Pets

At what age should I start grooming my dog to get him used to it?

Start grooming your dog from day one for a positive experience

Hi everybody, the question is, at what age should I start grooming my dog to help get him used to it? Answer, as soon as they come home. But we want to make sure that we take grooming at the pace that the dog is ready for. So we want to watch their body language, make sure that they seem comfortable, watch for things like leaning away, looking away, shaking off when they're not wet, licking their lips when we're not providing food, folding their ears or looking a little bit sad in the face. If we see those things, that tells us that we're progressing a little bit quicker than we should. Start slow, start small, and also pair it with something that your pet really, really likes. So if we have a dog who really likes treats, we're going to show the brush, provide a treat. Show the nail clippers, provide a treat. Show the brush, go a few inches closer, provide a treat. Show the brush, pet the area that we're going to brush, provide a treat. And that way we set up this beautiful prediction where when they see the equipment and they feel us handle their body, they receive something that they really like. And that's going to prompt these awesome positive emotions around grooming and handling. This is my specific area of interest is providing body handling, grooming, and veterinary care for animals in a preventive way when they're nice and young. So start on the first day with body handling and grooming.

Start with body handling and grooming as soon as your dog comes home. Start slow and small, and pair it with something that your pet likes (e.g. treats). Watch for signs of stress in your pet, such as leaning away, looking away, licking their lips, folding their ears, or looking sad. This will help to ensure that you are taking the grooming process at a pace that your pet is comfortable with.

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When it comes to grooming your dog and getting them used to it, the ideal time to start is as soon as they come home. However, it's important to approach grooming at a pace that suits your dog's comfort level. Pay attention to their body language and look out for signs like leaning away, looking away, shaking off when not wet, licking their lips without food present, or appearing sad in the face. These indicators suggest that you may be progressing too quickly.

To help your dog adjust to grooming, start slow and start small. Additionally, associate grooming with something your pet loves. For example, show them the brush and provide a treat. Show them the nail clippers and provide a treat. Gradually bring the brush closer while giving treats. Eventually, pet the area you plan to brush and reward them with treats. This creates a positive association between seeing the grooming equipment and receiving something enjoyable.

As someone who specializes in providing preventive care for animals through body handling, grooming, and veterinary practices, I highly recommend starting on day one with gentle body handling and grooming exercises. By establishing these positive experiences early on, you can promote a lifetime of comfortable grooming sessions for your furry friend.

Hi Monique! Tell people about your background, expertise, and how you can help.

Meet Monique: A Veterinary Expert Solving Pet Behavior Challenges

Hi everybody, I am Monique Fairchild. I am a veterinary technician and technician specialist in animal behavior. I'm here to answer your training questions, behavior questions, behavior modification questions. I'm most specifically here to answer your cooperative veterinary care and husbandry questions. How do we get dogs and cats to let us trim their nails, receive an injection, get a checkup at the veterinary hospital, receive treatments at home, take a pill? I'm here to help answer those questions so that our pets can get the very best care possible. So feel free to send them to me right here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and I look forward to getting some awesome questions and giving some helpful answers.

I am Monique, a veterinary technician and technician specialist in animal behavior. I'm here to answer your questions about cooperative veterinary care, husbandry, and behavior modification. Specifically, I can help you with questions about how to get dogs and cats to let us trim their nails, receive an injection, get a check-up at the veterinary hospital, receive treatments at home, and take a pill.

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Hello everyone! I'm Monique Fairchild, a veterinary technician and technician specialist in animal behavior. I specialize in training, behavior modification, and cooperative veterinary care. My expertise lies in helping animals feel more comfortable during nail trims, injections, checkups, treatments at home, and even taking pills. I'm passionate about ensuring that our pets receive the best possible care. So please feel free to send me your questions, and I'll be more than happy to provide helpful answers. Greetings from the beautiful Pacific Northwest!

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Pacific Northwest native Monique moved to WA in 1995. Her interest in animal behavior & training began with her first dog, Baby. Monique apprenticed with a local trainer & worked as a veterinary assistant. She offers in-home consultations & group classes, & is a licensed veterinary technician & VTS in Behavior. She speaks on topics related to animal behavior & veterinary care, & authored a book & textbook chapters. Monique trains & competes with her own dogs, & volunteers with PAWS Wildlife Center & Aussie Rescue Placement Helpline. She shares her home with 2 dogs, 1 cat, an African Grey parrot, a Mexican Rosy Boa & a supportive husband. Her beloved teaching partners live on in the hearts of their many friends.

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Monique Feyrecilde