Grooming Your Puppy For The First Time, Made Easy

February 26th

So,you’ve just brought home the dream puppy. While you’re probably focused on petting her and giving her hugs, it’s a good idea to properly groom your puppy as soon as they arrive home.

We’ll give you some advice on how you can get started on grooming your puppy, and how you can develop a healthy grooming routine.

When Can I Bathe My Puppy?

Some owners may wonder if it is a good idea to give your puppy a bath. Rest assured, a bath is perfectly safe for your puppy. In fact, it’s an essential part of a healthy grooming routine.

What You’ll Need

All you’ll need is a bath-or a hose and tub if you plan on bathing your dog outside- and shampoo that’s made specifically for dogs. There’s a wide variety of shampoos out there for dogs. Choose one that’s right for you dog’s coat. For your puppy, you may want to choose a milder shampoo.

Dog fur is fairly similar to human hair, and requires regular cleaning to stay healthy by clearing away debris and excess oil. You should plan on bathing your puppy about once a week. This will keep their coat clean and shiny.

Bathing Your Puppy

Once you’ve got everything you need, start by giving your pup’s fur a thorough comb to remove anything that is stuck in their fur. This will make it easier to fully clean out their coat.

Before you apply the shampoo, you may want to consider using eye ointment. This will keep your pup’s eyes protected and prevent them any discomfort from shampoo burn.

Get the water running, warm but not hot. You’ll want to soak their coat fully before you apply the shampoo. Once their fur is wet, you can break out the shampoo and lather your pup up. Don’t use too much, but just enough to coat the fur.

Let the shampoo sit for a few minutes, watching your puppy throughout the process. Some pups love baths, and others don’t. If your puppy is getting anxious, try to keep them calm with treats. You can also try bathing them for shorter periods of time at first, to allow them to adjust.

Make sure you rinse out all of the shampoo before taking your pup out of the bath. You can choose to let their fur air dry, or use a towel or hair dryer. If you use a hair dryer, put it on a cooler setting so that it doesn’t irritate your pup’s skin.

Consider A Dry Shampoo

If your puppy doesn’t tolerate the water well, don’t worry. You can clean their coat by using a dry shampoo. Simply apply it directly, making sure you cover every part of their coat. Then, carefully brush the shampoo through their fur. These shampoos aren’t quite as effective as wet baths, but they will still help keep your pup’s coat clean.

Other Parts Of A Healthy Grooming Routine

Bathing is just part of the complete grooming routine that will keep your puppy clean and happy. You should also consider brushing your puppy frequently. This will help keep their fur from getting matted, and stimulates the oil glands, giving them a nice, shiny coat.

Choose a brush that has both soft and hard bristles. The soft bristles will make your pup feel like they are being gently petted. The hard bristles will break up any tangles or mats, and clear out any debris.

Brushing will always be an important part of a dog’s grooming routine. That’s why you should get your pup used to the process when they’re young. By brushing early and often, your puppy will get used to grooming, and maybe even start to enjoy it.

Trimming your puppy’s nails is also a crucial part of a healthy grooming routine. Puppy nails can be quite sharp. When you trim, use quality clippers, and make small, careful cuts. It’s better to cut too little than to cut too much. Keeping your pup’s nails in good shape will let them run around and play without any discomfort.