Answer:   The sooner you introduce a puppy to a groomer, the easier it will be to teach the pup grooming ‘manners’.  Just make sure that your pup has been fully vaccinated and your vet approves, which is usually by 16 weeks. 

Certainly contact your groomer by 5 months so that he or she can help your dog develop good habits for life.

The mistake many owners make is that they wait too long to seek out a groomer simply because they don’t know. Just as socialization is important for a dog’s well being, so is an early introduction to grooming.  

A grooming shop can be stressful for any dog, and there are many sights, smells and distractions for him.  A good groomer might ask you to bring your puppy in for several short visits so he or she can help acclimate the puppy to the experience.  This can last five or ten minutes at most and is worth the investment of your time to take the pup.

Your groomer might put the puppy on the table and try to get him to stand fairly still, then gently brush him or do a nail trim.  A simple bath without a complicated grooming is good, too.  Most groomers can do the brushing or nail trim while you wait, but don’t stand there talking to her as the dog will not stand still if he hears your voice or see you.  Dogs tend to move around more when they know there owners are nearby. 

You can help desensitize your dog to things such as nail trimming and ear hair plucking by touching or rubbing your puppy’s feet and ears when you are cuddling him at home; the same goes for adult dogs.  Some dogs don’t like their feet or ears being touched and you will help the groomer out quite a bit by doing this between groomings.

If you have a long -haired dog, please don’t wait until it is matted to the skin before you take it to a grooming shop, or a shave-down may be your groomer’s only option. Many dog owners wash puppies for the first few months and don’t take the time to gently brush and comb the hair before and after a bath.  If you bathe a dog that has matts (tangles) it only worsens the problem.  Seek professional help and never try to cut a matt out yourself; if you aren’t a professional is very easy to accidentally cut a dog because you don’t know where the matt ends and the skin begins.  Ask your groomer to show you the right brush and comb for your pup and how to use these tools;  sometimes owners inadvertently brush too hard, causing ‘brush burn’ on your pup’s skin.

This can contribute to the pup not standing still for grooming.  But be patient: even if you are gentle a pup’s high energy level makes many dog owners give up on between-grooming brushing.  Stick with it. 

And finally, when it comes to selecting a groomer, ask ask ask other dog owners who they use.  A grooming shop should treat your dog gently under all circumstances.  Call ahead to ask for an appointment. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for a ‘tour’ when you call; if someone has a shop they are proud of they will be happy to show you. When you go in, does the shop look and smell clean?  Grooming shops are all kind of dirty by the end of the day so go in the morning.  And trust your instincts.