boundary issues, but you worked with him beautifully and he was onviously more relaxed as his bath progressed. That you were able to groom him at all is impressive. I don't think I could have gone through with his grooming after a growl. You are fearless.

I love how he doesn't paw at you, he gently punches you.

He’s 3 which makes him a quarantine baby. Having your “person” with the dogs 24/7 created a lot of dogs with separation anxiety.

since at no point he made anything in the direction of harming you - he rly is just a good boy and deserved those treats^^

I had no idea about the Great Dane temperament until my neighbor's charged and did a full-body jump on me. I was only 100 lbs (5'5"), but he wanted me to hold him like a puppy. Sure, I had to go to the chiropractor, but it was worth knowing the big baby just wanted me to love him. My heart melts whenever I see them.💕

That Alphone side eye speaks volumes. And that tail tuck. Yikes. You are so kind and patient and making sure to give him a positive experience. Owners don't understand how pups behave without them.

You did an amazing job, and made the right decisions. Brilliant.

What a beautiful boy. You were so kind and patient with him -- your compassion as a groomer is to be commended. Thank you for sharing!

OK, so Alphonse, and I’ll just call him The Fonz, gets the award for most regal posture in GWTD history! Man, he sits up STRAIGHT as a board! He’s also quite the hand shaker, so he’s a classic weird royal type, you know like His Royal Highness the Duke of the Daneland and Keeper of the Royal Handshake. 😊

A former friend of mine (long story there) had a massive Great Dane, and he was the sweetest boy ever. He just didn't know his own size and strength. He'd get so excited when new people came to visit, and he jumped up on me several times. I normally don't mind that at all, in fact I kind of enjoy it, but I fell down more than once thanks to this oversized goober. He also believed he was a lap dog. Why do the biggest dogs think they are lap dogs? 😂

I'm so glad you respected his limitations and anxiety state. Hopefully he'll get used to you and fell more relaxed next time. You're awesome!❤❤❤

the patience you have with him is key!

The tucked tail....reminds me of a friend's HUGE Irish Wolfhound who was afraid of everything and would hide in the bath tub whenever there was a thunderstorm😂😂😂😂

This groom was intense. You being alone with him is something else. But they way you handled the situation? What a perfect example! So much kindness and compassion towards Alphonse - and so much professionalism. He couldn’t have had it better for his first grooming experience!

What a gorgeous animal, and you handled him so well. What you accomplished with caution and kindness is a great foundation for building on if it ever becomes necessary. YOUR safety Is always foremost. The dog got the best possible outcome! ❤️

You did a great job, patiently working all the way through!!

I love how much you consider the dog's feelings, you have a good sense of what they can tolerate. He couldn't have had a better first grooming experience. Brava to you! (And glad you stayed safe.)

Having owned great danes, grew up with em, and just love the breed - you did an AMAZING job reading his body language, and knowing just how far to push before backing down. His life will be better as he's groomed and socialized more - great job as always.

I love how you meet the dogs where they are, and do everything you can to accommodate them!!!!!!

Girl you're so professional! congrats!