When is a good time to introduce puppies to grooming?

Well just like any socialisation to new things, the earlier the better. Ideally 8 weeks and onward is a great time to start, this would be after their first vaccination and they shouldn’t be introduced to any new dogs in the salon until they have had all their shots.

Starting the grooming routine with just a positive visit helps allow the puppy to get use to the noises and smells, you can make this time fun with a small play session and tasty treats to keep stress to a minimum. On the second visit slowly add some of the normal grooming activities you would do like brushing. Don’t forget to give the owner some homework and ask them to help with the process using treats at home, this will make it enjoyable for the dog and your job easier in the salon. Third visit I tend to start getting my pups ready for the bath by getting them use to water on the paws and chest, for me I like to use warm water in a plastic tub instead of the bath as this can be very overwhelming for a small puppy.

As you can guess doing small manageable amounts of socialisation to new equipment and procedures can benefit the puppy for a future full groom. Always ensure your pup is not too stressed and still taking treats, it’s also OK to cut a grooming session short if the pup is starting to show too many signs of stress, owners generally prefer small positive sessions than a very stressful groom that may cost them more in the long run in behavioural fees.

Puppy intro to grooming programs can also be a great way to introduce new clients to your business and establish some long time regular appointments. If you already have a puppy program it’s also great to find out which ones require maybe a little bit more help and if there are also some behaviours we can see need addressing now with a trainer. Our association has some wonderful relationships with trainer/groomers or trainers if you think one of your pups may need assistance we can recommend someone for you.

As you may know Pammie is coming soon! We're looking forward to seeing you at our seminar and also if you are interested in competing, now is the time to do it as this will be the only association run comp this year as Royal show and Pet expo are not running comps. We also have some excellent prizes up for grabs.

Happy grooming,