Puppy introduction groom

A puppy groom is about getting the dog used to being groomed rather than about the haircut. It is usually a gentle bath, a towel dry and a blow-dry on a low setting, a brush through, a trim around the eyes, feet and hygiene area, and a first nail clip, with breaks. The groomer lets the puppy hear the dryer and feel the clippers on its body without cutting much, and stops before the puppy is tired. Sessions are often limited to an hour.

It matters most for breeds that will need cutting for life: cockapoos, cavapoos, poodles, shih tzus, bichons, schnauzers and doodles. A dog that first meets clippers at eight months with a matted adolescent coat has a harder first groom than one that has had three short visits by six months. For wire-coated puppies such as border terriers, the early sessions get the puppy used to standing on a table and being handled before hand stripping starts. Smooth-coated puppies benefit too, mostly for nail clipping.

Most groomers will only take a puppy after its vaccinations are finished, often a week or two after the last one, and many set an upper age, commonly four to six months, after which the puppy is priced as an adult. Some offer a free or low-cost visit just to see the salon, and some sell courses of three to five sessions with set gaps of two to four weeks. Ask what age they start, how long each session lasts, and whether the price drops if you book the course.