Puppies go through a period of rapid learning between the ages of 8-16 weeks, so this is the ideal time to get them used to the grooming process at home, so by the time they come for their 1st sessions at the salon, they're already used to the basics.
We would advise starting your puppy grooming within a few days of them arriving at their new home & continuing every day for a few minutes.
You're aiming to achieve acceptable behaviour which includes, standing still, allowing brushing and combing without biting, having claws touched without any issues, having their chin & face hair held without struggling, seeing the movement of scissors without jumping away & having clippers moved over the body without reacting.
It sounds a daunting task getting your puppy used to all of this, but remember their capability of learning so quickly with regular, short sessions, progressing through each activity is actually quite easy and is a fantastic way to bond with the new addition to the family.
Stand puppy on a non-slip surface, a kitchen worktop or table with a towel underneath. Puppy will try and sit and wriggle, so maybe try using a soft harness to hold them. Each time they sit, stand them up gently with just 2 fingers in between the back legs, use the command 'stand' praise them highly when they do.
You can use treats, puppy’s favorite food - save them just for grooming. Put the treats where pup can see them but not reach them then reward with tiny bits when they do what you ask.
Puppies learn very quickly at this age, it won't take them long to get the message that they get something yummy when they're good!
You can progress to brushing & combing whilst standing, but don't allow biting! Don't reprimand if puppy bites or struggles, just distract with the lure of the treats until puppy lets you brush & comb without issue.
Work your way through each activity until puppy accepts them all.
2 weeks after puppy has had its last inoculations they're ready to come to the salon for their first session. This comprises bath, brush and comb & attempted claw clip, paw tidy and fringe trim.
It's vital that we don't overwhelm puppy on their first visit - grooming in a salon is very different to grooming at home.
The first session is more about introducing puppy to the sounds, smells and different environment of the grooming salon, assessing puppy’s acceptance levels, what further work needs to be done.
Each puppy is different, some may take just one session before they're ready for a full trim, and others may take a few more sessions before it is safe for a full trim.
Give us a call on 07778 600729 or pop in to see us we'll be more than happy to help in any way we can.
