When you decide to adopt a puppy into your family, you start a new chapter in life and take on a great responsibility for its growth and development. Grooming plays a very important role in a puppy’s life from an early age, but its importance goes far beyond ensuring the health of the skin and coat.
Early grooming is introducing your little friend to procedures that will become his regular ritual. Timely removal of impurities from wool, prevention of the formation of mange, care of ears and claws improve the appearance, and most importantly – reduce the risk of developing skin and other diseases. Thus, early grooming performs a preventive function, providing the puppy with a healthy start to adulthood.
Development of puppies by month
Newborns up to 1 month
In the first month of life, puppies mostly sleep and feed on their mother’s milk. They are born blind and deaf, but develop quickly. The basic care of puppies is to provide warmth, nutrition and safety. Already in this period, you can start gentle touches and soft massaging so that they get used to people’s hands and skin stimulation.
1-3 months: socialization and the importance of the first visits to the grooming salon.
This period is critical for puppy socialization. They begin to actively explore the world and are ready to meet new people and animals. Initial grooming visits should be short and positive, with an emphasis on simple procedures such as checking ears, paws, teeth and gentle brushing to ensure pleasant memories of the grooming salon and habituation to regular grooming.
3-6 months: education and the beginning of regular grooming procedures.
By 3-6 months, puppies should already be used to basic commands and behavior at home and outside. This is the perfect time to start more regular grooming routines. Regular combing will help to prevent the formation of knots and strengthen their health. This is also the time when you can begin more complex procedures, such as haircuts and professional bathing.
6-12 months: change of teeth, adaptation to various grooming procedures.
Puppies change their baby teeth to permanent teeth, which can cause discomfort and change their behavior. Regular visits to the grooming salon are necessary to maintain the health of the coat, especially when the coat matures and needs other care. Continue to adapt to professional care, including longer and more comprehensive sessions.
Older than 1 year: preparation for adulthood.
Puppies are considered adults at one year of age, but continued regular grooming is still important. A steady rhythm of visits to the grooming salon will help keep the coat in good condition and reduce the likelihood of health problems. This is also the time to focus on specialized treatments where the dog’s breed and individual needs must be considered.
What procedures, how often and when to start?
Ear cleaning and claw trimming
Ear cleaning and claw trimming is important to start as soon as the puppy becomes part of your family, usually at 2-3 weeks of age. At first, it can be simple touches to the ears and paws to get used to it. Active procedures, such as gentle ear cleaning and gentle claw trimming, can be started at 8-10 weeks. The frequency of these procedures depends on the rate of growth of the claws and the condition of the ears, but it is usually recommended to perform them every 3-4 weeks.
Bathing and drying
The first bathing of puppies should be postponed until they have received all scheduled vaccinations, usually 12-16 weeks of age. Initial baths should be short and use shampoos for sensitive skin, or there are special puppy shampoos that take into account the needs of small dogs. The frequency of bathing depends on the breed: short-haired breeds can be bathed once every few months, long-haired breeds need more frequent baths, from 4 to 6 weeks.
Hair cutting and modeling
Grooming puppies should begin after the puppy has adapted to bathing and other grooming procedures, usually between 4 and 6 months of age. The first haircuts should be simple, in order to adapt and get used to them. Grooming frequency depends on coat type and growth rate, but is usually 4 to 8 weeks to actively maintain shape and a healthy coat.
Dental care and hygiene
Dental care should begin from the moment the puppy begins to transition to solid food, usually around 8 weeks of age. The use of special toys for brushing teeth and treats that promote oral hygiene can help in this process. Regular dental check-ups and cleanings at the grooming salon should be a monthly habit.
General tips for owners from V.O.G DOG network experts:
How to choose the right grooming salon or master:
Reputation and Reviews: Start by looking for reviews and recommendations from other dog owners. A good reputation among customers is always a positive sign.
Salon tour: Visit the salon in person to see how clean and organized it is. Assess how staff handle animals and what tools are used.
Qualifications and Experience of Staff: Make sure groomers are properly qualified and experienced with puppies.
Discussing Your Dog’s Needs: The ideal salon should be willing to discuss your pup’s individual needs and offer services that are appropriate for them.
Important things to know about puppy care products and how to choose cosmetics:
Safety and gentleness: Choose products that are specially formulated for puppies, as their skin is more sensitive than that of adult dogs. They should be free of strong chemicals and fragrances.
Product composition: read labels and prefer products with natural ingredients. Avoid shampoos with parabens, sulfates and artificial dyes.
Specialized Needs: If your puppy has special skin or coat conditions, you may want to look for products that are designed to address those specific concerns.
Preparation for visits to the grooming salon:
Socialization and Adaptation: Start familiarizing your puppy with paws, ears, tail and muzzle touches at home so they are less nervous during procedures.
Visiting Schedule: Create a regular visiting schedule to get your puppy used to trips to the salon. Getting used to it early will help avoid stress during future visits.
In our V.O.G DOG salons in Kyiv, we carefully approach the needs of every young dog, regardless of breed. We have created the ideal environment for receiving puppies, where every detail is thought out with their comfort and safety in mind.
The “Adaptive Grooming” program is a special pride of our salon. This program is designed to gently and effectively accustom animals to the grooming process. Our experienced masters use special techniques that help puppies feel comfortable and calm during all procedures. We invite you to read the detailed article on “Adaptive Grooming“ on our website to learn more about this unique service before your little friend’s first visit to the salon.
Register your puppy for care – give your little one the best start in life with V.O.G DOG.
