Preparing Your Pooch for His First Dog Groomer Visit

Regular grooming is an essential part of caring for your dog properly. Your groomer will help you keep your dog clean and healthy. You can make both your dog's life and your groomer's job a lot easier by doing some work with your dog at home before he ever sets foot in the grooming parlor.

  1. Don't Neglect Your Grooming Duties

    • Grooming keeps your dog clean, can help you catch medical problems early on and is just a basic part of providing adequate care for your dog. While serious grooming often requires a groomer, you don't need to be a professional to brush your dog and keep him reasonably clean. You likely care for your own hair every day regardless of whether or not you have a hairdresser appointment. Your dog shouldn't be treated any different. A matted dog who has never felt water on his skin or seen a brush before is going to be confused and possibly frightened the first time he sets foot inside a grooming parlor. Do not make your groomer's job harder; spend a few minutes a day grooming your dog so that he is reasonably clean and has some idea of what is going on when he goes to the groomer for the first time.

    Get Up To Date

    • Make sure you have a copy of your dog's up-to-date shot record with you when you take him to the groomer for the first time. All reputable groomers are going to require veterinary records as proof that your dog has received his shots and is healthy enough to be around other dogs.

    Decide What You Want

    • Don't walk into your grooming appointment blind. Figure out what services you want your dog to receive from the groomer and make sure the groomer is aware of, and able to meet, your expectations. For example, if your dog needs to be flea-dipped or treated with a specialized medication for a skin condition, the groomer needs to be aware of that ahead of time. If your dog needs a specialized haircut as well as his nails clipped, your groomer needs to know that when you schedule your appointment to ensure that she schedules enough time to properly give your dog the grooming he needs.

    Know Your Dog

    • Your dog is an individual and you need to take that into consideration before you send him to the groomer for the first time. Take your time choosing a groomer who you believe will be able to work well with your dog's physical and mental needs. If your dog has medical concerns, make sure those will be met or worked around by the groomer. Some dogs need to be groomed at veterinary clinics due to health problems. If your dog is aggressive, either work with a trainer to help socialize him or be prepared to sedate or muzzle him before he goes for grooming. Warn your groomer ahead of time if you believe your dog is going to have problems at the groomer's.