Getting your pooch ready for grooming is absolutely crucial in the early stages of their lives 🐶 as a young pooch they learn rapidly what they like and do not like and it is incredibly important to get them used to grooming as soon as possible.
So! In order to assist any new pet owner I have written some steps to help aid you the best I can :)
The first steps
When first bringing your puppy into the home, they will not typically be used to being handled which is something you need to work on first. Start by giving them a treat, holding your pooch and touching/holding the paws, pups respond well to positive behaviour and will associate it with treats, praise and rewarding behaviour.
Bathing
No one likes a smelly pooch and it's important to keep your little ones clean! 🐾
Some dogs will enjoy bath time and others will dislike it to start, it's all about being patient and taking your time.
Give your pooch a treat beforehand and place him in the bath. To introduce him to it, put him in the bath whilst it's empty and let him mooch around and explore. Once they are used to it you can start by giving them a gentle bath with a jug. Paw naturel provide a really nice shampoo that is kind to use on puppys (www.paw-naturel.co.uk) simply put a small amount of shampoo in a large bottle and fill the rest with warm water, slowly pour onto your dogs coat and make sure to get the paws! Once you've given a good scrub you can then rinse 🚿
Brushing
Brushing is absolutely crucial to avoid matting and it's important to keep on top of it as much as you can.
Before brushing your puppy, let him sniff the brush first. Give him a couple of small treats, then gently brush him a few times. Increase the number of times you brush during each grooming session until he’s comfortable being thoroughly brushed.
The most important part in every dogs grooming life is that we stay patient and positive 🙂
