As a general Bark Road approach, we prefer not to rush puppies into a full haircut and will consider their age, breed, coat development and individual needs.

Around the first six months, many puppies begin transitioning from their softer puppy coat towards their adult coat, although the timing varies considerably between breeds and individual dogs.

Before then, we can still introduce them to grooming and, where appropriate, tidy areas such as around their eyes, feet and sanitary areas.

Those early appointments are much more about learning how to be groomed than needing a complete hairstyle.

Socialisation isn’t only about meeting other dogs and people.

Your puppy also needs to learn about the experiences they’ll encounter throughout their life — and for many dogs, professional grooming will be one of them.

Think about everything involved in a groom: running water, a loud dryer, vibrating clippers, scissors, brushes, nail clippers, standing on a grooming table and having a stranger touch their feet, face, ears and tail.

If the first time they experience all of that is when they’re older, covered in coat and desperately need a haircut, it can be incredibly overwhelming.

Introducing these sensations gradually while they’re young helps teach them that grooming is simply another normal part of life.

Lots — and you don’t need grooming equipment to do it.

Regularly and gently handle the areas a groomer will eventually need to work with. Touch and hold their paws. Gently separate their toes and touch their paw pads. Handle their ears, chin, muzzle, legs and tail.

Introduce brushing in short sessions rather than waiting until their coat actually needs a big brush.

You can also gradually introduce the sound of a hair dryer from a comfortable distance. Start quietly and further away rather than immediately pointing a dryer at your puppy.

Keep everything short, calm and positive. A few seconds followed by praise, play or a treat is much more useful than forcing your puppy through a long session they hate.

You can help introduce your puppy to the sensation of vibration without actually clipping their coat.

Something like an electric toothbrush or another small, safe vibrating household item can help mimic some of the sensation they’ll eventually experience from grooming clippers.

With the item switched on, start by letting your puppy hear it from a distance. Once they’re comfortable, you can gradually bring it closer and gently place the body or handle of the item against areas such as their body or legs for a second or two.

Over time, you can work towards areas that dogs can be more sensitive about, such as around the paws.

Don’t use the moving brush head on your puppy, don’t place vibrating items near their eyes or inside their ears, and never force them to tolerate it.

The idea isn’t to recreate an entire groom at home. It’s simply to make “something buzzes and touches me” much less surprising when they eventually meet the clippers.

That’s exactly why it’s worth practising while they’re young.

Start small. If your puppy doesn’t like having their paw held, don’t immediately hold it for 30 seconds and start playing with every toe.

Touch the leg. Reward.
Touch the paw. Reward.
Hold the paw briefly. Reward.

Eventually, introduce touching between the toes and around the paw pads.

You can use the same gradual approach with their face, ears, tail, brushing, dryers and other grooming sensations.

If your puppy pulls away, becomes frightened or is clearly uncomfortable, make the exercise easier rather than forcing them through it.

The goal isn’t to teach your puppy that they can’t escape. It’s to teach them that there’s nothing they need to escape from.