Most dogs at some point will need grooming at some point in their life, so we always recommend bringing pups in as soon as they are vaccinated as this helps to get them used to the process early on and desensitise. That way by the time your pup is ready for a full groom, they are thinking "oh yes, I remember this, I feel safe!" and not "Oh my god! this is terrifying! I need to get away!"
A lot of owners of large breed dogs in particular (e.g labradors and German shepherds) think that it's best to wait until they are actually fully grown, moulting and physically need a groom to bring them in, but quite often this makes it much harder for both us and the dog. large breeds can be very strong and powerful, so bringing them in when they are small helps us get them used to it when we are still able to cuddle and reassure them. We can also start off with quieter and less powerful dryers and work on building them up to the high velocity dryers they need to remove the dead coat over time.
- Introductory Puppy Wash (we recommend this as soon as pups are vaccinated)
- Second Puppy Wash (or upgrade this for £10 to a full groom)
Info leaflets
- 10% Off treats and raw voucher
- Complimentary 200g sample of raw mince from @naturalanimalnutrition
- Complimentary 100g Sample bag of natural grain free kibble
- Puppy post groom photoshoot
- Complimentary bow tie
Please note that for large breeds such as newfoundlands, german shepherds, bernese etc that the second wash service will be classed as a full groom and you will need to pay the £10 upgrade.
PUPPY PACKAGES FOR JUST £55.00 (worth £65+)
These packages are available for pups from 2-6 months and will include:
As much as getting a dog groomer is important, it is also just as vital (if not more vital) that you learn to maintain your dogs coat at home between grooms from a young age. It's important to build them up to these things and make it rewarding, but also make sure they know that you're the boss!
When you first brush your puppy they are likely to:
- Cry
- Bite the brush
- Try and run away
These are all normal things, so it is important to persevere but also reassure them, Speak calmly but try not to use high pitch tones that are going to cause excitement as this will make your job harder. Find a space in the house that is going to be their grooming area - a high surface like a table is good as this will also help them when at the groomers or vets. A lot of people try to brush them on the sofa, and whilst dogs that enjoy being brushed don't mind this, dogs that aren't the biggest fan won't be best pleased - the sofa is their cuddle and chill zone, so by having a seperate place where you stand them, they will soon learn that this is an area they must stand and let you brush.
When you first start with the brush, brush softly, whilst they are young they shouldn't need much actual brushing, so this stage is to get them used to the feel of the brush. As they get used to the brushing, you can start to brush with more intent, if they are a curly coated dog such as a poodle, cockapoo, bichon etc you will need to hold the fur up and brush from the root to make sure you get all areas. You can find more information on what brushes to use and how to use them on our brushing page
You should also work with them to get them used to bathing, hair dryers and chin holding (this is what us groomers do in order to keep the face still when we scissor trim the eyes and muzzle areas!) Remember not to bathe too frequently (no more than fortnightly unless they need something washed off them!) as this can reduce the natural oils in the coat. Wet hair also matts much easier so its important with curly coats that they are well brushed straight after a bath! When working with pups and hair dryers, try not to make it a game as this will encourage them to bite the hair dryer when being groomed. Have the dryer on a low heat and low power and start with it further away - or even start by having them in the room whilst you dry your hair! When holding the chin, just simply pinch a small section of the fur under the beard area with one hand and fuss them with the other. This is something that pups can understandably find intimidating to start with so by doing this and fussing and also rewarding with treats, they will soon learn that this isn't something they need to be afraid of!
The important thing to remember with puppies when introducing them to anything is:
Introduce early
Ease them into it
Reward and reassure
