Your puppy’s first trip to the groomer is an important milestone as it can affect his attitude towards grooming for the rest of his life. If your puppy is used to being with you 24 X 7, you should first get him used to being left with someone else for a change. You can enlist family, friends or neighbours to help you with this. This step is important so that your pup gets accustomed to you leaving him with strangers for a short period. There are several other steps that you can take to ensure that his visit is stress-free and uneventful.

DO: start grooming early

Puppies are more amenable to new experiences when they are young which is why you shouldn’t wait too long to start grooming your dog. Earlier, people waited until their pups were at least 6 months old to take them to be groomed. However, experts say that the ideal time to take your pup for their first visit to the groomers is when they are 10-12 weeks old. Start with some at-home grooming such as brushing and baths as this will help your puppy get used to the routine. This will also reduce his stress and anxiety during his first visit to the groomer.

DON’T: opt for full service grooming

Even if you groom your puppy at home on a regular basis, keep his first trip to the dog groomer brief. Full service grooming generally includes teeth brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning and coat trimming which is a lengthy process. The first session is meant for your dog to get used to going to the groomer so stick with the basics. Make sure that you inform the groomer in advance that this is your dog’s first visit and discuss the best grooming options for a first visit. Typically this would be limited to brushing and bathing. You can schedule another visit for nail trimming and/or fur trimming.

DO: desensitize your pet to electric grooming tools

Dogs can hear higher pitched sounds as compared to humans –we can only hear up to 20,000 Hz but dogs can hear up to 45,000 Hz. This means that your dog is more likely to get alarmed by the sounds from dog grooming clippers and nail grinders if he has never heard them before. Keep your dog near you when you’re shaving as this will help him get accustomed to the sounds from electrical grooming gadgets. This will help to reduce the amount of stress and anxiety he experiences during his first visit to the groomer.

DON’T: insist on staying through the session

Many owners feel that they should stay for the first grooming session, just to help their puppy get accustomed to the groomer. This is good in theory but the reality can be very different. If you are worried and anxious, your dog is likely to sense this and it will only serve to increase his stress and agitation. This is the reason that groomers generally recommend that owners do not stay to help. If you are sure that you can stay calm and help provide a positive environment for your puppy, then you can request to stay for the first session but do not insist on it.

DO: handle your Pup’s paws

Puppies have an instinctual response to draw back when someone touches their paws. It is important to help your puppy overcome this natural reaction as you will need to clip his nails for the rest of his life. Start handling your puppy’s paws when he is still small as this will help him get used to it. Do this on a regular basis while grooming him so that he sees this as part of his routine. When he grows up, he’s more likely to stay calm while you’re clipping his nails. Give him a treat and spend a lot of time fussing after him once you’re done as this will help him associate grooming with something positive.

DON’T: have a prolonged goodbye

Leaving your puppy with the groomer can be pretty tough, especially when your puppy whines and tries to come along with you. Don’t prolong the goodbye as this will only increase his stress and anxiety. Instead, simply pet him for a minute, tell him what a good boy he is and leave without looking back. You should also take deep calming breaths before you leave for the groomer so that your dog doesn’t sense your anxiety and get worried. Make sure that you only come back to pick him up at the appointed time because if you come back early, he will hear your voice and get excited which will make it tougher for groomers to finish their work.

The immune system of a puppy is not yet fully developed which makes them vulnerable to skin infections and even potentially fatal infections. This is why it is important to choose a groomer who follows strict sanitary procedures. Talk to other dog owners at your local park to get recommendations for good dog groomers in your area.

Author’s Bio: Anita Fernandes has been writing extensively on health and wellness for over a decade. She has expertise in nutrition, fitness, public health, and weight loss and has contributed content to a variety of leading digital health publishers. Anita has a unique perspective on healthy living and lifestyle, as she has battled and overcome eating disorders and obesity. She shares her experiences in an effort to help others overcome the physical and mental health problems that can sometimes seem insurmountable.