Course 01 · Grooming at Home, From the Start · Lesson 6 of 12

What is a pre-groom check, and how do you do one?

Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026 · About 5 minutes · General information only. This lesson does not diagnose or treat any condition.

A pre-groom check is a short, systematic look over the whole dog before any brushing, bathing or nail work begins, and it decides what is safe to do in that session. It takes only a few minutes and prevents grooming over a sore patch, pulling a tight mat, wetting a wound, or missing a tick. The check runs from nose to tail in the same order each time, using eyes and gentle hands, with the dog standing or lying in a comfortable position. Anything unusual is noted and either worked around, left alone, or referred to a vet or groomer. A check done well means the grooming that follows is informed rather than blind.

What does the check cover, in order?

Start at the head, checking eyes for discharge, ears for redness, smell or discharge, and the mouth for broken teeth, sore gums or unusual odour, without forcing the mouth open. Move along the neck and body, parting the coat to look at the skin for redness, flaking, sores, lumps, ticks or burrs. Check the legs and paws, including between the toes, for cuts, cracked pads, grass seeds, mats and overgrown nails. Check the belly, groin and tail base, where mats and skin irritation are common and skin is thin. Finish at the tail and rear, noting any soreness, swelling or soiling. The same order each time makes it less likely that an area is skipped, and it helps the dog learn what to expect.

How do you check by touch without causing pain?

Use flat hands and gentle pressure, moving slowly and watching the dog for flinching, turning toward a hand, or moving away. Part the coat with fingers rather than pulling it, and feel for lumps, heat, swelling or tender spots under the surface. A lump that is new, growing, hard, painful or bleeding needs vet assessment, and grooming should not press on it. Mats should be felt for tightness against the skin rather than tugged. If the dog reacts to one area, note the spot and avoid grooming there until a vet or groomer has advised. Touch should be an inspection, not a test of tolerance, and the dog should be free to move away at any point.

What findings change the grooming plan?

A tight mat changes the plan from brushing to referral, since cutting it out needs trained hands. A wound, sore or hot spot means no bathing over that area and no brushing across it. Red, swollen or discharging ears mean no ear cleaning beyond a gentle outer wipe, and a vet visit instead. A tick should be removed with a proper tick remover or by a vet, and the area watched afterwards. Overgrown nails, cracked pads and debris between toes can usually be dealt with at home within maintenance limits, provided the dog is calm and there is no bleeding or pain. When in doubt, the safer choice is to groom only the areas that are clearly healthy and refer the rest.

How should findings be recorded?

Note the date, the area, what was seen or felt, and whether it has changed since the last check. A short line such as a new lump on the left flank, about the size of a pea, first noticed today, is more useful than a vague memory. Photographs can help a vet judge change, provided the dog is comfortable and the photograph is taken without forcing handling. Bring the notes to vet or groomer appointments, and update them when a finding resolves or changes. Records turn a pre-groom check from a one-off habit into a useful history, and they help a professional decide whether a change is new, stable or worsening.

What is the sequence to follow?

1. Head, eyes, ears and mouth. 2. Neck and body, parting the coat to see skin. 3. Legs, paws and between toes. 4. Belly, groin and tail base. 5. Tail and rear. 6. Note findings and decide what to groom, avoid or refer.

When should you stop and get help?

Stop grooming and get vet help for bleeding that will not stop, a wound, a painful or rapidly growing lump, red or discharging ears, skin that is broken or badly inflamed, breathing difficulty, or sudden pain or lameness. Do not insert cotton buds deep into the ear canal, do not squeeze or cut a lump, and do not attempt to treat a skin or ear problem at home. A groomer should take over when mats are tight, when a clip is needed near delicate skin, or when the dog cannot be checked safely at home. The pre-groom check has done its job when it stops a session that should not happen.

A few unhurried minutes of checking before grooming begins will prevent most avoidable problems, and it gives every later decision a firmer footing than guesswork.

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