26/05/2025
The importance of a puppy's first groom!
Bear with it, its a long one but an important one.
When booking a puppy in here at Pampered Mutts I will never guarantee what will be done in this session. I will tell you what I will attempt but will also say it will depend on the dog and how he or she reacts to situations.
BATH AND BLOW DRY
When I first take a puppy in I set it on the floor and let them sniff around I will then turn on the bath while the puppy is in my arms to see how it reacts to the noise if this goes well I turn on the hairdryer (blaster) this is a completely different sound to a normal hairdryer. Again I will see how they react if they tolerate the sound I will then let them feel it on their coat at the lowest setting then and only then will I decide if the puppy will handle a bath and blow dry at this time.
CLIPPERS
Some puppies come in and are not phased by the sound or feel of the clippers and therefore can be groomed or have their sanitary areas tidied up. However some are scared and some are so terrified they bark or scream and fight to get away. If this happens I will not groom the puppy at this point and here is 1 example why.
Meet this little guy I went to him a week and half ago his mum decided to bath and dry him for me coming, so when I took him in I still turned on the bath and the dryer for him to hear and he wasn't too phased from it but when I turned on the clippers to clip him he freaked out to the point he was doing a high pitch bark almost scream I immediately stopped the clippers and decided I wouldn't groom him that day instead we played in the van I gave him treats that his mum had provided and we managed to scissor the hair out of his eye so when he left, he never left scared.
I took him back to his mum and explained the situation I also suggested something which I have had success with before. I would leave a spare pair of clippers I had with them to work with the dog just a couple mins whenever they found time to turn them on so he could get used to the noise, once he was fine with this to then let him feel the vibration, never forcing him but encouraging him and to let me know when he was no longer scared of them he didn't have to love them but just not scared and a week and a half later I went back. He sat like a champ and let me groom him. Is it perfect no, do we care no, because he let me do it and he wasn't scared.
Could I have clipped him that first day.... Yes I could have strapped him to the table, a belly strap on and fought with him till he was done in a fashion, stressed the dog and myself out and have him hate being groomed for the rest of his life or I could of done what I chose to do and in the end just a little over a week late had a relaxed grooming session with a puppy who was happy and I have no doubt next time will cope with a full groom.
Its worth taking the time with a puppys first groom it pays off in the end.
