How do I get my dog used to getting groomed?

Patience. Doing a little at a time. My dog, Mowgli, is a very nervous patient. He never really leaves our side. When we take him to the groomer, we tell them if he's upset we don't want to force it. We'll still pay the groomer if they can't fully achieve what they need to so that they still get paid. We just don't want to make it a stressful situation, so there are a lot of treats and short visits. If the groomer's ready with your pet, try not to leave them there for six hours. Your pet's going to be happier going home to see you, and the groomer may have a lot of other dogs that are noisy or stressed just like in a vet hospital, so try to minimize your pet's stress. In severe cases, your vet may need to prescribe some medication to help with anxiety.

Try to make it positive. Starting when they're young is important, but if you've got an older dog and you're just getting them going, you want to make it short. So, you don't have to do everything that first time—work on the nails at first or just work on some brushing. And you might only be able to brush one part of the dog that day and then give them a break. Then the next day, you come back and work on another area if they're really matted. This is where professional groomers come in too. They're going to be more efficient than you. They're going to have the right tools. So if it's a really matted pet, that's where the groomer can help you.

Starting early in your dog's life is always best, but if you adopt an older dog, you can still train them to accept grooming and nail trimming by keeping sessions short and using food rewards. Gradually introduce your dog to having their feet lifted, and consider having an assistant help during the process. Over time, this will build trust and make grooming easier.

Start brushing and bathing your dog at home. Start slow and stop when your dog becomes impatient. Reward them with treats or other positive reinforcement. For professional grooming, start around 12 weeks once they've had their third set of shots.