So, you’ve got a puppy, and you’re wondering how to prepare for their first grooming session. Whether it’s your first puppy or your first experience with professional grooming, this guide will answer all your puppy grooming questions and help set you up for success. If you’re local, you’ll also know what to expect when bringing your puppy to Four-Legged Fun Zone in Everett, WA for their first grooming appointment.
Start Early: Preparing for Puppy Grooming
As soon as you bring your puppy home, you can begin teaching them how to be handled. Have plenty of tasty treats handy to make it a positive experience. Keep handling sessions short and sweet at first, just a few minutes at a time. Gradually increase the duration as your puppy gets used to it. Ignore undesired behavior, praise the behaviors we do want, and always try to end on a positive note.
Handling training should include:
- Paws: Holding the paws, manipulating the toes, and touching the toe nails.
- Body: Lifting legs one at a time and running a hand along the under carriage.
- Tail: Lifting the tail to check underneath while puppy is standing.
- Ears: Lifting the ears and looking inside.
- Mouth: Raising their lips to inspect teeth.
- Eyes: Holding your puppy’s face still and rubbing your finger along the inner eye corners. This prepares them for grooming tools near the face during their first puppy grooming appointment.
Brush Your Puppy Daily
Even if puppy doesn’t seem to need it, brushing daily helps desensitize them to the brush and the sensations. Puppy coat is softer than adult coat and can mat quickly. Once a puppy is matted, the mats often have to be cut out. (Do not attempt this yourself—leave it to a professional puppy groomer!) Make sure to brush your puppy’s entire body from nose to tail. You want the bristles of the brush to touch every single hair.
- Under the collar
- Behind and underneath the ears
- Base of the tail
- Under armpits and legs
- Between the toes
Get Your Puppy Used to Loud Noises
If you have a hair dryer or a vacuum at home, introduce your puppy to these noises. You can give your puppy a bath and blowout at home if you desire, just be sure the temperature of the air is warm, not hot. Always get your puppy as dry as possible and brush them out after. The goal here is to teach puppies that the noises can be scary at first, but they won’t hurt you. Using treats can be helpful, but sometimes they are so nervous they don’t want to eat. They may try to escape or cry out, but don’t worry. Talk to them in a gentle voice. You can hold the hair dryer further away from puppy if it’s too much.
First Visit to the Groomer: What to Expect
Before: Once your puppy has their second round of shots (usually around 10–12 weeks), they’re ready for their first puppy grooming appointment. PetMD offers additional tips for preparing your puppy for grooming. We recommend booking your appt a few weeks in advance. Pick a time of day that you’re free and can stay close by. Come in a few minutes early so your puppy can use the bathroom and take a little walk to relax.
During: We keep the first visit short and sweet. Puppy bath and trim takes about 30-60 minutes depending on breed, size, and temperament. This visit consists of a bath with gentle puppy shampoo, a blow dry, clipping the nails, cleaning the ears, brushing the coat, and a minor trim around the eyes, bottoms of the feet, and the private areas. Anything your puppy doesn’t tolerate will be skipped for that visit and attempted on the next one. We do not do an all over the body haircut on your puppy’s first visit. Doing the puppy bath and trim is already very overwhelming for a new puppy.
After: Your groomer will let you know how your baby did and what you can do to continue to support good behaviors at home. They will also offer to book your next appointment in advance to encourage a regular grooming schedule. Even if you feel your dog doesn’t need a bath yet, it’s good to come in anyways to keep them used to being groomed. Dogs that go longer between grooms can have increased anxiety and unwanted behaviors. Getting on a regular schedule with the same person can help keep dogs calm because they know what to expect every time.
In Conclusion
By preparing your puppy with early handling, brushing, and exposure to grooming tools, you’ll set them up for a lifetime of positive grooming experiences. Consistency is key—don’t wait too long between appointments.
If you’re looking for puppy grooming in Everett, WA, our team at Four-Legged Fun Zone specializes in gentle first visits, puppy baths, and patient handling to help your pup grow into a confident, well-groomed adult dog.
Puppy FAQ
What kind of shampoo should I use to bathe my puppy at home?
My puppy screams when I brush. Am I hurting them?
My puppy is mouthy when I brush. How do I stop that?
Can my puppy get a full haircut on their first visit?
What tools do I need to take care of my dog between grooms?
- A slicker brush – Get a slicker brush with long pins and no balls on the end.
- A metal comb – ideally with a fine and coarse side.
- Toothbrush – If your dentist gives you a toothbrush in your goodie bag you can use that. Or get your dog’s teeth brushed at our facility, we will give you the toothbrush we used on your dog.
- Dog toothpaste – Choose a toothpaste in a yummy flavor like chicken or peanut butter. Most dogs don’t like minty toothpaste.
- Dog shampoo – Even if you don’t plan on bathing at home, accidents happen. You might need to spot clean muddy feet or messy bottoms and trust me, you will be glad to have it handy.
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