Puppy First Groom

What this visit is

A puppy’s first groom decides how they feel about grooming for the rest of their life, so we keep it short and heavily bribed. Your pup meets the table, the tub, the dryer sound and the clippers, all at their own speed and with treats at every station. We do a light bath, a face-feet-fanny tidy and nails if they’re comfortable, then stop while it’s still fun. Almost none of it is about the haircut.

Who it suits

Puppies from about twelve weeks, once their second vaccinations have settled, up to six months old. Older rescues meeting a grooming table for the first time are just as welcome — the format works for any animal with no good grooming memories yet. If your puppy is a breed that will need clipping every six weeks for the next fifteen years, the earlier we start this, the easier that entire stretch becomes for both of you.

How the time is spent

Forty-five minutes, and a good part of it is standing still being fed. Your pup meets the table, the tub, the dryer noise and the clippers as four separate introductions, in that order, and we stop at the first sign it stops being fun. Some puppies get through all four on the first go; plenty do not, and that is a completely normal result rather than a failed appointment. We will tell you honestly where they got to.

How often to come back

Every three to four weeks at first, which sounds like a lot but keeps the whole thing boring in the best possible way. Most puppies graduate to a relaxed full-length appointment by their third or fourth time here. Frequency matters far more than length at this stage — four short, easy visits will get you further than one long one they end up remembering for the wrong reasons.