Puppy grooming: when to brush, bathe and clip?

Puppy grooming starts the day they move in, with just a few brush strokes and lots of praise. The American Kennel Club recommends short sessions with high-value treats so your puppy learns to enjoy being groomed. Only bathe them when absolutely necessary. Nails, paws and ears, on the other hand, should be checked regularly. After their second vaccination, your puppy can come to Charlottenburg for their first puppy introduction groom: 45 to 60 minutes, no clipping, from 59 €.

When should you start grooming your puppy?

Start as soon as your puppy moves in with you. The British veterinary charity PDSA advises introducing grooming early on so your dog gets used to it and feels comfortable. The American Kennel Club adds that puppies should be handled frequently. Nail clipping, teeth brushing, ear checks and brushing will be much easier later on. This applies to all breeds, including short-haired dogs that don't need a haircut.

In the first few weeks, the experience matters more than the result. According to the American Kennel Club, a few brush strokes are perfectly enough. First, stroke their back, chest and legs with your hand, then introduce the brush. Briefly lift a paw and put it back down. Reward any calm reaction immediately with your voice and a treat.

How often does your puppy's coat need brushing?

How often you brush depends on the coat type, not their age. The PDSA provides guidelines for this, which you can start practising while they are still a puppy.

According to the PDSA, curly hair is more prone to knots, especially when wet. Long-haired breeds also need a trim or deshedding of the undercoat – the dense, soft layer of hair under the topcoat – four to six times a year. For medium-length coats, the PDSA recommends one to two such appointments per year. In the salon, we work with these schedules: Poodles, Doodles, Bichons, Malteses, Yorkshires and Shih Tzus every 6 to 8 weeks, short-haired dogs every 8 to 12 weeks, Pomeranians and Spitzes every 6 to 10 weeks.

Dogs lose more hair in spring and autumn as their coat changes, according to the PDSA. Plan for more brushing time during these weeks. It is best not to tackle tight matting yourself: the PDSA strongly advises against it and recommends a qualified dog groomer. Light knots are included in our price, but for heavily matted coats we charge 15 € per 15 minutes started. You can find out how to prevent matting from the start in our article Preventing matting.

What equipment do you need for puppy grooming?

You only need a few things that suit your puppy's coat. The PDSA lists this basic equipment for dogs:

• A brush and comb suited to the coat type; if you are unsure, ask your vet or dog groomer.
• Dog shampoo, because human shampoo can irritate their skin.
• Animal nail clippers; human nail clippers are not suitable according to the PDSA.
• Dog toothbrush and toothpaste, ideally for daily use.
• Treats as well as a Kong or lick mat to keep your puppy calm and occupied.
• A towel for wet paws after a walk.

At home, a spot where your puppy can stand safely and won't fall off is enough. At our GroomRoom, we have height-adjustable grooming tables that can be lowered for them to step on. We will show you which tools suit your puppy on weekdays in the salon; this consultation is free of charge.

How do you get your puppy used to the brush, water and hairdryer?

You get them used to it in short sessions, with praise and treats. The American Kennel Club and the PDSA describe these steps:

1. Keep each session short; a few brush strokes are enough at the beginning.
2. Give high-quality treats during grooming, rather than waiting for your puppy to eventually get used to it.
3. Touch their paws, ears, mouth and tail regularly so nail clipping and ear cleaning are easier later on.
4. Practise in the tub and on the table too, keeping toys and treats handy.
5. Stop as soon as your puppy seems restless or stressed, and watch their body language.
6. End every session on a high note, followed by a quick game.

We take the exact same approach with young dogs in the salon. Your puppy gets to sniff around and settle in first, then we gradually introduce them to water, the hairdryer and the comb. We give lots of praise and take breaks as soon as they need them. The animal comes first, not the clock. You can read how to prepare for their first visit at home in our article First visit to the dog groomer.

How often can you bathe a puppy?

A puppy should only be bathed when they need it. The PDSA points out that shampoo strips natural oils from the coat and advises against frequent bathing. After a muddy walk, a quick rinse with warm water is often enough. If you do bathe them, use a dog shampoo. If your puppy has a skin condition, check the product with your vet first.

During the puppy introduction groom, we bathe them with a mild puppy shampoo and dry them gently. We choose products based on coat type and skin condition, working with pH-neutral natural products from LT and Ecopets. If your puppy's skin or coat changes noticeably, the PDSA says it needs veterinary attention. This also applies to severe itching, open sores or unusual hair loss.

Nails, teeth and ears belong in the same routine

It's best to check nails, teeth and ears whenever you brush them. According to the PDSA, many dogs wear their nails down naturally. They mainly need trimming on dogs that rarely walk on pavements or don't exercise much. The American Kennel Club recommends weekly nail clipping sessions with treats for young dogs and warns against cutting them too short. So it's better to just take the tips off to keep the experience positive.

Ideally, you should brush their teeth daily with a dog toothbrush and toothpaste. According to the PDSA, removing plaque prevents hard tartar from forming. Check their ears regularly and look out for wax, smells or itching. Check their skin for ticks and fleas during every session too, especially after trips into the countryside.

If nails or ears are too tricky to do at home, we can do them individually. Nail clipping starts at 15 €, paw trimming at 18 €, ear cleaning at 18 € and eye cleaning at 15 €. The combo package for nails, paws, eyes and hygiene areas starts at 45 €. All starting prices are on our prices page.

When can you cut a Pomeranian's coat?

We don't clip a Pomeranian's coat, not even later when they are an adult dog. We only offer clipping for breeds whose coats allow it, such as Poodles, Doodles, Bichons, Malteses or Yorkies. Instead, we demat breeds with an undercoat like the Spitz, Pomeranian, Husky or Golden Retriever by hand. The PDSA classifies Spitz breeds as having medium-length coats that need brushing several times a week.

For your Pomeranian puppy, this means brushing them at home several times a week and visiting the salon every 6 to 10 weeks. The first visit is just an introductory appointment without a haircut. We'll look at your dog's coat and let you know during the appointment if and when trimming the contours on the paws and tail makes sense. For the thick double coat, there is a surcharge of 20 € for the Mini Groom (already included in the Spitz/Pom Full Groom package). Alina as Senior Groomer and Natalie as Head Stylist know this coat type particularly well, read more in the article Pomeranian grooming in Berlin.

The first salon appointment from the second vaccination

Your puppy can come for their first salon visit after their second vaccination. Your vet will know the exact timing, as it depends on the vaccination schedule. The puppy introduction groom is designed for dogs up to 10 kg and takes 45 to 60 minutes. It includes bathing, blow-drying, combing, nails, eyes and paws, with no haircut at the first appointment. It costs 59 € up to 3 kg and 89 € up to 10 kg, booking is done via WhatsApp.

Before the appointment, we'll check your puppy's age, breed and vaccination status. In the salon, they can first sniff around and settle in, followed by a few gentle grooming steps with breaks. You can watch from outside through our shop window. As a second step, the Junior Grooming at a fixed price is ideal: 60 € under 5 kg and 75 € for 5 to 10 kg, available Wednesday and Saturday, 16:00 to 19:00.

We are here for you from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 to 18 at Giesebrechtstraße 2, 10629 Berlin. The journey is short: U7 Adenauerplatz (5 minutes on foot), U1 and U9 Kurfürstendamm (10 minutes), and you can park on Giesebrechtstraße and Brandenburgische Straße. If you're unsure what kind of grooming your puppy needs right now, simply drop by on weekdays. You can reserve your appointment 24/7: book an appointment online.

Case studies from the salon

Real appointments from GroomRoom, prices as charged (as of September 2026). The final price depends on the coat condition and will be confirmed before we start.

Pomeranian

Before

Pomeranian after six months without a salon visit, undercoat matted in places.

Treatment

Full Grooming with dematting and Pomeranian surcharge: brushing out the undercoat, bath, blow-dry, styling without clippers.

Duration

2.5 hours

Price

165 to 180 €

Groomer

Team GroomRoom