Puppy Preschool Program
A positive grooming experience starts long before the first haircut!
Our 5–7 week Puppy Preschool Program is a three-step introduction to professional grooming, thoughtfully designed to help puppies develop confidence, build trust, and become comfortable with the grooming process.
Grooming involves unfamiliar sounds, sensations, equipment, and handling that can feel overwhelming or even frightening to an inexperienced puppy. Rather than introducing everything at once, we take a gradual, positive approach that allows your puppy to learn at a comfortable pace.
Each appointment builds on the last, creating a foundation for safer, calmer, and more enjoyable grooming experiences for years to come!
*We will only accept inexperienced puppies who either complete our program or have established grooming history elsewhere.*
Class Schedule
Level 1
Sniff, Explore & Adore!
Building Trust & Familiarity
Every confident grooming pup starts somewhere, and the first step is simply feeling safe!
During their first visit, your puppy will have the opportunity to explore our mobile grooming salon, meet their groomer, and become familiar with the grooming environment without the pressure of a full grooming service.
Through gentle handling, encouragement, and positive reinforcement, we'll introduce your puppy to the grooming table, bathtub, and basic body handling. We'll even practice going through the motions of a groom without introducing potentially intimidating equipment.
Our goal: Help your puppy associate the grooming salon with safety, comfort, and positive experiences.
Why it matters: Before puppies can confidently handle grooming tools, they must first learn to trust the person handling them and feel secure in their surroundings. This first appointment creates the foundation for everything they'll learn next!
Level 2
Sounds & Sensations
Building Confidence Through Discovery
Now that your puppy has had a chance to explore and build trust, it's time to discover what grooming actually feels and sounds like!
During this appointment, we'll gradually introduce the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations of common grooming tools and equipment. Your puppy will experience gentle water exposure around their paws and face, the sounds and airflow of dryers, and introductions to clippers, shears, and other grooming tools.
We'll also work on cooperative handling skills and introduce their first nail trim.
Each new experience is introduced thoughtfully, using positive reinforcement and breaks as needed to help your puppy feel comfortable and successful.
Our goal: Teach your puppy that unfamiliar grooming equipment and sensations are nothing to fear.
Why it matters: Many grooming struggles begin when puppies become frightened or overwhelmed by equipment they don't understand. By introducing these experiences gradually, we help reduce the likelihood of fear-based reactions and teach puppies to remain calm and confident during future grooming appointments.
Level 3
Puppy Preschool Graduation
Putting It All Together!
It's graduation day, and your puppy is ready to put their new skills to work!
After spending their first two appointments building trust, exploring their environment, and becoming familiar with grooming equipment, your puppy will experience their first mini groom!
Their graduation appointment includes a gentle bath with shampoo and conditioner, teeth brushing, nail trimming and filing, blow-drying, brushing, and a face, feet, and sanitary trim as appropriate for their coat and comfort level. We'll top it off with a finishing fragrance and small gift for all you and your pups hard work!
Throughout the appointment, we'll continue reinforcing the positive experiences and cooperative handling skills introduced in earlier classes.
Our goal: Bring everything your puppy has learned together in a positive, confidence-building grooming experience.
Why it matters: A puppy's first complete grooming experience can have a lasting impact on how they respond to grooming throughout their life. By preparing them gradually, we give them the opportunity to approach grooming with familiarity and confidence instead of fear and uncertainty.
We invite you to check out one of our favorite podcast, "Creating Grooming Dogs" where Dog Trainer/Groomer, Chrissy Neumeyer-Smith talks about the importance of puppies being trained for grooming.
Pricing is for puppies under 8 months of age and includes all three courses. Total is due at first appointment.
Short Coat .... $225 | Long/Curly/Double Coat .... $265
*Puppies over 8 months and adult dogs are welcome into the program but pricing will differ. Please request an appointment for a quote. We will not accept matted puppies.
Kitty Kindergarten
Our 2-step Kitty Kindergarten Program gently introduces your feline friend to unfamiliar grooming tools, sounds, sensations, and handling. By building trust and confidence at their own pace, we help prevent fear and stress, creating a foundation for safer, calmer, more comfortable grooming experiences throughout their life!
Class Schedule
Meet & Treat
This first appointment will give your kitty the opportunity to get acclimated with our mobile salon without the pressure of any real grooming. We will work towards desensitizing them to the sounds and sensations of our tools and equipment while providing plenty of positive reinforcement.
Bath & Comb Out
This second appointment will be your kitten's first exposure to the bath or haircut experience. We will work with your kitty to ensure their comfort and positive experience with us. This service will include a degreasing bath, blow out, and nail trim OR full haircut and nail trim.