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Easing Your Puppy Into Grooming

PupBox

July 9, 2017

It is a good idea to start grooming your puppy at a young age. Grooming is an excellent bonding experience between new puppy and owner and is also a vital training exercise in handling. Ease into grooming practices. Like everything new and different, grooming can be scary for your baby. If you start young you can get your pup used to a normal grooming schedule, but if you procrastinate, your puppy will see grooming as an inconvenience and will fight you at every turn.

Areas To Be Groomed Regularly:

  • Toenails

  • Teeth

  • Ears

  • Coat

  • Grooming should always be a positive and fun experience so make sure to arm yourself with some PupBox treats.

    Tips to make puppy grooming easier:

    Work with your puppy when he is more relaxed

    Trying to brush a hyper puppy will only end in frustration. Relaxed puppies are far more receptive to handling.

    Keep the grooming session short

    He doesn’t know what you’re trying to do in the beginning. Try breaking it down into simple, easy steps. Doing a few brush strokes or cutting only a couple of toenails in a session is perfect.

    Practice frequently!

    Your puppy won’t get comfortable with any of the grooming sessions if he doesn’t get used to doing it. All of his toenails should be trimmed fully once a week with just a small amount removed. Teeth should ideally be brushed every week. Brushing is easy to practice a few times a week. Ears don’t need to be cleaned nearly as frequently (maybe once a month) unless they are dirty inside, but you can practice touching his ears and wiping his ears out with a soft cotton ball so he gets used to the feel of it.

    Pair it up with a positive

    Almost all puppies love treats which will make it easy to give him a tiny treat after each small effort. For example, cut one of his toenails and immediately give him a treat. Alternatively, you can use a longer lasting item such as a toy with peanut butter inside or a bully/bone. Hold the chew in one hand and let him focus on licking or chewing at that while you gently brush him.

    Practice touching sensitive spots

    Lightly touch between the paws and ears so he gets used to enjoying the feeling. Puppies that don’t have various body parts touched will often grow up to be adult dogs who refuse to be touched in certain spots.


    Bringing a new family addition into the home is extremely exciting! Becoming a new puppy parent comes with a ton of new joys, challenges and responsibilities. PupBox was created to help new puppy parents like yourself, by providing all of the toys, treats, accessories and training information you need, when you need it. CLICK HERE to learn more about PupBox.


    And remember, puppyhood is fast and is gone before you know it. Make sure to savor the time when your pup is young, and take lots of pictures along the way!


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