How Do I Groom My Puppy?

Grooming is one of those things that can easily be neglected until your puppy’s fur starts to become unruly, knotted and less attractive. As much as grooming keeps up your puppy’s cute appearance, it’s also necessary to maintain your pet’s health. Having a good grooming routine will help keep your puppy looking great all the time. Here are some Petsy tips to groom your puppy.

First, let’s get the grooming tools right:

1. Grooming brushes: different breeds require different care when it comes to grooming. For example, long-haired dogs such as St.Bernards and Huskies would require brushes with more spacing between the bristles. For dogs with silky coats, the bristles can be more flexible in comparison to stiffer bristles for coarse coats. On the other hand stripping combs are useful for dogs with wire coats (e.g. Terriers) because the widely spaced stainless steel wires will strip and detangle in one-step. It’s best to research your pet’s breed and the type of grooming brush best suited to your puppy.
   
   
2. Hygiene products: consider having tear-stain removers, ear cleaners, flea and tick treatments with you as part of the grooming routine.
   
   
3. Treats and rewards: These are an absolute must to reward your pup for good behaviour. 

Grooming made easy:

1. Start with gentle brushing for about five minutes a day. Use the back of the brush for a few days to get your puppy used to the idea of grooming and allow it to easy into the new experience.
   
   
2. Remember to be calm and reassure your pup that it’s in safe hands.
   
   
3. Take things slowly and if your puppy gets irritable or upset, then stop the session immediately.
   
   
4. Don’t be afraid to treat your puppy for good behaviour. Lots of love and cuddles are an absolute must!

Some key hygiene practices:

1. Tear stains: What starts out as crispies and gunk around your dog’s eyes can quickly turn into nasty tear stains if you don’t stay on top of good pet care and grooming habits. These stains are more apparent on white-furred dogs as the pigment in their tear dyes the fur more easily. Read our detailed guide on cleaning tear stains.
   
   
2. Ear cleaning: While not all dog breeds need to have their ears cleaned constantly, some require cleaning more than others. Some breeds are more prone to wax build-up and excess hair inside their ears than others and their ears need to be cleaned out regularly. Read our detailed guide on cleaning your pet’s ears.
   
   
3. Fleas and ticks: when grooming your dog be sure to look out for fleas. Check near the base of their tails, back legs, behind their ears and between the toes for the fleas.
   
   
4. Nails: a good habit to form is checking your pet’s nails frequently. Special nail clippers can be used to trim the tip of each nail. However, exercise extreme caution with this so you don't cut the quick of the nail, as this is a blood vessel. If the vessel is cut, it will bleed badly and can be very painful for your pup. To ensure your pup is in safe hands, visit your trusted professional groomer.