The First Appointment
Congratulations on your new puppy! Getting a puppy is an exciting and tiring time. There is a lot of contradicting advice about when to bring your puppy in for their first appointment. Here we recommend as soon as your pup is old enough and has received their rabies vaccination. Below we will discuss the many benefits of getting your pup in early and often.
Behavior
When you bring your puppy in when they are still young it allows them to build a relationship with us. It also allows us to help train your puppy in proper ways to behave while getting groomed or having their nails done. Puppies can be difficult but we would much rather deal with a tough puppy that is still learning than a dog who is uncomfortable and unsure how to behave. The grooming salon is a very loud place with a lot going on. A dog that hasn't been exposed to that is going to be a lot more nervous and be harder to control. We want everyone to have a pleasant visit and the best way to do that is by being proactive and getting your puppy on a good schedule (and we can help you figure out what would work best for your specific needs).
Outcome
One of the biggest reasons anyone wants to come to a grooming salon is to make their dog look nice and pretty. And trust me, us groomers LOVE when we are able to get your dog looking just the way you want. We want to see you excited to see your dog and happy with the result. As much as we do love making dogs look as good as possible we also love when dogs are as comfortable as possible. We can and will only fight so much with a dog before letting them be. A good haircut is never worth trading a dogs wellbeing. The best way to get a great result is to make sure they have had the proper foundation. Better behavior equals a better haircut.
Something to keep in mind when bringing a puppy in for their first haircut is that it will not be perfect. They will most likely be very squirmy and test their boundaries. That's expected, it's just how they learn. Until they are fully used to the process it will be hard to get things looking just right so please bear with your groomer and understand that it will get better with time as we learn both your dog and your preferences for their hair.
Preparation
So how can you help your puppy while you wait on their first appointment and every day after? Oh, I'm so glad you asked. The best way to help your pup have a great experience is by desensitizing them. You do this by giving them small doses of what to expect in a comfortable way, that way when they experience the real thing it's not so scary. If you got a long haired dog, daily brushing, even if it's while watching your favorite show at night, just getting the brush and comb through your dogs hair regularly will help. Grabbing your dogs feet (NOT while playing) is a great way to teach them that it's okay for people to mess with their paws. Taking them to crowded places like the pet store or to a dog park to practice being okay with other dog smells and loud noises is very beneficial. Basic trainings like teaching them how to sit and stay are other great ways to increase a dogs confidence and relationship with people.
P.s. Even if you have a grooming appointment in the books, if you notice your dogs nails getting long it's always a great idea to come in as a walk-in to keep up on them. Also, if you don't need nails done but just want to bring your pup in to meet the groomers and get a smell for the place that would be wonderful. We love loving on puppies as much as possible.