Grooming stimulates the skin, lifts out dead hair and allows you to examine your dog for cuts, bruises, and parasites such as ticks, fleas and lice.
Grooming also has an important social dimension for dogs.
In a pack the top-dog will, when he pleases, groom another dog lower in the hierarchy. This behaviour reinforces the top-dog's authority and comforts and soothes the under-dog.
When you groom your puppy you are reminding him, in the nicest possible way, that you are not only his superior but also a trustworthy leader who cares about him and takes responsible for his safety and well being.
Some puppies, if they are a little assertive, will resist grooming because they do not like to be submissive, in this case you should hold the puppy firmly but gently and make him lie still whilst you groom him all over.
Grooming is as much about social status within the pack as about hygiene and you will not be able train a puppy that will not allow you to groom him.
It also strengthens the bond between dog and owner, and grooming for long haired breeds is essential!
Being groomed makes a massive difference to dogs, they seem so much happier, especially if the dog's old.... getting out all their matts make them act like puppies again.
