Grooming

Grooming is important for both the health of your pet and the bond you share. Grooming your puppy is a nice way to spend quality time together while also allowing you to monitor your dog's health by checking for cuts, bumps, tenderness, etc.

Brushing tips

• Talk to your veterinarian or professional groomer about the pet brush or comb that works best for your puppy's coat and comfort
• Establish a regular location and routine for grooming. Train your puppy to stand while grooming
• Brush in the direction of hair growth. Brushing against the hair pattern may be uncomfortable for your puppy
• Dogs with thick or long coats may need to be groomed every day to prevent painful mats and knots
• Smooth-coated breeds may require grooming less frequently, but keep it a routine so it becomes familiar and expected
• If your puppy needs professional grooming because of breed requirements or special fashion cuts, introduce your pet early to a friendly groomer

Your puppy and bath time

The bathing products available for dogs today are almost as numerous as those for us humans, and they're much better suited to a dog's skin type than human shampoos. Choose a special dog shampoo that's best suited to your puppy's hair type and take extra care not to get any shampoo in his eyes when washing him.

You may want to invest in a non-slip rubber mat and place it on the bottom of the bathtub to give your puppy confidence during bath time. It's scary for a puppy to slide around on a slippery surface and this may increase his anxiety around bath time.

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