When and how to groom my new puppy

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I have a new puppy that I brought home a little over a week ago. She will be ten weeks old tomorrow. She has the loveliest, softest curly coat. I tried brushing her with my own hair brush but she hated the brush and is a little afraid of it. She started growling at it when I put it on the floor. I tried putting solution in her ears because she was scratching a lot and I eneded up soaking wet, while very litte got in her ears :)  lol. I'm afraid to trim her nails because she squirms so much I'm terrified I'll hurt her. I'm just wondering when I'm supposed to start all of this grooming (is she too young to start?) and what is the best way to introduce her to the tools. Will she start developing mats this young? Also, she doesn't shed at all, not a single hair. Will that change as she grows?

[Diana Allen]

I would start asap to get them used to a brush, a little each day.......also when you brush start at the end of the hair and work towards to the skin,,,,, this way it does not tug and hurt, also you can sort of grip the hair in a way that it won't be pulling on the skin...... just like kids it can be painful to pull on the hair. Just go slowly, to get her used to it, a little each day, and then give a treat even after it. It will all be ok..:) PS Cagney was the same way,,, now he knows if he sits and endures a brushing he will get a treat!

[Patti]

I started to groom while my puppy was resting on me lap, while she was sleeping.  Talking to her softly, I clipped her toe nails.  A little at a time.  When she stirred,  I stopped and kissed & hugged her. Soon she began to trust and knew that she was ok.  Now she love it.  Play with her feet and toes a lot while she is on your lap.

 

Use a "SOFT" small slicker brush, a med. size comb and a very small comb for her face.

[Kathy Hoppe]

My best advice is try SINGING or HUMMING while your brushing her. Take the brushing very slowly. Every day for maybe 2 or 3 minutes at a time. Don't worry about matting until she's a bit older like 10 months or so.

Kathy & Lauscha

[Renee Bogi]

you have to start young or they will hate it later.  what kind of brush do you have.  i started with a soft paddle brush (the people kind) and gave treats while brushing.  nothing will happen this young... its all about getting her ready for the brush later. 

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Now is the time to work on getting her used to grooming. I start my puppies on the table at 6 weeks using a clipper for a sani cut, scissors for the face and I cut nails and pull ear hair too at that time.

Actually, nail cutting starts at 3 or 4 days old or mom gets horrible scratches.

 

If you are going to take your puppy to a groomer, don't wait until they actually need grooming. The sooner you go the better. See if you can find one that will just put your puppy on the table, pretend to brush for a few seconds, give a treat and then you go home.

[Daelene & Molly]

I scheduled Molly to get a bath with a groomer in our area next week.  She just turned 12 weeks, is that too young?

[Daelene & Molly]

Molly just turned 12 weeks, we got her when she was 10 weeks old.  I hold on to her paws all the time and rub the pads & she lets me clip her toenails when she is starting to nap.  I started combing her when she was napping and then when she was chewing on her toys & that seems to be working.  One thing I will say is that I can't do anything until she is relaxed and that is not real often, she is in her crazy puppy stage.  I am just trying to introduce things to her a little at a time, baby steps I keep telling myself =)

[Camilla and Darwin]

Practice practice practice!

I recommend doing A LOT of positive association with grooming. So, while you are brushing or doing any grooming, give really high level tasty treats throughout. It helps if you have two people. Or, if it's just you, in one hand hold something like cheese in your hand. With your other hand, gently start brushing her, as you let her lick the cheese in your hand. Repeat until she knows that brushing = tasty treats. :-)

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

thanks everyone! great advice!

[Lynda Kamrath]

Now is the time to get started on the grooming.  She probably won't get any  matts yet but brushing is very good for her to become accustomed to having done.  The ears were the thing my puppy had a hard time with at first.  You need to pull out the soft hair on the inner canal of the ear - just a few at a time until the canal is clear.  I wouldn't put solution in her ears yet.  Toenails also are problem areas with some dogs and the earlier you get started the better.  So, a little bit of brushing, cleaning the ears, clipping the toenails, and also brushing teeth are all things to get her used to as soon as possible.  If she enjoys the grooming, you will also enjoy the special time with her.  Good luck.

[Terri H and Kramer]

Best advice I got was to use a wet washcloth on puppy's face and paws every day. I bathed him and used the blowdryer every weekend while he was small, now is a groomers dream! Kramer comes running when he hears the blowdryer, and wants "his turn"! I also used a rotating pin comb which doesn't pull and hurt as much as a slicker brush. Just brush every day if possible, even if you brush half of pup at a time. Having had to shave my doodle due to mats when his coat changed, daily Maintenance is the key to avoid that. I wish I had found this site sooner, so much knowledge and great advice here!