Grooming Airedale Terriers - How to Prepare Your Pup For Grooming

Grooming your Airedale Terrier pup is a happy getting-acquainted time. Read this to learn how to start right, and you will have a dog that is easy to groom and will become a good companion.

Tools for the job

All you need now is a light weight plastic bristle brush, a simple sturdy comb, heavy duty plier-type nail clippers -- your Airedale will need them soon -- and dog shampoo,

Introduce your lively, wriggly Airedale Terrier puppy to grooming after it has had its wild romp and is tired. Hold the dog on your lap and gently massage its head and body, legs, feet, pads, nails and tail. Tug the tail a little. Some Airedale pups are especially touchy here. Check for sensitive areas. Get to know your Airedale's likes and dislikes. Talk to your pet using its name often. Hug, hold but do not smother it with love.

At this important early stage, from seven weeks on, grooming the Airedale is about spending time with the dog.

Mouthing, the game a litter of pups plays as they grow, is a real difficulty when grooming and living with an Airedale terrier. A bouncy open-jawed, snappy pup with sharp little teeth is not amusing. The dog is not attentive in this mental state. Never allow any "mouthing" -- the cute puppy growling, grabbing your hands or clothing becomes very annoying, and quite painful very quickly. Hold the jaws together gently for a second and use the CLOSE command every time the pup tries mouthing; release and praise, repeat patiently, lovingly. It is quite easy to prepare your little Airedale Terrier for living in a home and for grooming at this age.

While training for grooming be calm, enjoy your Airedale. It will take its cue from you and become calm.

Start Grooming

Brush the dog from head to tail holding the animal gently, firmly on your lap. This action will remind the pup of being licked by its mother. Your are building trust. Do this daily for a few minutes whenever you hold your dog. Concentrate on the whole body. Remember the tail tug. Enjoy this time with your dog, it is the beginning of a long special friendship.

All these attentions will pay off when it is time to introduce and use nail clippers and electric hair clippers. Your dog will have learned to trust you, to make the transition from kennel to home easily, to accept grooming happily.