09/08/2026
They're never too young to start building positive grooming foundations! ✂️
Most dogs don’t naturally find grooming the most exciting experience, so helping them become comfortable with the process from a young age can make such a huge difference.
For many breeds who require a lot of regular grooming throughout their lives, most breeders will start gentle desensitisation from as young as 2/3 weeks old.
Here are a few simple things you can do at home before your pups first groom
- Get them used to being handled, touch them all over, paying particular attention to their paws. Hold each paw, touch between their toes and get them used to having their legs and feet handled
- Introduce them to a hairdryer, start on a very low setting and keep it at a comfortable distance. Even just allowing your puppy to be in the room while you dry your own hair can help them become familiar with the sound
- Make grooming tools boring, leave brushes, nail clippers and other safe grooming equipment around for your pup to investigate. You can scatter a few treats around them to encourage them to sniff and explore them.
- Introduce vibrations, electric toothbrushes can be a great way to introduce your puppy to the sensation and sound of something vibrating near them. Start nearby and gradually work towards gently touching them
- Start their grooming journey once they have had their vaccinations and are ready to safely visit the groomer, don’t wait until their coat desperately needs grooming. Those first visits are about building a positive association and teaching them that it is a safe place.
It’s all about small, positive experiences, you don’t need to do everything at once. A few minutes here and there, with treats, praise and patience, can make a huge difference to how your puppy feels about grooming later in life.
And every dog is different, never force them through something they’re worried about, work at their pace and build confidence gradually.
Here is Dexter on his first visit learning the ropes ❤️
