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To be a dog owner means taking on several important responsibilities. You have to remember to feed it. You have to make sure it gets its walks. You have to play with it and let your dog know that it is a good boy or good girl.
You also have to get your dog groomed, and dog grooming starts when your little canine is a puppy. It doesn’t matter how cute your puppy is – dogs get dirty, and it is a good idea to have your pet cleaned by the professionals.
Puppies need to be groomed. While many dog owners believe it is better for your dog to wait until it is at least 6 months old, the truth is that earlier is usually better. It is recommended that your dog receive its first grooming between 12 and 16 weeks – whenever it is done with its shots – with nail trimming as early as 2 weeks for both puppies and kittens.
That is because grooming can be a scary experience for little dogs. But the younger they are, the easier it is for them to habituate to the grooming process. Training your pet to love the groomer is much easier when you start early. You should also try to find a groomer that is familiar with first-time-puppy grooming, as there are strategies that make the process less frightening for your furbaby, including:
If you take your puppy to the groomer a few times after 3 to 4 months of age, it will be easier to train them for a lifetime of more extensive grooming.
If you want to help your pet feel safe and secure at the groomer, there are strategies you can implement yourself that will help the groomer care for your companion. These include:
You should also minimize dramatic drop-offs. When leaving your puppy with a groomer for the first time, try to avoid the fear and excitement of long goodbyes. Hand your puppy over to the groomer in a calm and collected way, so that your doggy doesn’t feel empty and frightened when you leave.