Top Tips for Grooming your Pup
Grooming is a great way to interact and bond with your puppy. Regular grooming helps to improve your puppy's skin and coat condition, and also gets them used to being gently handled.
Get into the Grooming Groove
Try to enjoy a short grooming session with your puppy once a day. Many dogs enjoy being gently groomed, stroked or petted, especially if you start at a young age. This will make grooming easier as your puppy grows up.
Here are a few tips for getting started:
Routine Health Check
Grooming your puppy also gives you a chance to check their skin for tell-tale signs of health issues. Gently check for any redness, rashes, balding spots or unusual lumps and bumps.
Trimming Hair and Nails
Every now and then, you might need to trim your puppy's coat, especially the hair around the eyes, ears and paws. This is often easy to do yourself, but you might prefer to take them to a professional groomer.
Trimming nails is trickier than trimming hair, so it's often advisable to ask a professional to do it. Your vet or groomer can trim your puppy's nails. Check them often and have them trimmed regularly, to prevent nasty snagging or tearing.
Puppy Bath Time Tips
Your puppy will need a bath occasionally. Most dogs only need a bath every couple of months. Long-haired breeds tend to get dirtier more quickly and can also become matted, so they'll need more regular baths.
Here are some tips for safe bathing:
Should You Use a Professional Groomer?
Grooming your puppy is a fun way to bond, and you'll probably find you're able to do a lot of it yourself. However, as your puppy grows bigger, you might find they need some professional grooming help, especially those with longer coats.
You'll want to choose an experienced groomer with a love of animals, who can make the grooming experience enjoyable and stress-free. Ask your vet for their recommendations.