( Puppy Intro, £35 )
Your puppy's first groom
A gentle introduction to the bath, the dryer and the clippers, so grooming becomes something your puppy is used to rather than something to dread.
( When to start )
Early, and gently.
Once your vet is happy that the vaccination course is complete, the sooner the better. Puppies who meet the salon young usually take later full grooms in their stride, because nothing about it is new: not the table, not the noise of the dryer, not someone handling their paws.
( What the intro covers )
A first visit, not a haircut.
- Gentle bath and dry
- Meeting the table, dryer and clippers
- Plenty of breaks
There's a four-week plan for preparing your puppy on the blog. The aim is confidence. Your puppy goes home clean and relaxed, having met everything a full groom involves without the full groom.
( How to prepare at home )
Little and often.
- Handle paws, ears and tail for a few seconds a day, with a treat.
- Brush for a minute a day so the brush is boring, not scary.
- Let your puppy hear a hairdryer from across the room now and then.
- Keep the morning of the visit calm: a walk, a wee, no big breakfast.
( After the intro )
Then the real grooms.
From there your puppy moves on to a Bath & Tidy or a Full Groom as the adult coat comes through. Most coats need a groom every six to eight weeks; Annabel will suggest what suits your puppy.
Puppy intros run at both salons: Hunstanton on Tuesday and Wednesday and King's Lynn on Friday and Saturday.
( Book a groom )
Book a Puppy Intro
Message Annabel with your puppy's breed, age and which salon suits you. She'll find a quiet slot for a first visit.