The first year with your dog is a year filled with exciting firsts, as well as challenging milestones. You are probably wondering what sort of changes you will have to make to your lifestyle with a new puppy, i.e., will they need to be drastic, how much attention and training does my dog need, and where do I begin? Don’t worry, we’ve got you!
Discuss what your breeder or rescue is currently doing for the care of your puppy, set proper expectations.
Two Weeks Prior:
Matting occurs when a dog’s hair next to the skin gets knotted, tangled in clumps masses. If un-brushed, the clump gets bigger, tighter, and closer to the body. This can be caused by a lack of brushing, wet coats that have not been brushed out or dried properly, or a harness or collar that continually rubs against a dog’s fur. It is important your dog stays mat free as it can cause health issues like stress from licking and biting at the area, leading to general discomfort. Fleas and parasites might be hiding in their coat, which might cause sores, lesions, bruising, or discolored skin. The matted hair might also be hiding hot spots, and other skin infections. Unchecked, those areas can get bigger and spread. This could lead to the dreaded shave down.
Simply put, matting is painful for your dog and brushing out established matts involves a process of pulling live hair out of the skin as healthy hair is encase in the matting. De-matting can cause increase pain and irritation, redness, and swelling.
What does it feel like to brush it out? Imagine a painful knot you’ve had to brush out of your own hair. Now imagine that you don’t understand what’s causing that pain. And to top it off, its on sensitive areas of your body like behind your ears, or in your armpits or on your chest. Yikes!
If the matting is somewhat loose and not close to the skin, it may be possible to brush through and remove some areas. This process is usually painful and stressful for most dogs. The kindest way to remove matting is the dreaded shave down, whether the matting is sparse or covers the dog. Shaving out the matting is not an easy fix! The clippers the groomers use get hot, which can cause further irritation. The matting might pull on the skin as it’s being taken off, which increases the likelihood of nicks. The best thing to do is to avoid matting in the first place, and maintain a healthy and knot free coat.
This week, we’re going to discuss your puppy’s hygiene. Hygiene is vital to your dog’s overall health and well-being. Not only do you want your dog to smell, look, and feel clean at all times, you also prevent numerous diseases and harmful parasites when you keep your puppy groomed and fresh.
Some key hygiene pointers to stay aware of:
Great news! Biscuits & Bath offers a 20% discount on dog grooming for puppies under 8 months on both haircuts and baths! If you set up a standing appointment, you’ll always get the time slot and groomer you love, every time!
Dog Grooming: Ear Cleaning
To acclimate your pup to the ear cleaning process, practice playing with and handling your dog’s ears gently. Reinforcing good behavior with treats while you carefully massage the inside of the ear is one of the easiest ways to get your dog comfortable with the sensation of ear cleaning. Once your pup is comfortable, repeat the process with cotton balls. It is recommended that you check in with your vet or groomer to get recommended ear-cleaning products that suit your dog. Engaging in frequent ear cleanings will insure that your pup’s ears are free of uncomfortable wax, hair and debris, but more importantly will help you to understand what a healthy ear looks like, which will help you to identify when your dog is uncomfortable.
Dog Grooming: Teeth Brushing
Doggie dental hygiene is an often-overlooked aspect of the dog grooming process, with around 80% of dogs suffering from some type of dental disease. Cleaning your pup’s teeth is often easiest when they are tired and calm. Sitting comfortably with your dog’s head resting (facing away from you) on your lap. Using some form of pup-friendly toothpaste, gently rub the gum and the base of the tooth. Once your dog is comfortable with the taste of the toothpaste and the rubbing sensation, it is time to upgrade to a soft children’s brush or a brush designed especially for dogs. There is no need to ever pry your dog’s mouth open, just gentle brushing on the outside of the teeth works wonders.
Dog Grooming: Nail Trimming
Trimming a pup’s nails is similar to ear cleaning in the sense that they both require a certain level of trust and comfort having a specific body part handled. Again, the best way to acclimate your dog is through repetition and positive reinforcement. When your pup is comfortable with you handling their paws, you are well on your way to safe and easy nail trimming. Always go about trimming the claw paw up, and be sure to watch for the “quick” (the visible and sensitive nerve bundle at the base of the nail). Knowing where the quick is can be difficult on dogs with black nails, but as long as you are not cutting too short, your pup should be comfortable. It is also important to remember the dew claw, which is located on the upper inner surface of the paw.