Grooming Your Puppy
It’s important to get your dog used to the grooming process at an early age. Whether you have a little puppy who will remain a small to medium adult dog, or a puppy who is going to grow into a large companion, the sooner you get him used to being touched and handled, the more comfortable he’ll be in a dog grooming salon.
The first few grooming experiences can be trying for our pets. Before taking your puppy to the groomer’s, there are a couple of things you can do to help make it as easy on your puppy as possible.
How to Prepare Your Puppy for Grooming
Brush Your Puppy’s Hair
Be sure to brush your puppy’s hair often. It’s never too early to start brushing your puppy. Even if your puppy doesn’t have a long coat yet, by using a soft brush and gentle strokes, you’ll get your puppy used to the sensation of being brushed. This will not only help calm him when at the groomer’s, but it’s also a good way to keep ahead of shedding or matting.
When getting ready to brush your pup, make sure you choose the proper brush for the type of hair your dog has. Start from the back of the head and brush your way down the back to the butt. Always go with the grain of the hair and don’t brush against the hair’s natural growth. Go very slow and soft, getting your puppy accustomed to being combed all over his body. This may feel weird to your dog at first, but in the long run it will make for a very happy grooming experience.
RELATED: Assessing Your Dog’s Body
Touch Your Puppy’s Paws
In addition to getting your puppy used to being brushed, you should also start getting him used to having his paws cared for. Touch and examine your puppy’s paws as much as you can. This will help prepare him for what he dreads most about the grooming process: nail trimming.
When touching his paws, make sure it’s a fun and positive experience by massaging the paw pads and spreading the toes. These massages will make your puppy more comfortable with his paws being handled. When he’s at the grooming salon, he won’t jerk his paws away as much or bite. This type of paw massage is also a good way to check for mats and scrub between the toes.
Always remember, the ultimate goal of all of these exercises is to help your puppy adjust to the sensations of these activities so he is calm while being handled on his first trip to the groomer’s.
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