Kroki

Question · Puppy

How do I get my puppy used to brushing?

The short answer

Let your puppy sniff the brush first and give a treat for every sniff. Then touch its back once with the back of the brush, say “Top!” and treat. Next comes one soft stroke, then two. Stop each session after a minute, before it starts to wriggle or mouth. A soft brush suits thin puppy fur and tender skin. Kroki, a reward-based training app for puppies and dogs, includes first handling games that make brushing easier later.

How to do it, step by step

  1. Choose a soft brush and a sleepy moment

    A soft bristle brush or a rubber grooming glove is kind to a young coat. Pick a time when your puppy is calm, for example after a walk in the garden and a drink, not in the middle of a play burst.

  2. Turn the brush into good news

    Put the brush on the floor and let your puppy sniff it. Every sniff earns a tiny treat. Then pick it up, hold it near the puppy and treat again. Do this for a day or two before you brush at all.

  3. One touch, one treat

    Touch the back of the brush to your puppy’s shoulder for a second, take it away, say “Top!” and treat. Repeat three or four times, then stop. The brush comes, something good happens, the brush goes.

  4. Add short strokes on easy spots

    Brush once along the back in the direction the fur grows, then treat. Build up to three or four strokes before each treat. Back, chest and sides come first; legs, tail, belly and ears come later.

  5. Give your puppy something to do

    A lick mat with a little wet food or a chew held by a helper keeps the mouth busy. Your puppy learns that brushing time is snack time, and the brush is less tempting to bite.

  6. Stop while it is still easy

    End after a minute or two, on a calm moment. A few short sessions a week beat one long fight. Longer coats need more brushing later, so the habit you build now pays off.

Your dog is already grown?

An adult or rescue dog may already link the brush with pulling tangles or being held down. Then you start even further back, check for sore spots and mats first, and may need a groomer’s help to clip mats before training. The page for grown dogs covers that route.

What vets and studies say about grooming young dogs

Vets at Cornell’s Riney Canine Health Center describe grooming as something a dog can learn to join in with, step by step and at its own pace, rather than something done to it. They advise pairing brushes and other tools with treats before using them, and keeping sessions short and predictable, ending on a good note (Cohen 2026).

The same advice lists early signs that a dog is stressed: licking its lips, yawning when not tired, freezing, pulling away or showing the whites of its eyes. If you see them, pause and plan a smaller step for next time (Cohen 2026). With a puppy, these signals often come before nipping, so watching for them keeps brushing friendly.

Short, spread-out practice suits puppies. Dogs trained once a week needed fewer sessions to learn a task than dogs trained five times a week (Meyer and Ladewig 2008), and in a study with 44 beagles, one session at a time worked better than three in a row (Demant and colleagues 2011). A minute of brushing, then a break, fits a puppy’s short attention span.

When your puppy fights the brush

  • It bites the brush: hold the brush still, let the lick mat do its job and only brush while the tongue is busy.
  • It rolls on its back to play: brush less, treat more, and practise when it is tired.
  • It walks away: let it go. Make the next session shorter and the treats better.
  • It hates one spot, such as the tail or feet: leave that spot out for now and touch it with your hand first.

Common mistakes

  • Holding the puppy down to finish. It learns that the brush means being trapped.
  • Starting with a hard slicker brush. Metal pins can scratch thin puppy skin.
  • Brushing against the fur or tugging tangles. Tease small knots apart with your fingers or ask a groomer.
  • Only brushing when the coat is a mess. Short, easy sessions on a clean coat build the habit.

When to see a professional

Brushing should feel pleasant. Get help if:

The help pages list services in Germany, Austria and Switzerland only. Elsewhere, ask your vet practice who they recommend near you.

Frequently asked questions

At what age should I start brushing my puppy?

You can start in the first week at home, at around eight to ten weeks. At first it is mostly sniffing the brush and single gentle strokes, not real grooming.

Which brush is best for a puppy?

A soft bristle brush or a rubber glove is a good first brush for most puppies. Ask a groomer or your breeder which tools suit the adult coat your puppy will grow.

How often should I brush my puppy?

A minute a few times a week is enough to build the habit for most puppies. Long or curly coats will need more brushing as they grow, so practise early.

Why does my puppy bite the brush?

To a puppy, a moving brush looks like a toy, and chewing feels good while its teeth change. Keep the brush still, give the mouth a lick mat or chew, and brush only while it is busy.

Should I brush my puppy before or after a bath?

Brush before a bath, because water tightens small tangles. A puppy rarely needs a bath, so most of the practice will be plain brushing on a dry coat.

Can a groomer help get my puppy used to brushing?

Yes, a short, calm first visit can help, ideally just a look around, a treat and a quick brush. Ask the groomer for a puppy introduction rather than a full groom.

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