Grooming Tips For 2022
Written By: Dana DiBerardino, Professional Groomer
Well, we did it folks, we made it through another year of the holiday madness. Usually you might be spending these next few months relaxing and winding down - unless, of course, you found a new furry friend underneath the Christmas tree this year. A new puppy is a time of love, excitement, play, and so much more. However, you might start to notice now that the fur in front of their eyes is just a tad bit too long, or maybe there's a tangle here or there that might not have been there before. Well, you're in luck, because today's article is here to answer all of your puppy grooming questions, and help guide you through this new chapter of your life.
First things first - why are we worrying about this right now? This is the time in your puppy's life where starting the grooming process is going to be the most important. Your puppy is just learning about the world, and it can be a bit overwhelming at times. Grooming can be a stressful situation in general - dogs come to a location that they're not familiar with, with strange smells and people they don't know, away from their owners that they love and are around the majority of the time. It can be difficult to imagine our dogs in situations like this - we don't ever want to see our fur babies to feel anxious. However, this is something that can definitely be helped, and the key is to begin their grooming process early.
Three to four months old is the general age I recommend beginning your puppy's grooming journey. The first appointment is always one where I like to just take it slow and see what they do and do not tolerate right off the bat. You'd be surprised with the variety of puppy responses - I've had ones that practically nap the entire time, and ones that require a little bit more TLC. This gives me an opportunity to adjust future grooming appointments, and let you know what you can do at home to make their grooming visits more comfortable.
Each appointment after that is just a continuation of learning your individual puppy's needs and what I can do to meet them. I recommend bringing them in on a 2-4 week schedule until they're around 6 months old, which is when I generally begin doing their first full haircut. At this point they've have a few visits under their collar, and I know them well enough to confidently introduce them to the world of haircuts. These few months afterwards will be a lot of trial and error - while we're figuring out what kind of haircuts you like, I'm beginning their process slowly and not pushing them into anything they're not ready for yet. Meaning, there might be a few rough haircuts in the beginning. Imagine giving a haircut to a toddler that's loaded up on sugar, and you kind of get an idea of what giving a haircut to a puppy is like. However, like most things, with time it gets easier. Your puppy will understand the sounds and sensations, and will know that grooming is a safe space for them. It's all part of the grooming journey, and one of the most rewarding feelings for me as a groomer is not only seeing an owner light up with a haircut they love, but watching your puppy grow and feel confident with me.
Of course, not every puppy is the same. Sometimes, even if you try to do everything right, some puppies are just nervous. They don't want to be away from home, they don't want to get a bath, they don't want to be groomed period. And that's okay. The goal here isn't to create a perfect grooming client, it's to create a space that your dog will be safe in, even if they don't necessarily love being there. If you worry that your puppy might struggle with the process, never be afraid to let me know. At the end of the day, you know your dog better than I can, and I want to know everything I can to create the best individual experience for them. Let me know the whole story - you won't scare me away with biting, separation anxiety, or anything in between. I'm here to help, and we will find a solution.
If you've waited a bit too long to start grooming, that's okay. There's still plenty of options we can do to make your pup feel comfortable, and in the meantime, here's a few things you can do from home to help with the process:
- Touch. Those. Feet. One of the most difficult parts of grooming of dogs is the maneuvering of their feet, whether it's to trim them, do the nails, or shave the paw pads. A great way to help them is to just get them used to someone holding them. You can apply this principle really to any part of your dog that you know they might be uncomfortable with. Desensitizing is the key, and if you incorporate it into part of your daily routine, it'll help tremendously with the grooming process.
- Brush! Brush every morning, every night, when you have 5 minutes, just grab that brush and go over the coat. Dogs will be brushed no matter what groomer you go to, and it's important that they become used to this and know to expect it as part of their care. Not only does it help them get used to it, but it's a vital part in their health, as it prevents matting from happening that could lead to a variety of skin and coat issues, as well as the dreaded shave-down. If you're not sure what brush is best to use for your dog, don't hesitate to call and ask! I have plenty of recommendations I would love to give you that are budget friendly and work great.
- If you have an electric toothbrush, that's a great tool that can be used to help them get used to feeling and vibrations of clippers. The biggest part of the grooming process that I try to help dogs tolerate is the use of clippers, and if they don't have an early start to it, it can be difficult to help them not be afraid of the sounds and sensations. An electric toothbrush mimics it, and going over your dog's face & body with it can help them recognize the feeling, and not be as nervous for it when it comes to their grooming appointment.
These are just a few things you can do from home, but really the best way to increase your dog's success with grooming is just to begin the grooming process as early as you can. Even if your dog doesn't need haircuts, monthly or bi-monthly baths are essential to skin and coat health. Nail trims are needed monthly, and the earlier you introduce them to it, the sooner they'll realize it's just part of their life and become comfortable. And really, dogs can stink to high heaven, they shed, and it can be overwhelming if you're not sure where to turn for help. Brook-Falls grooming is here to help you with all of your questions, so don't hesitate to call and let me know what you need help with!
Haircuts are currently booking a week out, so call now while appointments are still available. Give us a call today at 262-781-5277 ext. 3 to start your grooming journey with your new best friend! Stay warm and healthy, and I look forward to meeting you both!