All puppies need to get used to being groomed, and starting as early in their life as possible. Doing so will prevent future grooming problems from happening later on in their lives.
Whether your puppy has a short coat (Boxer, Basset Hound, Labrador Retriever), long coat (Lhasa Apso, German Long-haired Pointer, Samoyed), or one that falls somewhere in between, she’ll need to be groomed on a regular basis.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Different kinds of coats require different grooming steps, but basic grooming care such as bathing, brushing, ear, and teeth cleaning, and nail trimming is needed for all dogs. If you have a long-haired breed, grooming will have to be practiced more often and maybe a bit more difficult. Therefore, it is important to introduce your puppy to grooming early on in her life. Life will be more pleasant for both you and your puppy if she learns to enjoy this experience while she’s still young.
Groom Your Puppy Everyday
In order to make sure that your puppy creates a positive experience with grooming, you must introduce her to the process slowly and often. Get her familiar with each piece of equipment by showing it to her one at a time. Show her the brush, let her sniff it for a few seconds, and then give her a small treat.
Next, gently touch her with the brush and the treat. Once she has fully accepted the object, gently brush one stroke and immediately follow with a treat. Repeat this about three more times until she realizes that being brushed is a great feeling. Break down the procedure into small steps as this will give your puppy the chance to create a positive experience within each step.
Take her to the grooming station and let her get to know the area before you start the grooming process. A few days before giving her a bath, put her in the bathtub while it’s dry and let her play with a toy, and throw in her favorite treat. Repeat the same process the next day, adding some water and a sponge. Let her get used to the water before filling the tub.
The same procedure goes for the nail clipper, toothbrush, and other grooming tools. Take the time to introduce them to your puppy and she will enjoy grooming for the rest of her life.