How To Prepare Your Dog For Their First Grooming Appointment

14th November 2024 by Sarah

Grooming is an important part of dog care to keep their skin and coat healthy, and check for any issues such as ear infections or skin bumps. Certain breeds such dodoles as need regular grooming to prevent painful mats and knots developing in their curly coats.

The groomer will brush and bathe your dog, and also trim the hair around their eyes, ears, feet, and clip their nails to keep them feeling comfortable and looking smart.

If you have a young dog, or your pet is unused to being professionally groomed, the unfamiliar situation may make them feel anxious. Although the groomers will be used to handling nervous dogs, it helps to prepare your pet in advance so they are feeling relaxed and ready for a new experience. Here are some tips.

Get them used to being handled at home

Make a regular habit of brushing your dog at home, cleaning around their eyes and ears and examining their paws. This will get them used to being handled, so they are not surprised or upset when they visit the groomers. Use careful gentle movements and reward your dog with a treat afterwards so they associate it with a pleasant experience.

Keep these grooming sessions short and use a soft brush. If you want to use new tools such as nail clippers or grinders, let your dog get used to the sight, smell and sound of them first, and give them a treat. If your dog has a mat in their coat, leave it to the professionals to sort out, because attempting to brush it out yourself could cause pain for your dog.

Practise the journey

If you need to take your dog to the grooming centre in a car, familiarise yourself with the route beforehand and make sure you have somewhere convenient to park. If your dog is unused to car journeys, take them on short rides for fun activities such as a walk in the park, so that they develop positive associations with being in the car.

Walk your dog before the appointment

Exercise your dog beforehand so they can use up excess energy and are calmer and easier to handle. During the walk, encourage them to toilet to reduce the possibility of accidents later on.

Stay relaxed yourself

Animals pick up on our moods and tension, so try to stay calm yourself so that your pet doesn’t anticipate an unpleasant experience. Leave in good time for the appointment so you are not rushing, and bring your dog’s favourite toy or a comfort blanket along to help keep them relaxed and reassured when you leave them at the groomers.

Reward positive behaviour

When you collect your newly clean and smart pet after the appointment, reward them with a fuss and treats to reinforce their good behaviour. This will teach them that being groomed at the salon leads to rewards, and they are more likely to enjoy (or at least be more cooperative) on their next appointment.