Establish Good Habits For A Lifetime Of Benefits
Regardless of the size of the dog or type of coat your puppy has, grooming your pet goes farther than just brushing or combing. Good grooming habits allow you to perform such routine procedures as trimming nails or cleaning ears as well as brushing the coat. Forming good routines early on helps you thoroughly examine your pet for any underlying issues as he gets older. This is especially important when it comes to your puppy’s cooperation and comfort during a visit to the groomer or the vet.
Puppies are very impressionable in the first few months of their lives. They respond well to positive reinforcement. Socialization is a very important part of this training, as they may be handled by different people during the grooming process. I like to expose my puppies to as many different people and situations as possible at a young age. It is not recommended to bring puppies to highly populated dog areas until they have had their final vaccinations, but that should not stop you from allowing your puppy to socialize with people and places. Taking your puppy for rides in the car and into businesses that allow dogs are just a couple of the ways I get my puppies used to being greeted and handled by different people in different places.
Conditioning a puppy to accept handling and grooming is also an important part of the bonding process. Gain your puppy’s confidence and build his respect for you as a leader by gently holding his paws, looking between his toes, examining inside and behind his ears, checking his eyes and inspecting under his legs and his belly. If your puppy objects, firmly but gently continue the procedure to show him that these examinations will not hurt him and can actually be very relaxing. Reward good behaviour with praise and a treat. Do not stop the examination procedure if the dog becomes cantankerous. If you stop, this tells the dog that you, the owner, are very easily trained and will back off when he acts up. Ignore any poor or objectionable behaviour and immediately praise the good.
Choosing Grooming Tools
It’s good to introduce the puppy to grooming tools at a young age. Consulting with a professional groomer will help you select the proper grooming equipment for your pet. There are different brushes for different coats, and it is important to select the correct brush or comb for the job.
1. Short bristle brushes work well on short-coated dogs, like Beagles and Chihuahuas, as these remove dead hair and dirt while keeping the natural oils of the coat well distributed. Medium-coated dogs, like Golden Retrievers, or long-coated dogs, like Poodles or Maltese, may require several different pieces of grooming equipment in order to keep their coats neat and tangle-free. Soft bristle brushes will not do the job on a long coat, as they will just brush the top hair and will not get down to the skin and separate each hair.
2. Brushes that work well for long coats are often called “slickers” and are composed of many small pins that are spaced closely together. These can be found in varying degrees of “stiffness.” I recommend a gentle, or soft, slicker for your puppy. You can progress to a stiffer brush as the dog grows older and the coat matures.
3. A metal comb is a very handy addition. Try to get one with wide spacing on one side and narrow on the other side. These combs do a good job of making sure all of the dog’s hairs are separated and not matting together.
4. While shopping, pick up a bottle of conditioning spray. These sprays can be used for short- and medium-coated dogs to give shine to the coat, and they are very useful in keeping long coats tangle-free.
5. If you are planning on giving your new puppy a bath, now is a good time to get a recommendation for the right kind of shampoo. Avoid using human shampoos, as the pH value is different than dogs and may result in dry skin and coat. There are tear-less puppy shampoos available that are gentle and non-irritating in the event you get some into their eyes.
6. Long-coated dogs will need some kind of conditioner to help keep their hair tangle-free.
7. If you plan on attempting to trim your puppy’s nails, shop for a nail trimmer at this time, too.