Puppy Grooming: Getting To Grips With Your Puppy’s Fur Coat

Eight week old puppies have manageable fur. It isn’t very long, and it doesn’t tangle. But over the next few weeks, depending on the type of fur that your puppy has inherited from their parents, that is all about to change.

If your dog is a breed that is destined to have a very short, easy care coat. Then grooming is not going to feel like a priority for you.

Breeds such as Labradors, Whippets, and German Shorthaired Pointers are never going to suffer from matting or tangling. While for some dogs, including Poodles, and Poodle crosses, grooming is actually a welfare issue, I’ll explain a bit more about that when we talk about ‘matting’ below.

But the benefits of regularly grooming your puppy go far beyond keeping their coat tidy and preventing tangles.

Grooming requires that you get up close to your puppy and put your hands all over them. And the benefits to that, are far reaching. So we’ll talk about those, and I’ll give you some tips to get you started and help your puppy enjoy their grooming routine.

The Benefit of Observation

Grooming is the perfect opportunity to check up on your puppy’s skin and condition. The process of brushing through their fur will show you very quickly if there are emerging skin problems, or any lumps or bumps.

It’s also a chance to check for parasites, as well as getting a good gauge on whether there has been any significant weight loss or gain.

Desensitization to Handling

Dogs have to be okay with being handled by humans. Throughout your puppy’s life they will have regular veterinary checks, and claw clipping sessions. There’s also a good chance that at some point in their life, your dog will need to be hospitalized or undergo some day surgery.

Regular grooming is invaluable preparation for these kinds of experiences. And getting your puppy used to being poked and prodded a little will help that kind of close handling feel more normal and less stressful for your dog.

Public Safety

Many people have no idea that some dogs have a strong need for personal space. Or that many dogs do not like being cuddled or having their paws touched. Of course, strangers should ask before they touch your dog, but many do not.

Having a dog that is used to having those more sensitive areas groomed means that if someone they don’t know unexpectedly handles them there, it will be less of a shock, and therefore less likely to lead to them reacting in a way that could be detrimental to everyone involved.

Bonding

Bringing home a new puppy is one of life’s great joys, but it’s also a huge upheaval. If you’ve not had a dog before, it’s likely your life has changed quite a bit and sometimes those early days together can make you feel a little insecure about the decision you’ve just made.

Forming a strong bond with your cheeky new roommate is a great way to push through those puppy blues, and grooming can absolutely play a part in that.

Prevention of Matting

It isn’t widely recognized just how serious an issue matting can be.

When dog fur grows longer than a couple of inches, it tends to form small clumps that resemble pieces of felt. If there’s a bit of curl in the coat the problem is much more likely to occur sooner and get worse more quickly

Matted lumps of fur cannot be combed out, they need to be removed with a sharp tool. And this can pose problems for the average pet parent, especially as mats often form tight up against the skin.

Once mats like these have formed, the dog usually need to visit a groomer to have them removed. And that can be expensive. So dog owners put it off, until it gets to the point that they are embarrassed to take their dog anywhere because they rightly assume they will be judged.

If left longer, matting can eventually block the dog’s eyes and bodily orifices, with disastrous consequences. And many dogs that are abandoned and picked up by rescue centers, have serious matting problems.

If you have a bought a puppy that will grow into a dog with a long coat, or a curly coat, regular grooming sessions are not optional. So if you are not willing to do it yourself, you need to take your puppy to meet a good groomer and make an arrangement for your first appointments as soon as possible.

Training Your Dog To Accept Grooming

In an ideal world your dog would stand still and wait patiently whilst you run a brush over their body, or detangle some ear fluff. And although this isn’t something that comes naturally, it is a perfectly attainable goal for most puppy parents. Provided you start young and work gradually towards it.

The best way to achieve this goal is to groom your puppy daily for the first month, then at least twice a week for a month. After that the schedule will depend on your dog’s coat.

Your Grooming Set Up

Think about where you are going to want to groom your puppy, and choose a place that will still work when they have reached their full size. For some smaller breeds placing them on a table will save your back, for larger dogs maybe it will be a mat on the floor of the bathroom.

The point of choosing a specific location is that your dog will come to associate this place with standing still and being handled.

For the first few days, just put your puppy in the location where they will be groomed and give them some treats at one and two second intervals. Don’t give them time to get bored or try to wander off.

It’s all about them associating being in that position with an enjoyable experience.

Build up over a couple of days with a few sessions a day, spacing your treats out gradually to three and four second intervals. And by day three your puppy should happily stand on the station for thirty seconds or so.

Building Contact

On day four you can start getting them used to being fussed over when in that position. Using just your hand to begin with, stroke along their flanks in the same way that you will with their brush. Each time you do, give your puppy a small treat.

If they are happy with this attention, then after a few sessions you can start to lightly touch, then stroke, then lift up or move about their ears and paws.

Getting To Grooming

Once your puppy is happy being put in their grooming position and getting a bit of a fuss and a poke in return for some treats, it’s time to start gently grooming. Just a few strokes with a brush, then a treat to begin with, building up the duration over time.

It’s a great idea to have a release cue to show them it’s the end of the session like ‘off you go’ or ‘all done’ when they can run off to play.

Grooming Methods

How you groom your dog will depend upon their coat type as they grow.

For short furred pups you just need to dust off any dirt, and give the body a quick run over with a wide bristle brush using long strokes.

Medium and long haired dogs need extra attention with a comb or rake to tackle their undercoats and prevent matting. Potential problem areas to focus on are the backs of the legs and the armpits. And with floppy eared dogs mats tend to build up underneath and behind the ears.

Grooming Schedules

All puppies benefit from a grooming session every day to encourage tolerance of handling and to help you bond.

From around four months old most short coated dogs do fine with a good weekly once over with a bristle brush and some extra attention if they get dusty or dirty.

If your dog has poodle type tight curls you might want to consider having them clipped every four to six weeks. This helps keep the dog comfortable and mats at bay.

Longer haired dogs however will need grooming on anything from a daily to weekly basis depending on their coat type and tendency to get tangled.

And unless they have a very short coat, many puppies will benefit from visitng a groomer early on in their lives. Not because they need one just yet, but to get them used to the process.

Visiting a salon is a great way to add to your puppy’s socialization skills, and your groomer will be able to advise you on the best way to keep your puppy’s coat in great condition in between visits.