Congrats on your new puppy! Puppy needs your help to learn about all of the fun sights, smells and experiences he’ll encounter through adulthood. And if your puppy likes to get dirty (what puppy doesn’t?), he’ll likely visit a groomer at least once in his life. And if he’s a breed with a long or double coat, a visit to the groomers will be a regular necessity. Dogs aren’t born with a natural tolerance or understanding of the grooming process so it’s up to us to help them understand that it’s ok – and can even be fun!
Teaching your dog to accept and enjoy grooming begins very early. As soon as your little bundle of fluff joins your family, it’s important to teach them that handling is fun and rewarding. Play with their feet, their ears, their faces and their bums. Give lots of treats and praise – make it fun! Put your fingers in between their toes, lift one leg at a time into the air (being careful not to pull their leg outside of it’s normal range of motion), rub in between their eyes and rub the opening to their ear canal.
Don’t wait until your pup’s hair is beginning to tangle to teach them about brushing. Spend a few minutes every day running a comb through their hair. They’ll get used to the sensation so when you do encounter a tangle, your pup will hold still and let you gently work it out. Keep a brush by your couch, so when you’re watching TV and your pup is sleeping on your lap, you can take their collar off and spend a few minutes brushing their neck and ears – this is a common place for tangles.
If your dog has hair in between their eyes that will need to be trimmed, you can begin acclimating the to the process by gently rubbing the back of the comb (not the teeth) in between their eyes. Having a strange object there can be scary! If your puppy has long hair and will eventually need an all over haircut, you can begin to desensitize them to the clippers using an electric toothbrush. Use the vibrating handle to gently rub your puppy, beginning near their rear end and working forward. The goal is to be able to rub your puppy all over – including feet, in between the eyes, and around the ear canal openings – with the vibrating toothbrush handle.
Many owners give their young puppies baths at home at first (puppies like to get dirty!). The same rules apply – go slowly and give lots of praise. Make sure the water is comfortably warm (not hot), and be prepared that the puppy may not accept having it’s face washed (avoid the eye area, even “tear-less” shampoos tend to sting!) , or being dried by a hand dryer. Be sure to thoroughly comb your puppy after his bath to prevent tangles.
Don’t forget to give them lots of treats and praise! It’s important for your puppy to make a positive association. Don’t give up if your puppy struggles, but don’t push them past their limits either. Go slowly and if your puppy seems stressed or very afraid, back up to the last thing they were comfortable with so you can end the session on a good note. Puppies have a short attention span, so working for only a few minutes at a time is often best. Teaching your puppy to accept and enjoy being groomed will take time and patience, but your puppy will thank you every time he goes to the groomer!
Daycare & Grooming Blog 