🐾Starting 2026 Off on the Right Paw: New Puppy Grooming

Happy New Year — and welcome to 2026! As we step into January, it feels like the perfect time to pause, reset, and talk about what the new year often brings into our lives… especially for pet owners.

If you haven’t heard from me in a bit, you’re not imagining it. My last blog post was back around Halloween, and the end of the year tends to fill up quickly with holidays, festivals, family, and full grooming schedules. But as things slow just enough in early January, it’s the ideal moment to reconnect — and to talk about one of the most common themes I see this time of year: new puppies!

🎄 Christmas Puppies & New Year Reality

Every year after Christmas, Groomers see a wave of puppies come through the door. Some were carefully planned additions to the family, others were surprise gifts, and many are the result of well-meaning decisions made during a busy, emotional season. Regardless of how they arrived, one thing is true: those puppies are now growing fast — and the habits you build early will shape their entire grooming experience.

January is when puppy parents start asking questions like:

• “When should my puppy go to the groomer?”

• “Is it too early for a haircut?”

• “Should I wait until they’re older?”

The short answer: earlier is usually better — and calmer.

✂️ Why Early Grooming Still Matters (Especially Now)

One of the biggest myths I hear — particularly with doodles and fluffy breeds — is that puppies shouldn’t be groomed until they’re six months old. That idea gets passed around online and by breeders, but in real life, waiting often makes grooming harder, not easier.

I wrote a full blog on this topic last year because it’s so important:

Puppy Grooming: Start Early for Lifetime success

👉 ://www.petopiapetsalon.com/post/why-starting-grooming-early-sets-your-puppy-up-for-success

The key takeaway is this: Early grooming isn’t about style — it’s about experience.

When puppies come in around 12–16 weeks (after vaccines), sessions are short, gentle, and focused on:

• Getting comfortable being handled

• Hearing grooming sounds

• Standing on the table

• Having feet, face, and ears touched

• Getting a bath

• Meeting the groomer and building trust

Puppies who start early are typically calmer, more confident, and far less stressed as adults.

🐶 A Fresh Start for You and Your Dog: New Puppy Grooming

The New Year is all about routines and consistency — and dogs thrive on both. Establishing a new puppy grooming schedule early helps prevent:

• Severe matting

• Fear-based reactions

• Struggles with nails, faces, and ears

• Stress for both dog and owner

Whether your puppy is brand new or already a few months old, January is a great time to get on a plan that works long-term. At Petopia, puppy visits are always adjusted to the dog in front of me. That may mean a light trim, a bath only, or just practicing standing and being handled. The goal is never perfection — it’s comfort and trust.

💙 Looking Ahead to 2026 at Petopia

As we move into the new year, I’ll try to shift back to monthly blog posts — focused on thoughtful, practical pet care topics that truly matter. In between, I’ll keep sharing updates, photos, and reminders on Facebook, Instagram, and Nextdoor.

If 2026 brought a new puppy into your life, or if you’re planning ahead for one, now is the perfect time to set them up for success. Here’s to a year of calm grooming experiences, healthy routines, and happy dogs — one paw at a time. 💙