What you do now will shape every groom that follows.
Let’s make those first grooming experiences calm and positive.
Calm, Confident Grooming Starts Here
Preparing Your Puppy for Professional Grooming
This simple, science-backed checklist will help your puppy become familiar with grooming in a calm, positive way. Setting them up for success early is crucial - they’ve got a lifetime of grooming ahead!
By following these short, reward-based activities, you’ll help your dog learn that handling, tools, and grooming sounds are nothing to fear. These gentle steps can make a huge difference to how your dog behaves at the groomer and reduce stress throughout their life.
Developed with Dr Fiona Patterson, a veterinarian and certified behaviourist dedicated to fear-free care and positive learning for dogs (and a dear friend of igroomhub!)
Learn more about her work at drfionadogtraining.com, and follow @drfionadogtraining on IG for free training tips.
Bring the Checklist to Life!
This checklist gives you the structure.
Preparing Your Puppy for Professional Grooming shows you exactly how to do it.
Inside this short online course, you’ll see real demonstrations, guided handling exercises, and step-by-step examples of how to build confidence with touch, tools, sounds and positioning.
If you want to feel confident that you’re preparing your puppy correctly, the course brings this plan to life. You can also explore our free igroomdiy brushing and nail trimming tutorials for in-between support while your puppy builds confidence.
Positive Tool Introduction
Introducing dryers, brushes and clippers gradually and without pressure.
Early Touch & Handling
Helping puppies become comfortable with feet, ears, face and body handling.
Shared Responsibility
Owners preparing at home so groomers can build confidence, not manage fear.
Calm Grooming Environment
Teaching puppies that grooming spaces and sounds are safe.
Why We Created This
No one wants drama in the grooming room.
You don’t want your puppy overwhelmed, and you don’t want to feel unsure about what should have happened earlier.
We created this guide because we see the same pattern every day: puppies arriving for their first groom without any preparation, owners feeling anxious, and groomers left to manage stress that could have been prevented.
First grooms shape a dog’s future relationship with grooming. When preparation happens at home, calmly and consistently, everything changes. Appointments are smoother. Puppies cope better. Owners feel confident. Groomers can do their job properly.
We’re on a mission to make those early experiences positive, not reactive. To set puppies up for a lifetime of calm, professional care.
You do not have to do it perfectly. Just start. Small steps now make a big difference later.