Most dogs have a natural aversion to their feet being handled. The sensitive pads and hairs on the bottoms of their paws help them to feel their way through terrain and protect them from injury. However, this sensitivity can make it difficult to trim their nails and check the pads for cuts, stickers, and other problems. As soon as you bring home your new puppy, start including the paws in your petting/bonding time.

Pick up each foot and hold it gently. When the puppy pulls it away, pick up another paw. Softly rub the leg and foot, squeeze the paw, and run your fingers under the nails. You may find that a massaging motion is actually relaxing to the puppy once it gets used to the touch. By training your growing puppy to let you or a veterinarian handle its paws, clipping and wound care will be a lot less stressful for everyone.

Start off by simply getting your puppy used to the sounds of the faucets running and the water draining. Take him in the bathroom with you while you are taking a shower or running water for your own bath. Most groomers use a hand-held nozzle similar to a shower head, so getting the puppy used to one at home will make groomers’ tools more familiar.

Let the puppy smell the water on your hands, and run wet hands over his head and muzzle so he can get used to the feeling of being wet. Make bath time a fun activity and your dog will be more willing to do it again the next time. Use an old, soft towel to rub the puppy dry, and then let him play with it and shake it. Train him to sit or stand still during the bath, but allow him to run off the extra excitement once he is out of the water. By introducing bath routines and commands early in your puppy training sessions, later “real” baths at home or by a groomer won’t become a dreaded event.

No matter the length of the coat, regularly brushing and combing your puppy will keep the fur healthier, free of mats and tangles, and reduce shedding. Long haired breeds need to be brushed daily, while shorter haired breeds usually need it three to four times a week. Within the first couple of days after bringing home your puppy, introduce the brush and/or comb. Let her smell it, feel the bristles, and mouth it. Young puppies are similar to young babies in that one way they learn about the environment is with their mouths. Certainly, don’t let the dog chew it up, but a couple of “tastes” helps her to explore and categorize it.

Start off by brushing a part she can see, such as a front leg or chest. If you immediately go behind the head, she will get scared by the unfamiliar feel and sounds. Once she has let you brush a front paw without squirming, then move to the top of the head, ears, and rest of the body. The contortion tricks will stop when she figures out it is the same feeling that was on her leg. While training her to be brushed or combed, you can also reinforce other commands such as sit, up, stay, and shake. Early training for grooming is a must if you don’t want your puppy running behind the couch every time you say the word “brush.”

* Brush and comb your dog regularly.

* Book grooming appointments well in advance.

* Begin grooming puppies at eight weeks old.

* Brush and comb your dog COMPLETELY before bathing him.

* Walk your dog before your appointment.

* Respect your Groomer’s opinion; they are trained professionals, after all.

* Always have your pet on a leash and under control.

* Train your dog to accept grooming, just like you train him to sit and stay.

* Try to convince a groomer to dematt your dog if he/she is severely matted. Complete dematting is inhumane and cruel. Aesthetic reasons are not enough.

* Get your dog shaved naked just once a year and complain about the fee.

* Teach your puppy that it is fun to bite the brush.

* Pressure your groomer to have your dog groomed in too short of a time period.

* Allow your pet to defecate in or around the salon and not clean it up.

* Neglect to tell your groomer if your pet has been ill.