“There’s a lot to learn when you’re a new dog owner,” said Liz Sand, owner of LuLu & Luigi, with two locations in St. Louis Park (retail) and Wayzata (retail/salon), Minn.

“We always tell [puppy owners] to start bringing them to a groomer when they have all their shots – at about 12 weeks old.”

At-home training makes a trip to your salon a lot more pleasant for the animal. Work with the owner on conditioning a young dog to tolerate the grooming routine. Make sure to recommend strategies and locations for at-home training that will closely mimic your grooming salon setup.

“I always say to [groom] off the floor and off their lap – maybe on the counter or on top of the dryer,” Sand said. “Put a non-slip bath mat down. It’s easier on your back and they get used to it, because if they’re going to the groomer, that’s how it is.”

Making the experience as pleasant as possible at home will make the professional routine an enjoyable one.

“Brush them out before you give them a bath and then brush them out after you give them a bath,” Sand Said. “If they have any mats in their hair, before you get them wet, the mats are just going to get worse. You want to make sure the mats are out before you bathe them.”

Early grooming is also essential for later, adult coat appearance. If a young dog has not been acclimated to early grooming, they will never tolerate the extensive grooming required if the owner desires a long, flowing adult coat.

“We do a, ‘puppy’s first visit,’” Sand Said. “We ask the owner, ‘What kind of coat are you looking to get?’ We work toward that goal. You want to be able to train the coat to go into a particular style, so [customers] definitely need to start them when they are younger.” <HOME>