Puppy's First Groom
Their first groom shapes the next ten years.
A short, gentle session built around your puppy's nervous system — not ours. Free 10-minute meet-and-greet before we ever pick up a brush. Goal: the next groom is easier. And the one after that.
Most groomers we hear about meet your puppy for the first time on a table. With clippers. With another dog barking three feet away. With a stranger holding their face.
That's where lifelong groom anxiety comes from. We've groomed enough adult rescues to know exactly what the early mistakes look like — and we built this session specifically so your pup never has to overcome them.
One quiet groomer. One pup. One driveway. Short on purpose.
What's included
Before we ever book the groom, we stop by, sit on the driveway, let your pup sniff the van, and check their vibe. No groom happens that day.
Puppy-safe tearless shampoo, hand pressure, no high-velocity dryer. We mostly towel and let the AC do the rest.
We turn the clippers on near them, off, on, off. Same with the dryer at low pressure. Just sounds. Not on the body.
Paws touched. Ears touched. Face touched. With treats. So that the second appointment isn't scary either.
Just a tiny nail trim, a face wipe, sanitary area tidy. If your pup taps out at any point, we stop. Always.
We walk you through how often your specific breed should be groomed, what to brush at home, and a calendar reminder for the next visit.
Pricing
| What you book | Price |
|---|---|
| Meet-and-greet 10-min driveway intro · no groom | Free |
| Puppy's First Groom 30–45 min · any size puppy under 6 months | $65 |
| Second puppy groom For pups still under 6 months | $75 |
| First full Full Groom Once your pup graduates (6 mo+) | From $95 |
Vaccines: rabies isn't required until 4 months, but we'll need to see DHPP records. We don't groom puppies under 12 weeks.
Perfect for
The first groom isn't really about the haircut. It's about teaching the puppy that grooming is a calm, predictable, treat-filled thing. We start as early as 12 weeks (post-first-vaccines) and we'd rather you book it sooner than later.
What to expect
10 minutes, on the driveway, no van entry. Treats. Pets. We check their reactivity to sounds. No groom happens.
Usually 1–2 weeks after the meet-and-greet. By now they recognize us, the van, and the situation. Big confidence builder.
Bath, towel dry, gentle handling, tiny nail trim. If the pup needs a break, they get one. We stop at the first sign of "too much."
We text you the recommended cadence for your breed and a reminder a week before each next groom. Easy to skip a week, easy to keep.
Recent first-grooms
What new puppy parents say
"We just got our 14-week-old goldendoodle Mochi and everyone told us 'get her used to grooming early or you're cooked.' Sarah did the free meet-and-greet first — Mochi got cookies and pets and that was it. The actual first groom two weeks later, Mochi didn't shake once. We are going to be customers for life."
"I've heard horror stories about doodle puppies losing their minds at the salon, so I was nervous. Sarah walked me through 'we are not going to make him perfect today, we are going to make him okay with tomorrow.' That's exactly what she did. He fell asleep in the towel."
"Got our rescue puppy with no grooming history — turns out she'd been shaved badly at a shelter. Sarah took it slowly, kept us in the loop, and never pushed her. Two grooms in and she's already used to the dryer sound."
FAQ
We start at 12 weeks, after the second round of DHPP shots. Before that, we strongly recommend brushing and handling at home — happy to send a one-page guide for free.
Usually no — and that's the point. The first session is about exposure, handling, and a confident bath. Most pups don't get their first scissor-cut until session 2 or 3 (around 5–6 months).
Yes — for any puppy under 6 months. We come to your driveway for 10 minutes, no groom, no obligation. If we both agree your pup is ready for a session, we book it from there.
For the first groom (12+ weeks), we need at least the second round of DHPP. Rabies kicks in at 16 weeks — required before the third session.
Every 4–6 weeks during their first year, even if the coat looks fine. The repetition is what builds the calm adult dog. After 12 months, you can stretch to whatever your breed calls for.
Then we slow down. We may do two or three meet-and-greets before the first real session. We never push — pushing is exactly how lifetime groom anxiety starts.
Start with a free meet-and-greet
Pick a time on the calendar — choose "Puppy meet-and-greet" from the dropdown. No deposit, no obligation.