How to care for a puppy’s coat

How to care for a puppy’s coat at three, six, ten months? Much depends on the breed of your ward. For example, for a Shiba Inu, a soft slicker brush or a medium-hard slicker brush and a comb with medium teeth are suitable. A slicker brush will remove the dead part of the undercoat, and a comb will make sure that combing is of high quality and there are no tangles.

Sometimes puppies with short hair seem to be the most trouble-free pets in terms of care and hygiene. However, any owner of, for example, a pug can confirm that with the advent of a playful crumb in the house, his fallen hair began to be found everywhere.

It is necessary to comb out the puppy, as well as wash, trim the claws already from three to four months. So he will quickly get used to these rituals. If vaccinations and quarantines have already passed for the baby, then you can come to the salon to a professional groomer so that the master shows you the entire procedure for caring for your ward. Or watch online grooming video tutorials. In this case, be sure to find examples with pets of the breed you are interested in.

But all young pets have something in common:

• For gentle combing of wool, they need a moisturizing spray. 

• For bathing, you need to choose not just specialized cosmetics for dogs, but the most gentle shampoo and conditioner specifically for puppies. They will be useful to you not only when you decide to wash your ward. 

• Every day after a walk, the pet should be washed with air-conditioned muzzle, paws and stomach. So you and your four-legged friend still have a lot of bath procedures ahead.

For washing a puppy, it is better to choose professional products. Discuss their choice with a veterinarian or groomer. For example, Traditional Line Talc shampoo for puppies from Iv San Bernard was created just for the care of sensitive skin and coat. This shampoo eliminates pathogenic microorganisms and does not irritate the mucous membranes. The shampoo is suitable for puppies and kittens of all breeds. It was developed for frequent use, so you can say that the cleanser for the paws after daily walks is already in your hands. Traditional Line Talc conditioner for puppies and kittens from the same Iv San Bernard series will complement the action of the shampoo, moisturize the coat and skin and leave a pleasant aroma of talc powder.

To care for the eyes and ears of a puppy, you will need a special lotion (for cleaning the eyes and ears) and sterile wipes. Ears should be checked regularly and cleaned as needed. Eyes should be cleaned as soon as discharge appears on them. Carefully remove the selection in the direction from the outer corner to the inner. For brachycephals (pugs and other breeds), it is also necessary to clean the skin folds on the muzzle every day.

The first bath can be difficult for a puppy. Before bathing, you need to comb out the undercoat, comb the coat, trim the claws, clean the ears and eyes. To wash your puppy, you need to prepare two well-absorbent bath towels, lay an anti-slip mat on the bottom of the bath. The first reaction to water can be unpredictable. Therefore, it will be very useful to fix the pet with a ring with a suction cup, which can be attached to the tile in the bathroom. Adjust the shower water. The puppy will suit the water temperature in the region of 36-38 degrees.

If you need to bathe a tiny Chihuahua or Shih Tzu puppy, it is better not to use a shower, but an empty bottle that you will fill with warm water prepared in advance. But to wash the thick coat of a corgi or poodle, you need a pressure of water in the shower. The main thing is not to overdo it with pressure, not to overcool and not to burn the puppy. Wash your puppy with someone willing to help you. If the pet wants to run away, gently but firmly hold him by the sternum with the palm of your hand.

If you are washing your puppy for the first time, try not to touch his head. If it also needs to be put in order, it is better not to increase the level of stress from water procedures, but to use cleansing wipes for pet hair. You can wash your hair next time. Never direct a jet of water at a pet’s muzzle. This can easily scare him. The rule also applies to the flow of hot air from the hair dryer, which also does not need to be directed into the muzzle of the ward. To properly wet the coat, start at the puppy’s paws and work your way up.

Almost all professional or premium pet shampoos are concentrated.

Dilute the shampoo in a bowl of water as directed. Beat the foam with a sponge and apply it to wet wool. Please note that you do not need to rub the bather with a washcloth, but simply transfer the foam to his coat. With a brush for combing wool, spread the foam over the entire body of the ward. The goal is for the foam to go deep into the coat and reach the skin. Wash the coat with the applied shampoo with massaging movements. Rinse thoroughly with running warm water. After the shampoo, use the conditioner and keep it on the puppy’s coat for several minutes.

When you have rinsed off the shampoo and conditioner very thoroughly, wrap your pet in the first towel. Believe me, it will quickly soak in water. Soon it will be the turn of the second towel. Wipe the inside of the ears properly to remove moisture.

Next comes the turn of the hair dryer. First show the hair dryer to the puppy. Then hide behind your back and turn on low power. After you can show the hair dryer to the puppy and turn it on again. Start drying from a distance of about one meter. If the puppy reacts calmly, you can bring the hair dryer closer. In parallel with drying with a hairdryer, comb out the ward with a slicker, and then with a comb. If it seems to you that the wool is already dry, be sure to carefully check it by hand.

When the puppy begins the first molt, it is recommended to wash it with shampoo and conditioner at least once a month. Professional cosmetics for washing pets allows you to carry out bath procedures regularly.

Bathing your four-legged friend is recommended once every 21 days (the cycle of skin cell renewal), but many dogs need a bath more often.

We wish that washing and combing wool always become for you and your ward an occasion for pleasant communication, and the pet pleases you with its health and beauty!