New Puppy Guide

Congratulations!!

You've got a whole new dog to raise. Here's how to make grooming the easy part. Five minutes now, ten years easier.

Blue heeler puppy sitting calmly in a cozy grooming salon
Why start grooming early. Early visits teach your puppy that grooming, sounds, and handling are safe and normal. They grow into dogs who can cope, are more relaxed, easier to groom, and far less likely to fight every visit as adults.

How to prepare your puppy before their first visit

A puppy's first salon visit goes better if they've already been handled, brushed, and exposed to the sounds at home. Here's what to do before you book.

  1. 1

    Handle their ears, paws & tail

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    Handle their ears, paws & tail

    Just touch them. Pick up each paw. Look in each ear. Lift the tail. Do it while they're calm. The single biggest thing you can do at home.

  2. 2

    Brush them at home

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    Brush them at home

    Even if there's nothing to brush. The motion is what matters.

  3. 3

    Practise with a clipper & dryer

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    Practise with a clipper & dryer

    Hold a human hair clipper upside down (blades facing away) and lightly run it over their paws, legs, back, and chest. Pair with a hair dryer on cold from a safe distance. Same sound, zero risk.

  4. 4

    A practice bath and dry

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    A practice bathOptional

    Use a gentle puppy shampoo and practise with the dryer at home a couple of weeks before the first visit. Helpful, not essential.

  5. 5

    Snack before, meal after

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    Snack before, meal after

    Something small in their tummy helps with nerves. A full belly plus anxiety equals vomit.

  6. 6

    Stay calm at drop-off

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    Stay calm at drop-off

    They read you. If you're nervous, they're nervous.

A cozy dog resting peacefully on a soft bed

A lot of visits now. Easier grooming forever.

Every visit in their first year teaches your puppy that the salon is normal and safe. Get that right early, and grooming stays calm for the rest of their life. Get it wrong, and it's a battle every time.

Book a groom today