The Australian Cobberdog should always have his emotional needs covered with his family. It is a very sociable and sensitive dog that is always aware of its humans. The more time we spend with them, the happier they are. In this sense, hygiene routines can become a pleasant time to dedicate to our dog while helping us to keep his coat healthy and free of knots. Making their hygiene routine a pampering session and full attention to the puppy is something that will strengthen our bond with the dog and fill our Australian Cobberdog with satisfaction.
The maintenance of any dog is very important to maintain its good health and an adequate level of hygiene, but in the case of puppies it is essential for these reasons:
It is important to keep in mind that the maintenance routines of our puppy involve putting him in contact with a new world that he is completely unaware of: cleaning products, a comb, a brush, etc. Progressively, we have to show the puppy what contact with these products is like. A correct socialization of our puppy will involve many facilities in the future to maintain good hygiene and good care as an adult. For a perfect socialization, the ideal is to do maintenance every day during your puppy stage. This way they will get used to the manipulation that the hygiene routine implies and they will learn to enjoy it.
When we talk about manipulation we mean that they touch his ears, we have contact with all parts of his body (even those that are unpleasant for the dog to touch), that we change his position, etc. There are many adult dogs that when they were puppies have not had this socialisation and the lack of habit makes them very difficult dogs when carrying out their hygiene routines since they move, growl, or try to escape at all costs. This is why getting used to these routines is so important.
Eye cleansing product, metallic brush for brushing, wide-tooth brush (to be inserted before the metal comb when the puppy's hair starts to get longer and begins to be introduced the maintenance routines of the adult Australian Cobberdog).
Puppies are very active and curious. At their youngest age, it is very important to be patient and understanding with them. For the maintenance of the puppy it is advisable to do it on the floor and on a comfortable surface, if we do it on a high surface we run the risk of it falling due to its activity and curiosity.
Maintenance must be a game between us and the puppy to be associated as something positive, good and necessary. All the steps we have to carry out during maintenance must be carried out with very gentle gestures and with patience, to make our dog feel in a comfortable and increasingly pleasant environment for him. Likewise, we must be clear that the routine must be carried out, and there will be times when we must be firmer to allow us to move forward. Giving him rewards as we progress in the routine, after a step that costs him more, is a good way to associate hygiene with something positive.