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Bringing home a puppy means endless cuddles, zoomies, and adorable moments. Along with all the sweetness comes the slightly less glamorous reality of muddy paws, tangled fur, and the occasional mysterious smell.
If you want to avoid the dreaded wrestling match every bath time, the solution is simple: start your puppy’s grooming routine early. The sooner you introduce grooming, the more relaxed and confident your pup will feel during every future spa session.
Why Early Puppy Grooming Matters
Puppies are not naturally comfortable with clippers, brushes, or having their paws touched. With patient training and good habits, grooming becomes a positive experience rather than a stressful battle.
Early grooming helps with:
- Desensitising your puppy to touch and handling
- Building confidence around water, dryers, and grooming tools
- Preventing long-term anxiety during grooming sessions
- Keeping your puppy’s coat clean and healthy from the beginning
In this guide, you will discover:
- How to prepare your pup for calm and stress-free grooming
- Simple desensitisation techniques for baths, nail trims, brushes, and loud sounds
- When to book your puppy’s first professional grooming appointment
If you enjoy learning about puppy care on the go, you can also listen to our Bark & Beauty podcast, where we share grooming tips, behaviour guidance, and behind-the-scenes stories from the studio.
Step 1: Hands-On Training at Home
Before introducing any tools, help your puppy get used to being handled in the areas groomers work with most: paws, ears, and face.
Teach Calm Paw Handling
Most puppies instinctively pull their paws away when touched. If you immediately let go, they learn that pulling ends the handling.
Try this instead:
- Hold their paw gently without squeezing
- Wait until they relax
- Release and reward with a treat
This teaches your pup that calm behaviour brings rewards.
Introduce Paw Washing After Walks
A little routine helps your puppy get used to water and handling.
Say “Up!” and gently wipe their paws with a damp cloth or soft hose spray. This prepares them for future baths and nail trims.
Help Them Enjoy Face Touching
Face trims can be tricky if your pup dodges like a ninja. Start slowly.
- Touch around their eyes and muzzle daily
- Use a soft comb near the face without brushing
- Reward stillness with praise or treats
Once familiar with light touches, grooming tools will be far less intimidating.
Step 2: Make Bath Time Positive
Once your puppy is comfortable being handled, you can introduce baths and the hairdryer.
First Bath Tips
Keep the first bath calm and gradual.
- Let your puppy explore an empty tub
- Turn on the water without them inside so they hear the sound
- Use treats and toys to build positive associations
This makes the real bath much easier. No puppy should face a sudden “tsunami”.
Help Your Puppy Get Used to the Hairdryer
Dryers are one of the most common puppy fears. To build confidence:
- Dry your own hair while your puppy is in the room
- Reward calm behaviour
- Keep cords out of reach to avoid chewing
Slow, steady exposure helps puppies understand dryers are nothing to fear.
Step 3: When to Book Their First Professional Grooming Session
A frequent question is, “When should my puppy see a professional groomer?”
The answer is simple. Once your puppy has received all essential vaccinations, they are ready.
Why Early Professional Grooming Helps
- Builds confidence in a salon environment
- Introduces grooming equipment safely
- Establishes a positive long-term relationship with grooming
Consider a Puppy Grooming Introduction Package
Many groomers offer gentle intro sessions that include:
- A calm and friendly introduction to the grooming table
- A soft bath and brush
- Exposure to clippers, dryers, brushes, other dogs and salon sounds
These visits make adult grooming sessions much smoother and stress-free.
A Funny Puppy Grooming Story
Puppies always keep you on your toes. Just when you think you have grooming figured out, they surprise you.
Here is my first puppy grooming experience:
I gave my pup his first proper bath. It went perfectly. Warm water, treats, the whole luxury experience. He looked fluffy and adorable. We stepped outside for a quick walk, and he immediately launched himself into a giant mud puddle. He had never done that before. He must have enjoyed the bath so much that he wanted another one straight away. :)
Please feel free to share your funniest moments in the comments below.
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