Grooming a Senior Dog – Top Tips
August 15, 2026
Grooming a puppy should begin as soon as they settle into their new home—not necessarily with a full bath or haircut, but with short, positive introductions to being touched, brushed and handled.
Taking this gradual approach can help your puppy feel safer during brushing, bathing, nail trimming and professional grooming throughout their life. It can also make the experience less stressful for your puppy, you and your groomer.
Some dogs may be genetically predisposed to anxiety, while fear can also develop through stressful or frightening experiences. A puppy’s critical period of development is particularly important, so their early grooming experiences should be gentle, predictable and positive.
If your puppy or adult dog is already fearful of grooming, tell your groomer before the appointment. An experienced groomer can adapt their approach, allow more time and help keep the experience as comfortable as possible. A qualified reward-based trainer or veterinary behaviour professional can also help you safely desensitise your dog to grooming.
Grooming involves many sensations a puppy may initially find unfamiliar: having their paws, ears and face touched; standing on a grooming table; hearing clippers, scissors or a dryer; and feeling water, brushes and combs on their body.
Introducing these experiences in short sessions, paired with treats, praise or another reward your puppy enjoys, can help build a positive association. The aim is not to complete every grooming task immediately. It is to teach your puppy that grooming is safe and that calm cooperation is rewarding.
Watch your puppy’s body language and stop or make the exercise easier if they appear worried. Signs of discomfort can include turning away, repeatedly licking their lips, yawning, freezing, trembling, trying to escape, growling or refusing treats.
Rather than making your puppy’s first visit a long, full groom, ask your chosen groomer whether they offer a puppy introduction or short meet-and-greet appointment.
The first session might include exploring the salon, receiving treats, standing briefly on the table, having a gentle brush or completing a small tidy-up or nail trim. A short, successful experience can be far more valuable than pushing a puppy through a lengthy appointment when they are overwhelmed.
Before booking, research groomers experienced in working gently with puppies and anxious dogs. Let them know about any fears, health conditions, handling sensitivities or previous negative experiences.
The following exercises can help prepare a puppy for grooming. Keep sessions short – sometimes only a few seconds – and finish while your puppy is still relaxed.
Get Your Puppy Comfortable With Paw Handling
Gently touching and massaging your puppy’s paws can prepare them for nail cutting, paw checks and grooming salon visits.
Start by briefly touching their shoulder or upper leg, then reward them. Gradually work down towards the paw over several sessions. Once your puppy is comfortable, briefly hold a paw, touch individual toes and gently massage between the pads, rewarding relaxed behaviour as you go.
Do not tightly restrain your puppy or continue if they repeatedly pull away. Reduce the intensity of the exercise and progress at a pace they can manage.
Prepare Your Puppy for Face Grooming
Grooming around the face requires great care because sharp tools may be used near the eyes and ears. Teaching your puppy to remain comfortable with gentle face and chin handling can reduce the risk of grooming injuries.
Begin by gently touching under your puppy’s chin and rewarding them for staying relaxed. Gradually build up to briefly holding the fur beneath the chin, touching around the muzzle and carefully handling the outside of the ears.
You can introduce grooming sounds from a comfortable distance – for example, opening and closing scissors well away from your puppy’s face – while offering treats. If they remain relaxed, gradually reduce the distance across multiple sessions. Never wave, snap or play with scissors near your puppy.
Unless you have the skills and your puppy is completely comfortable and still, leave trimming around the eyes and face to a professional groomer.
Use Positive Reinforcement During Puppy Grooming
Pair grooming and handling with something your puppy values, such as small treats, calm praise or a lick mat. Reward them for choosing to stay, standing or sitting calmly, and allowing brief handling.
Fear is an emotional response, not “bad behaviour”. Comforting a frightened puppy will not reward them for feeling afraid. However, if your puppy is struggling, trying to escape or becoming more distressed, pause the session rather than forcing them to continue. Next time, make the exercise shorter or easier.
This gradual process, exposing your puppy to a very mild version of the experience while creating a positive association, can help prevent anxiety around grooming.
How to Bathe a Puppy at Home
When bathing a puppy, the goal is to help them feel safe around water rather than rushing through the process.
Use a bath, sink or stable plastic tub that comfortably fits your puppy. Place a non-slip mat or towel on the bottom so their feet do not slide, and use lukewarm water. You only need a shallow amount of water; never leave a puppy unattended in a bath.
Gently introduce your puppy’s feet to the water and reward them if they remain comfortable. If they become worried, allow them to step out and try again more gradually rather than holding them in place until they stop struggling.
A lick mat with a small amount of dog-safe food can provide a positive distraction. If using unsweetened and unsalted peanut butter, check that it does not contain xylitol – also known as birch sugar – which is toxic to dogs.
Gently wet your puppy’s body while avoiding their eyes and ears. A damp face washer can be used to carefully clean the face. Apply a small amount of puppy-appropriate shampoo, massage it gently through the coat and rinse thoroughly, as shampoo residue can irritate the skin.
Never tease a puppy with a hose or use a water spray bottle as punishment. This can create fear of water and make future bathing and grooming much harder.
How to Dry Your Puppy After a Bath
For the first few baths, gently towel drying your puppy may be enough, provided they can then remain somewhere warm and free from draughts until fully dry.
Long or thick coats may need additional drying to prevent tangles and dampness close to the skin. If you introduce a hairdryer, begin with it switched on at a distance using the lowest heat and airflow settings. Reward your puppy for remaining relaxed and only move closer gradually over several sessions.
Keep the dryer moving, avoid directing heat towards the face or ears, and frequently check that the air is not too hot. Stop if your puppy shows signs of fear. Never chase or tease them with the dryer, as this can create a lasting negative association.
For long-coated puppies, apply a dog-safe detangling product if needed and gently comb the coat so knots do not tighten as the hair dries.
How to Brush a Puppy
A brush can feel strange or even frightening to a puppy at first, so introduce it slowly.
Let your puppy investigate the brush, then reward them. Briefly touch the brush to their body without brushing, reward again, and gradually introduce one or two gentle strokes. Build up the length of each session as your puppy becomes more comfortable.
Use a brush or comb suited to your puppy’s coat type and brush regularly enough to prevent knots and matted hair. Do not repeatedly drag a brush through a knot, as this pulls on the skin and can make grooming painful.
For a small tangle, hold the hair close to the skin to reduce pulling and gently work from the end of the hair towards the base with an appropriate comb. If the coat is badly matted, contact a professional groomer. Trying to cut out mats with scissors at home can easily injure the skin, which may be pulled up tightly inside the mat.
Always use grooming products and tools designed for dogs, including:
Human shampoos are not formulated for a dog’s skin and can cause irritation. Sharp grooming tools, including scissors and clippers, should only be used if you have the necessary skills and your puppy can remain safely still.
Your groomer can recommend the best brush, comb and grooming schedule for your puppy’s breed and coat type.
Early puppy grooming is about building trust, not achieving a perfect haircut. Practise handling, brushing and grooming sounds regularly in very short, positive sessions, and introduce the salon before your puppy needs a major groom.
Starting early can help your puppy learn that grooming is a normal and safe part of life. With patience, positive reinforcement and the support of a gentle professional groomer, you can make grooming more comfortable for everyone involved.
When should a puppy have their first groom?
Begin gentle handling and brushing as soon as your puppy has settled into your home. Ask your groomer when a salon visit is appropriate for your puppy’s coat and vaccination status. An introductory visit before a full groom can help create a positive association.
How often should I groom my puppy?
That depends on their coat type. Long, curly, silky and double coats often need more frequent brushing than short coats. Brief handling exercises can be practised most days, while bathing should be based on your puppy’s needs and veterinary or grooming advice.
How do I calm a puppy during grooming?
Use short sessions, a non-slip surface and high-value rewards. Introduce one grooming step at a time and stop before your puppy becomes overwhelmed. If they are fearful, seek help from an experienced groomer or qualified reward-based trainer. Natural calming supplements like Zylkene may also help.
What should I do if my puppy hates being brushed?
When grooming a puppy, check that the brush is suitable and that grooming is not painful because of knots, mats or a skin problem. Reintroduce the brush gradually, beginning with seeing and touching it before progressing to single gentle strokes paired with rewards. Here’s some tips to stop a puppy biting the brush.
No. Human shampoo is not formulated for a dog’s skin and may cause dryness or irritation. Use a gentle shampoo specifically designed for puppies or dogs like those found in the DGG range.
Should I cut mats out of my puppy’s coat?
It is safer to ask a professional groomer to remove tight mats. Dog skin can be pulled up inside a mat, making it easy to accidentally cut the skin with scissors.
Check out the Doggone Gorgeous website to help you with your grooming needs, and to download their free grooming e-book.
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