Puppy visits are taken at each dog’s individual pace. Their first visit might just be a bath, brush and tiny trim around their face and feet, or if they’re a little bit nervous, it might just be a brush. What it will include is cuddles, time to sniff the scents of salon, calm voices, and a calm and relaxed environment.

​They need to get used to the noises of the clippers, the dryer, and the shower. They need to get used to someone handling their feet, their ears, touching around their eyes. Doing this at an early age means that when it finally is time for that first big boy haircut (usually between 6-9 months old), they’re confident and not scared. 

​A terrified, almost fully grown dog who jumps at every noise can be dangerous when scissors are now needed to give him a haircut.

How can you as their owner help?

Between now and six months of age, I would recommend that your puppy has three puppy sessions with me. This is for them to get used to me and the salon environment, but as their owner in-between sessions you can also help with desensitisation to help make the grooming experience a much more pleasant experience for your dog.

1. Regularly touch your dogs feet - gently touching and lifting your puppies paws at home helps to teach them that being handled isn’t scary and in the future will make it a lot less stressful for your dog when they are having their nails trimmed and pads cleared.
2. Introduce the hair dryer - the sound and sensation can be intimidating for some dogs. Introducing it at home (on the cool setting only) helps for your puppy to become familiar.
3. Practice handling - dogs often need to be lifted, repositioned or held in a specific way (and not just at the grooming salon) . Practising gentle handling teaches your puppy to trust being touched in unusual ways.
4. Brush regularly - not only is this a great bonding experience for you and your puppy, it will also help to keep their coat mat free.

My puppy doesn’t like being brushed at home… What should I do?

Puppies often don’t like being brushed at first, why would they? You’re much more fun when you are playing with them. All I can say is persevere. They might bite the brush, but don’t stop, otherwise you will just have taught them that biting the brush means that they get their own way and you stop. Instead push their face away and keep going. Little and often is the best way.