If dogs had their way, they would always strut around with dirty coats. Of course, keeping a dog with a dirty coat at home is a bigger issue. You probably want nothing to do with the mess they can bring into your household.
Establishing good hygiene habits with your puppy will help keep your home nice and tidy. Don’t be intimidated by the thought of teaching your puppy about hygiene. You can pull it off with diligent training and adequate attention.
Make your puppy more receptive to proper hygiene practices by continuing with the rest of this article!
Ensure Bathing Is a Comfortable Experience for Your Puppy
Bathing is an important part of canine hygiene, whether you’re caring for a pup or an adult dog. According to Royal Canin, short-haired puppies should bathe twice a year, while long-haired pups should bathe once every three months. If you have a puppy with close-cropped fur, bathing is recommended whenever their coat is noticeably dirty.
Once you have the bathing schedule, you can focus on preparation. Bathing is a new and likely scary experience for your puppy. Don’t be surprised if they resist it initially. You have to make the experience more pleasant for your pet so they become more open to bathing in the future.
Work on improving the bathing experience for your pet by preparing room-temperature water. You should also use puppy shampoo approved by your vet during bathtime.
Go slowly during your puppy’s bath to avoid overwhelming your puppy. Ease the shampoo into their coat so they don’t have any adverse reactions.
When bathtime is over, give your puppy space because they will probably shake off the excess water. Grab a towel and dry off their coat after they’re done shaking. Remember to be gentle throughout the process.
Keep following the same habits whenever bathtime comes around, and your puppy should figure out how to handle it.
Teach Your Puppy to Behave during Nail Trimming
Nail trimming is a critical part of canine hygiene that prevents injuries. It can also keep your hardwood floors free from unsightly scratch marks.
Pet owners should know nail trimming is necessary, even for puppies. Experts recommend trimming a puppy’s nails by the time they’re over six weeks old. You want to introduce this practice early, so your puppy isn’t easily spooked.
Working with a trainer to trim your puppy’s nails is an option. They can show you how to make the experience as easy as possible for your pet.
Remember to make decisive movements if you opt to handle the trimming yourself. Grip your puppy’s paw firmly and expose the nail you intend to trim. Carefully examine the nail and identify the spot where the quick begins. Steer clear of the quick altogether by trimming only the end of the nail.
Trimming only the end of the nail is safer, but it will require more repetition. You’ll probably have to trim your puppy’s nails weekly.
Getting your puppy to adopt proper hygiene habits won’t be easy, but it is well worth your time. Those habits will benefit them and your household!
Are you struggling to establish good hygiene habits with your puppy? Tailored Pet Services’ dog trainer Cathy has some techniques she can teach to immediately eliminate this behavior. Visit our dog training page to learn more about how we can create a training plan that you and your family will love.
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