How do I get my puppy used to being brushed for the first time?

A very brief first session, even just a few strokes down one side, ending while the puppy is still relaxed, sets up brushing as a pleasant routine rather than something to tolerate.

Over several weeks, extending session length and covering more of the body, including sensitive areas like the belly and legs, prepares a puppy for the fuller grooming routine it will need as an adult.

A soft bristle brush or a rubber grooming mitt suits most short and medium coated puppies for these early sessions, while a slicker brush, though standard for adult coats of many breeds, can feel scratchy and unpleasant to a puppy with a much thinner, softer coat. Save the slicker brush for once the adult coat starts coming in, usually somewhere between 4 and 8 months depending on breed.

Brush at roughly the same time each day, perhaps right after a meal or before an evening settle, so it becomes a predictable part of the routine rather than a random event the puppy cannot anticipate. Predictability itself tends to reduce resistance over time.

If your puppy will need professional grooming as an adult, occasionally practicing on a table or raised surface, with non slip matting and calm treats, in addition to floor level sessions, helps prepare for what a groomer's setup will actually feel like, which is a meaningfully different experience from being brushed on the living room floor.