Pet Spa
Wigs
Puppy Grooming
Booking a puppy groom early makes all the difference - it's vital to set up puppies for a lifetime of happy, stress-free grooming by getting them in the right salon, early and often. We often get puppy parents in with lots of questions so we're here to answer some of those for you!
Puppy Tidies at Wigs
A puppy groom consists of the same things as a Bath & Tidy - shampoo and condition, full brush out, a tidy of their eyes, feet and sanitary area, nail trim, ear clean and pluck if needed, conditioning serum, perfume.
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We can start grooming puppies once their vaccinations are complete. For breeds that need all over trims, it's important to get a few Puppy Grooms under our belt before opting for the Full Groom so that we can give them a slow, gentle introduction to all the new sounds, smells and sensations of grooming without overwhelming them. For a baby, the water, buzzing clippers, new smells, noisy dryers and handling can all feel a bit alien, so these sessions aim to get them used to the process at a gentle pace.
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We focus on short, positive sessions, desensitising them to the grooming tools and handling, bonding with their groomer (we're always happy to cuddle a puppy!) and feeling comfortable in the salon and on the table. We always ensure breaks for playtime, exploration or a much needed nap.
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We recommend puppy tidies monthly in order to build their comfort and confidence before the Full Groom. The first Full Groom will usually be around 6-9 months old, we will advise when we feel they are relaxed, confident and ready for their first Full Groom.
What can you do at home?
If we groom your dog for 2 hours every 8 weeks, we will see your dog less than 0.2% of their life. Dogs learn best with consistency, it's essential to set them up for the best start at home first!
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Acclimatise them at home in their safest environment - you can work on touching and holding their paws, looking in their ears and mouth, holding their head, legs and tail. It's important to go slowly and provide lots of praise and treats - puppies thrive with positive reinforcement, patience and care.
Brush your pup regularly - especially if they have a longer coat! We want to avoid any matting so regular brushing is particularly important for curly coats, keeping the coat knot-free allows for you to keep a longer haircut and means we can introduce them to clippers at a pace that suits them, rather than having to shave them down before they're ready. If you need any help with tools, we're happy to advise!
Getting their nails trimmed by a professional gives them the best likelihood of not getting quicked and having a bad experience, and early desensitising paw touching will help them with stress-free nail trims for life.
Get them really comfortable with handling and brushing to build their confidence, teach them it's normal and enjoyable and make the grooming salon a relaxing place to be!
