I just got a new puppy, When should I start grooming him/her?

Are you prepared for the routine care that is essential to keep your new puppy's skin and coat healthy? Regular dog grooming is an important component of any dog's health no matter if your dog has long or short coat. To make sure your pet enjoys a life-long routine of good grooming, it is important to introduce your puppy Very early to brushing and bathing and other care basics. Normally the proper age is right at 8 weeks of age.

Start even if there is nothing to start with
Even if there is only a fuzz of hair, the puppy should be introduced to the brush and comb. Don't expect puppy to sit still for grooming until he has learned to be handled on all parts of his body. Comfy Couch Pet Services recommend beginning by stroking your pet's favorite spots, such as belly or ears. When she has relaxed into enjoying this, begin to massage other areas, including paws, hocks, tail and thighs. Be sure to praise your pet for lying quietly.

Expect the protest of the puppy
Once your puppy is comfortable with being touched, you can introduce the brush. Keep in mind that a puppy is very much like a child, they are young and have short attention spans and are unable to soak lots of information in all at one time. Keep your initial grooming sessions short; however, ABSALUTELY DO NOT end a session just because the puppy complains, whines or fights to get away.

You should continue, despite wiggles and squeaks, otherwise your puppy will learn that squealing and nipping will get him his own way. It's important that you, the owner, decide when to end the grooming session.

It's also important to remember that good grooming is more than just brushing. Care of the nails, eyes and ears should be part of the regular grooming routine. Even if early grooming sessions are brief, be sure to check your dog's toes and pads, examine his teeth and gums, and lift his tail to check the anal area.

First visit to the Groomer
Scheduling your first visit to the Groomer as soon as the puppy's vaccinations are completed. You should plan your puppy's first visit during a non-holiday period, so the Groomer can take his or her time with your pet. During the first visit, the Groomer should not do anything that will intimidate your pet. The initial session should be focused on acclimatization and conditioning. The Groomer should talk with you about the puppy's personality, your home grooming routine and your expectations. The professional can also recommend the right tools and products for use at home.

How often your pet needs to visit the professional Groomer will be depend, in large part, upon how much you want to handle yourself at home. If there are tasks you can not or do not want to undertake, it's a good idea to schedule a regular appointment with your Groomer. Grooming is a visible expression of your love for your pet. Starting early and establishing lifelong routine will contribute to your pet's health and well-being.

To Ear or not to Ear

Just about any dog alive just loves being scratched behind the ears. But short or long, soft or bristly the nasty bacteria, mites and wax could be lurking inside those ears, resulting in painful ear infections. If these problems are left untreated, ear infections could lead to deafness. So maintaining healthy ears should be part of every pet's grooming routine.

Bacteria thrive in moist, warm places such as ear canal. A Professional Groomer will routinely examine a pet's ears for odor, tenderness, inflammation and appearance. Part of the grooming process may include swabbing the ears with an ear cleaning product made specifically for that purpose. If there is excessive dirt or discharge that may require more attention, or even warrant a visit to the veterinarian, the Pet Groomer will inform the pet owner.

Detecting ear problems
Most dogs will let you know when an ear problem is developing you just have to pay attention to your dog. If your pet is suddenly not responding to audible cues, trouble may be brewing inside his ears. He may be scratching at his ears or rubbing them on the floor. Since the ears contain a dog's balance control center, the dog may frequently shake or tilt his head, or may even appear dizzy.

An unhealthy ear will often have an unpleasant odor as well. You should know the normal, healthy scent of your pet's ears. A reddish-brown or even black waxy discharge may indicate a problem. Ear mites, a crab-like parasite that feeds on wax, will cause intense itching and a brown crusty discharge. If you suspect your pet may be suffering from these nasty creatures, see your vet immediately.

To pluck or not to pluck
Breeds such as hounds, cocker spaniels and other floppy eared dogs are especially prone to problems because air can't circulate properly. Other breeds actually grow hair inside the ear canal such as the Poodle, Shih-tzu and Bichon. Keeping the hair short on and around the ear allows more air to reach the ear canal and keeps the internal ear drier.

Veterinary opinions differ on whether the hair inside the ear should be plucked or not. Certainly making sure that the air is not blocked by excessive hair growth may promote better ear hygiene, but some modern thinking is that plucking of ear hair by the roots can trigger irritation and scratching, and actually creates an entry point for bacteria. The best course is to gently remove overgrowth, but refrain from extensive pulling and plucking.

Just a bit of prevention
Hearing is one of the most highly-developed senses in dogs. They can hear sounds at frequencies up to three times higher than humans. Taking care of your pets sensitive ears means including ear cleaning as part of your pet’s regular grooming routine. Your Groomer can help you decide which products are best for your pet, so you can be sure your pet is hearing all the praise you give him.