There is a local groomer who really gets Riley; Laura of Laura's Pet Grooming. She is about his size, but still lifts him up and manhandles him, but in a way that he seems OK with. He's a pretty old guy now, and we know that lots of things hurt, but he totally tolerates her spa treatments. She gives him a really good shampoo with a blow-out at the end, and wow, just wow.
Interesting thing is, every since he's been home from this most recent grooming, he's been less afraid. I have no idea why, or what happened in his head, or what the connection is. But the other day, for about the 500th time, I put my hands on my knees and said playfully, "Who's a good boy?" (really loud, of course) and for the first time in all the years he's lived with us, Riley wagged his stub, wiggled his hips and came right over to me for pets and snuggles.
The lesson here might be that a day at the spa can be restorative. In this case, it was miraculous. Thank you, Laura.