A new puppy!
Congratulations on your new best friend. Your life has now changed for the better……
Why All the Fuss About ?
For majority of dogs, professional grooming is something they need to experience throughout their life span on regular basis. Grooming is an alien and demanding process for a dog, and a successful grooming session relies on dog’s cooperation by being able to tolerate unusual sounds, sensations and smells as well as being touched in areas the dog may find sensitive.
To achieve a stress free grooming sessions throughout their lives, an early introduction of puppies to grooming, is highly recommended-ideally as soon as they are fully vaccinated which usually happens around 12 to 16 weeks of their young lives. This way the elements of a professional full groom can be gradually introduced without the pressure of producing a beautifully groomed dog and traumatizing the puppy for life in the process.
As a specialty, I work with adult dogs who are extremely nervous/scared of being groomed due to being rushed into something they were not ready as puppies or miss handled during their grooms due to time pressure/inexperience. Rehabilitation is not impossible but its usually a long process and prevention is always better than cure.
How it works……
My puppy package offers 4 visits with 2-3 week intervals and aims to build your puppy’s confidence in a calm environment and reduce their anxiety by gradual & gentle introduction of the professional grooming elements .
1st visit 30 min 3rd visit 40 min
2nd visit 40 min 4th visit 60 min
During the sessions your puppy will get lots of cuddles, treats and small breaks as well as experience the below but above all will be handled with experience and confidence which is one of the most important component of building confidence in dogs.
Exploring the grooming table and accessories used for securing dogs on tables
Gentle brushing
Handling and movement of body parts (back leg lifts, holding chin etc)
Listening to the sound of clippers as well as different types of driers from a distance
Close sound of clippers as well as sensation on the body
Wearing happy hood for noise reduction and feel of dryer on the body
Feel of clippers on paws pads
Nail trimming and ear cleaning
Sound of scissors
Gentle bath, towel and blow dry
Tidy between eyes
Sanitary trim
The list is not in a particular order and may vary for shedding breads & breeds that need hand stripping. Each element will be introduced based on your puppy’s pace. The main goal of the puppy package is not to achieve a full groom but to prepare your dog to a lifelong confidence with the grooming process.
At the end of each session, you will have a detailed feedback and will be provided with some tips/homework to help you and your puppy. After our final session, I will recommend a schedule based on breed, hair type, and activity levels that is best for your pup.
The Ways You Can Help Your Puppy
The moment you get that bundle of joy into your life start touching them everywhere -including their paws, toes, ears and tails.
Have a daily routine of brushing- not just the back but also the tail, inner legs and muzzle. Always keep the routine calm and positive. I also highly recommend researching “line brushing” technique since most owners who diligently brush their dogs fail to prevent mats from forming.
Have your dog in the same room when you are drying your hair with the hairdryer -start with the slowest speed at a distance and have a happy but a calm demeanor.
PLEASE DO NOT CUT YOUR PUPPY’S NAILS, unless you have experience and know about dog nail anatomy- most dogs are sensitive about their paws anyway and cutting into the sensitive part of the nail called the “quick” can put your dog off nail trimming in the future - the bleeding that comes with it can be upsetting for some owners too.
Please arrive to your appointment on time in the calmest way you could muster- nervousness is contagious and your puppy picks up on that energy.
Please avoid saying long goodbyes to your pup as you are leaving- too much fuss creates an anxious mind set for your puppy.
Please pick up your dog without making too much fuss since we are aiming to create a calm routine rather than a jolly reunion.
And finally, please remember to bring your puppy’s vaccination records to your first appointment.