IntroductionYou just brought home you’re adorable bundle of fur, now you have to keep that fur clean and tangle-free. No problem, right? You’re prepared, you bought the nicest brushes from the pet store, no expense spared!
You sit down with your little puppy and begin to brush, and guess what? Puppy doesnt want anything to do with being brushed. He is either too full of energy to sit still, tries to chew the brush, winces, yelps, or is scared of the brush. Now what?
Brushing your new puppy may not be as straightforward as you thought it would be. First you need to make sure you have the right tools for your puppys breed, and keep in mind that a puppys coat may be different than an adult’s, so even the correct grooming tools for your puppys breed may not be appropriate when he is a puppy. You may need to do a little investigation to make sure your have what you need for a successful brushing. Second, you may need to take some time and use some techniques to get your nervous or excited puppy to accept being brushed.
Puppy grooming and keeping the baby dog spiffy requires more than a quick brushing. Some puppy breeds take more coat care than others, while some may have “drip dry” easy care fur. Puppy grooming not only includes brushing your puppy, but it also can require bathing puppies, dog ear cleaning, eye care, claw clipping, anal gland attention, and even how to brush dogs teeth. These articles offer you all the information you need, including advice for keeping your puppy looking and feeling his or her best.
Dog’s PerspectiveBrushing and grooming can be hard for a puppy. You expect him to stay still, you expect him to tolerate having hair pulled, which can be painful when there are knots and tangles, the brush is new and unfamiliar, he has never been brushed before, it feels weird… there are so many things that a puppy might be uncomfortable with! Brushing your puppy is probably new, and maybe even frightening, experience for your puppy. If you have a long-haired puppy that needs a lot of work done to untangle hair, long sessions having hair pulled can be just too much for your new little friend. Several techniques to reassure your puppy can be employed, and even if there is a lot of work to be done, break it up into short sessions so as not to overwhelm your puppy.
Comb Step 1 Renforce touch Touch your puppy with open hands. Run your hands over his body, and when he hold still, say “yes”, and provide a treat. Step 2 Correct lack of cooperation If your puppy moves or avoids touching and handling say “no”, firmly, and “stay”. Step 3 Manipulate Manipulate limbs, touch your puppys belly and tail. Hold the puppy under the chin and around the collar area and touch armpits and tummy. Reinforce by saying “yes” and giving a treat if your puppy tolerates handling. Keep sessions short. If puppy gets restless, try to end on a positive note with reinforcement, then stop and try again later. Step 4 Reinforce brush Introduce the brush, let your puppy investigate. When he sniffs the brush, say “yes” and provide a treat. Step 5 Reinforce increased use of brush Start touching your puppys body with the brush or comb, then running it over his body, first upside down with the back touching him, then turn the brush over to bristle side down and stroke your puppy. At each step, reinforce your puppy for allowing you to touch him with the brush by saying “yes” and providing a treat. If your puppy seems nervous or afraid, go back to a previous step.
Comb Step 1 Pick a good time Exercise or walk your puppy to burn off energy, or pick a time when your puppy is relaxed, not tired, as this can make them irritable. Step 2 Cuddle and touch Cuddle your puppy on your lap and pet him, run your hand all over his body, down legs, belly, tail and around the face. Step 3 Introduce brush Introduce a soft brush. Regardless of puppy’s hair type, start with a soft brush. Let your puppy smell the brush, but do not let him bite it, if he tries to mouth the bush, say “no” firmly and push his face away, do not withdraw the brush as this will teach your puppy that biting the brush means you will take it away and brushing stops. Step 4 Use soft brush Gently run the soft brush all over your puppy’s body. Keep sessions short, two minutes or so. Repeat two or three times a day for several days. Step 5 Gradaully introduce other tools Gradually switch to a breed-appropriate brush, a pin brush or slicker brush, and introduce required grooming techniques, such as separating hair into sections or brushing against the grain, a little at a time. Introduce a comb and work out tangles with fingers as required.
Teaching Your Dog To Like Being Brushed
As a responsible pet parent, you know that at-home brushing between grooming appointments can help keep your dog’s coat clean and mat-free. But understanding how often you should brush your dog for purposes beyond just ensuring their coat does not become tangled, may seem more complicated. The good news is it’s not. Figuring out the length of time between at-home brushings depends on your dog’s coat type and length. Certain dog breeds need to be brushed more frequently than others because their hair is more prone to matting and shedding Don’t become overwhelmed! Dogs do not require daily brushing. Even dogs who require frequent at-home groomings for coat maintenance still usually only need to be brushed a few times each week. You cannot overbrush your dog, but you should be mindful of the types of grooming tools you’re using and watch out for signs of skin irritation such as redness or dryness. Along with helping maintain skin and coat health, brushing your dog regularly can help grow your bond, so feel free to get in some short, off-schedule sessions to connect with your dog and get them more comfortable with the process. Follow this table for an outline of how often you should brush your dog depending on their coat type: