04/10/2025
This is so important to set your puppy up for success! Two things I would add:
1) practice with an electric toothbrush at home all over your dog’s body while they stand up and you handle their legs, feet, face etc. This helps acclimate them to the sound and vibration of our tools in a safe way AND introduces them to physical handling. It’s much easier to help your puppy a couple minutes every day at home than it is to only be exposed to noises and physical handling at the groomer.
2) Animals feel your emotions! If you come in nervous and scared, so will your pup. Anxiety in dogs is skyrocketing, for a multitude of reasons, let’s help get those babies back into confidence for a happier, healthier life!
Puppies first groom!
Your haircut dog will spend over 300+ hours of their life with their groomer. Here are some ways to help them grow into calm, comfortable and cooperative grooming dogs.
1. Start early! You cannot cut their hair to soon. It is a myth that it will change or damage their coat. The sooner the better (8+weeks old). Puppies this young are really good about accepting the grooming process and soaking it up as a new learning experience where if you were to start late (6+ months) than they will be more inclined to have anxiety or fear surrounding all the new experiences. (Vibrating tools on their skin, being touched on every centimeter of their body, the industrial dryer, being away from parents, someone grabbing and clipping off their toenails, water sprayers, being asked to move around like an opposable action figure, new person, new smells and place, finger poking their ear or in their mouth to brush their teeth, so many new sounds.)
2. Ease them into it. Don’t request a full groom haircut for their very first experience. Start with coming to the shop for treats and attention. Maybe come in for just a nail trim. Start their first groom with an introduction for puppies, so just a bath, blow dry without an actual haircut. By the time you move on to an actual haircut they will be more confident in their surroundings, their groomer won’t be a stranger and will have established some trust and they will feel safer with the tools that are loud.
3. Have realistic expectations. One day that vision you have in your head as the perfect look will happen but a lot of it is up to your pup. Are they comfortable? Will they say still and safe? Have you worked with them and your groomer to help them succeed? Their first haircut may be a tad “sloppy” as they are learning but keep at it and that vision of your will come to fruition.
4. Communication with your groomer is key. They will walk you through anything you can do at home in between visits to help build your little ones confidence and how to maintain your loves coat.
