Grooming isn't just about making your puppy look good. Regular care removes dead hair, keeps the coat and skin healthy, and gives you the opportunity to check your pup's general health. It's also important time spent together, building your relationship, trust and understanding. There's even scientific evidence that grooming sessions reduce stress and blood pressure - for both of you!

Brushing
Initially, a puppy's coat is quite different to an adult's. It may be softer, fluffier, and shorter, but it's still important to get your pup used to being groomed, even if it doesn't actually need it much yet. If your dog gets into the routine of being handled, and learns to enjoy it, grooming will be much easier in the future.

• Get your puppy to sit on your lap, have a quick cuddle and gently start to brush.
• Give praise in a quiet, soothing tone of voice, for being good.
• After just two minutes, stop brushing and offer a treat.
• Repeat several times a day, gradually increasing the length of brushing time.
• If your puppy attempts to bite or play with the brush, turn away but without letting go. Puppies soon learn that naughty behaviour will lose your attention.
• After about five days, once your puppy is familiar with the sensation, start to groom the belly, tail, ears and other sensitive areas. Be extra gentle, and keep the initial sessions short and enjoyable.
• Touch the feet and examine the nails and toes.
• Look inside the ears and gently open the mouth.
• After a couple of weeks, once puppies have learnt the routine, switch grooming to a table with a non-slip surface, or a spot on the floor that provides enough space for when they are bigger.
• This programme ensures your dog gets used to being handled. Always end a session with a treat and a game.

Coats
Once your puppy is settled, your grooming routine will depend on your puppy's coat type.

Smooth Coats - Breeds with smooth coats don't really need a lot of grooming. A quick once over each week is enough. You'll need to use a rubber brush or grooming mitt to loosen dead hair and dirt and a bristle brush to remove it.

Short Coats - Breeds with short coats need regular brushing to prevent matting. Begin with a pinhead brush to remove mats and knots, then follow with a bristle brush to remove the dead hair and dirt. Never cut out matts using scissors.

Long Coats - Longer coats need daily attention to avoid knots. Begin using a pinhead brush or comb to untangle matted hair. Never cut out matts using scissors. Comb the hair with a wide-toothed comb, taking particular care around the backside, tail and legs. Trim any hairs that have got out of control.

Silky Coats - Silky coats need a lot of attention. Start by teasing out tangles with a pinhead brush or comb, then, to bring out the natural shine, use a bristle brush. To give your dog a bit of style, opt for a centre parting, brushing downwards on either side. Trim wayward hairs.

Styling
Some breeds require special grooming techniques.

• Terriers need stripping, where dead hair is plucked from the coat.
• Some breeds, such as the Poodle, need scissoring into shape.
• Some long-coated show dogs, such as the Yorkshire Terrier, need the coat put into wrappers (papers) to protect it.

Your breeder or a professional groomer can always advise you of your breed's specific needs.
Extensive matting or snarls can accelerate damage to surrounding hairs. If your dog has a challenging coat, enjoys a daily dip in the pond, or if you'd rather be walking your dog than combing it, consider regular visits to a professional groomer who can provide a soothing bath, gentle hair drying and a thorough brushing.

Bathing
Most dogs rarely need more than two or three baths a year - show breeders even discourage baths altogether for some rough and wire coat breeds. But if your new puppy has a streak of mischief, you may find you're reaching for the shampoo rather more often.

• When your puppy is still small, the sink will make a good bath. Alternatively, use a plastic tub. As your pet gets larger, switch to the shower or a bath (an old baby bath works well) and use a non-slip mat.
• Use a shower attachment to wet the coat, making sure the water is warm, but not hot.
• Wet the coat thoroughly, careful to avoid getting water in your puppy's eyes. Part the hair down to the skin to make sure that it's wet all the way through.
• If your puppy shows signs of nervousness, especially the first time, offer praise and reassurance throughout. Try distracting the pup with a treat. You can also take the tub outside to a less confined space, which can be less threatening.
• Use a special puppy shampoo that's designed for your puppy's coat type and always read the label instructions - some shampoos require dilution.
• Once the coat is lathered, rinse thoroughly. If any soap is left in the coat, your puppy may be itchy afterwards.
• If you're using a pet conditioner, ensure that it's rinsed out too.
• Now towel-dry before your puppy has a chance to shake!
• Make sure the puppy is kept in a warm room until fully dry.
• If the coat is very long, it may need blow-drying while brushing it. Your breeder or groomer will include this in your grooming instructions. Make sure the dryer is not too close to the skin, or on a hot setting, as the skin can burn easily. Hair dryers can be quite frightening for a puppy, so ensure you reassure him throughout the process and reward good behaviour.
• Make sure the coat is completely dry before he goes outside.