5 Steps to Introduce Your Puppy to Grooming
Getting your first puppy is an incredible experience filled with lots of love, licks, and laughs. However, they also come with enormous responsibility, as they’re a lot like caring for a child. You’ll have to feed, train, and groom them to ensure they’re happy and healthy. At some point, they’ll be due for an appointment with the groomer, which can be a nerve-wracking experience for them.
Just like taking children to get a haircut, dogs need their fur groomed to ensure a healthy, shiny coat and avoid matting. However, pups get really nervous about going to new places. To avoid any mishaps, you’ll have to prepare your puppy for grooming by easing them into it. Here are five steps to help you with this:
Step 1: Associate Hands With Positive Things
Whether they’re at the vet clinic or with the groomer, they’ll be handled by strangers, so it’s essential to teach them to associate hands with positive things like toys, food, and pats. Start by holding your hand in front of their noses. When they smell it, reinforce them by using a clicker, saying “yes!” or giving them a bit of food. Do this a few times a week.
When they’re approaching your hand more readily, start reaching for their body. Start by the chin, then gently move your way to the collar, shoulders, and back. Use positive reinforcement when they relax, and if they get scared, backtrack to the earlier steps. Eventually, get your pup accustomed to being handled everywhere, and they’ll be less afraid when they go to a dog groomer.
Step 2: Hold Your Puppy Regularly
Once your puppy is more comfortable with being touched, hold them regularly. Start by sitting next to your puppy and loosely put two hands on either side of their ribs, barely touching them. Your pup will most likely squirm and move away, but they’ll end up relaxing. Do this for a few seconds and then release them and allow them to move around. After touching them, give them a nice treat or play with them and slowly increase the holding time.
Step 3: Teach Them to Relax When Restrained
Your puppy is now ready to learn how to be restrained. Hold your pup gently until they relax, but make sure they aren’t that stressed. It’s best to do this when sitting next to your puppy or while they’re on your lap. They may wriggle or twist as dogs generally do not like being held, but loosen your pressure and do not let go. However, if they continue squirming for a long time, you’ll have to go back to the previous steps.
Once they relax or the pup licks their lips, yawns, or sighs deeply, release them and give them a retreat. Practice this step only in short periods and use gentle pressure to help them relax into it.
Step 4: Move Your Puppy’s Limbs
It’s now time to teach your pup that moving their limbs or entire body won’t harm them or cause stress. As usual, start by gently picking up one leg and move it slightly forward and backward and repeat this with the other legs. Then, carefully move the head, tail, and ears as if you’re examining them as a vet or groomer would. Hold their muzzle gently with the first three fingers of your hand and move their head in all four directions to see how they tolerate this. Gently move their tail as well and reward them for each positive reaction they make.
Step 5: Introduce Grooming Equipment
Lastly, once the puppy is used to being handled and touched, start introducing them to grooming equipment. Show your puppy the brush or comb you’d use to maintain their fur and feed them a treat. Brush their fur using short strokes on the back and reward them when they react positively. Repeat the process for nail clippers to familiarize them with the equipment.
Conclusion
Grooming can be a scary experience for many pups, so it’s important to ease them into it by practicing these five steps at home. Once they’re accustomed to being touched and handled, they’ll have an easy time when it’s time to get groomed!
Earthwise Pet Supply & Grooming is your go-to source for local pet supplies and the best dog grooming in Bentonville. We use only the highest quality all-natural shampoos and conditioners to make your pup’s coat shiny and healthy. We also take care of other grooming needs such as anal gland expression, overgrown nails, and more. Schedule your pup’s grooming session today!