Tyler Surgery 1/28/2013 Shih Tzu

Happy to see the new forum, it's wonderful!  Just to bring you up to date on Tyler.  He graduated crate rest this past Monday March 11th.   He had an excellent recovery with few problems.. Thankfully he was crate trained from puppyhood, and already slept in his crate every night and that was his choice. It's his special den, so when he had to be crated for recovery, his good feeling about his crate as well as his recovery suite made everything easier by far.. 

Neil and I carried him outside to potty and back in again, and up and down the stairs to our upstairs office. We had a recovery suite or crate in each of the rooms we spent time in, so he could be near us. Tyler has separation anxiety when it comes to Neil. He has to have him in sight or within touch.. On days when Neil has to go somewhere, I always stay home with Tyler.. but what I see is a very pouty face. The hard part was keeping him calm when Neil got home, because he always throws Neil the biggest welcome home!  We found putting a cover over the recovery suite or crate prevented him from jumping up..and it also creates a cozy den feeling..

Now the hard part is keeping him from doing too much..Despite what he wants to do, he is easing back into activity and so far so good..

Our concern now is getting him groomed and not having another back episode because of it. I am scared to leave him at the groomers and then have a relapse.. The best groomer he ever had was a former vet tech and she did it out of her home.. He adores her but she had to retire from grooming. The following groomers either have hurt him or have too many dogs running around in their shop which would be a danger to him now..
This has me very worried..  I bought a grooming kit but I have no experience at all...I have watched how to videos but I guess I am afraid.. Silly I know..

Any ideas???

Pauliana