Why Your Puppy’s First Groom Should Happen at 4 Months Old

Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of puppies come in for their very first groom at 6, 9, even 12 months old — and I get it, life gets busy and that first groom is easy to put off. But if you’ve just brought a puppy home, here’s my honest advice as a groomer: don’t wait. Four months old is the perfect time for that first visit, once your vet has given the all-clear after their puppy shots.

Why so young? Puppies are in their prime learning window at that age. Everything they experience now shapes how they feel about it for the rest of their lives. A short, gentle first groom teaches them that the bath, the dryer, the brushing, and having their paws and ears handled are all normal, safe, no-big-deal things. Puppies who start young grow into dogs who walk into the salon happy and relaxed.

When that first groom waits until 6 to 12 months, it’s a much harder day for everyone. The puppy is bigger, stronger, and more set in their ways — and a full first groom is a long session for a dog who’s never experienced any of it before. Coats can already be matted by then, which sometimes means we have to shave out mats instead of giving that cute cut you pictured. Starting late doesn’t ruin anything, but it does make the road longer.

That’s exactly why we created our Puppy Program. It’s a gentle introduction to grooming, built around short, positive visits that build your puppy’s confidence step by step — bath, brush, nails, and getting comfortable with all the sights, sounds, and smells of the salon. The program starts at $60, and it’s the best foundation you can give your new best friend.

If your puppy is already past the 4-month mark, don’t worry — it’s never too late to start, just book sooner rather than later. And if you’re picking up a new puppy soon, get that first appointment in the calendar early.

We groom at both locations in Corbeil and Callander.