---
title: "Week 18: grooming, nails, and the vet as a friend"
description: "Handling exercises that make the rest of the dog's life easier."
url: https://evapup.com/journal/week-by-week/puppy-week-18
category: "Puppy Week by Week"
author: "Olivia Marsh"
published: 2026-07-13
updated: 2026-09-13
---

# Week 18: grooming, nails, and the vet as a friend

Handling exercises that make the rest of the dog's life easier.

Week 18. Handling exercises that make the rest of the dog's life easier.

## Nails

One nail a day with treats. The sound of the clipper, then the touch, then the cut.

> **Teeth.** Start touching the gums with a finger, then a finger brush. Daily brushing later is much easier.

## Brushing

Three minutes daily on a towel. Coat type decides the brush.

### Happy vet visits

Stop by the clinic for a treat and a weigh-in with no exam. The waiting room stops being scary.

---

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