Puppy Grooming 2025: Vet Guide to Bathing, Brushing & Nail Care 🐶🛁

By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc

Grooming isn’t just about looks—it lays the foundation for hygiene, comfort, and lifelong puppy trust. Starting professional, vet-approved grooming routines early builds confidence, reduces stress, and helps you spot bumps, skin issues, or infections before they escalate. This guide covers safe, stress-free approaches to bath-time, brushing,

1. 🍼 When to Begin Grooming

• Begin gentle handling—paws, ears, coat—at 8 weeks to build comfort.
• Brush-training and paw dipping start once home, before vaccinations. First full bath or salon visit around 16 weeks, post-shots.

2. 🪥 Brushing Basics by Coat Type

Brushing removes loose hair, distributes oils, and keeps mats at bay. Frequency depends on coat:

• Long/Silky coats: Daily brushing with a slicker brush & comb.
• Double coats: 2–3× weekly to clear undercoat, reduce shedding.
• Short coats: Weekly brushing with a rubber/bristle brush.

Technique: Always let the puppy sniff and feel the brushes first. Brush body gently, then legs, belly, ears, tail. For mats, support skin and use firm but gentle strokes—never tug.

3. 🛁 Safe Bathing Routine

Puppies generally need baths every 3–4 weeks or less if clean.

1. Brush first—loose hair clogs drains.
2. Use lukewarm water (few inches), protect ears and eyes.
3. Apply puppy-specific, pH-balanced shampoo (e.g., oatmeal/aloe).
4. Rinse thoroughly to prevent irritation.
   

Bath-time bonding tip: offer Woopf hidden treats in a slow feeder toy while drying to keep it positive.

4. ✂️ Nail Trimming Essentials

Long nails can hurt joints or break. Trim every 3–4 weeks or when they reach floor level.

• Use dog clippers or grinder; trim just beyond nail tip—avoid the “quick”.
• If bleeding occurs, use styptic powder. Reward the puppy and proceed minimally.
  

5. 👂 Ear Care Routine

Check and clean ears weekly—especially floppy-eared breeds :

1. Apply ear-cleaning solution to a cotton ball.
2. Gently clean the inner ear; avoid inserting deep into the canal.
3. End with a head rub to stimulate shaking and remove debris.

6. 🦷 Dental & Facial Care

• Brush teeth daily or 3× per week with dog toothpaste.
• Use wipes and dental toys to supplement. Check lips, whiskers, and facial folds.

7. 🧼 Coat Trims & Styling

For breeds requiring trims (Poodles, Doodles, Corgis), introduce clippers/scissors gradually at ~10–14 weeks.

• Start by letting puppy sniff tools, then touch—they should associate them with treats/praise.
• Slowly introduce noise, then brief fur trimming sessions.

8. 🧰 Tools & Supplies By Coat

• Slicker brush, undercoat rake—long/curly coats.
• Bristle or rubber brush—short coats.
• Stainless nail clippers & styptic powder.
• Puppy shampoo, soft towels, non-slip mat, ear-clean solution.
• Puppy toothbrush and toothpaste.

9. 🧠 Stress-Free Grooming Tips

• Pair each step with treats or a Woopf lick mat to create good associations.
• Short, calm sessions—no rushing.
  
• Desensitize to handling: touch paws, ears, mouth daily without trimming.

10. ✅ Final Takeaways

• Begin grooming by 8 weeks; full routines by 16 weeks.
• Match frequency to coat type—not overbathe.
• Use proper tools & gentle technique with brushing and trimming.
• Monitor nails, ears, teeth—maintain regular schedule.