How to Bathe Your Dog

Bathing a dog sounds like an easy, low-stress task but really there are some important things that you need to know before you begin. Whether you are bathing a puppy or an adult dog is it essential that you follow a few professional tips.

How to Prepare Your Dog for a Bath

If you are bathing a puppy, you will need to take steps to acclimate your puppy to bath time. It is important that your dog associate bath time with a positive experience. Use a lot of gentle talking and soft pats and even a few treats to build that relationship between bath and happy feelings. The water that you use should be a medium warm temperature. Dog have extremely temperature sensitive skin and toenails so be sure that the water you are using isn’t too hot or too cold to keep your pet comfortable.

Whether you are bathing outside with a hose or indoors in the tub, be sure that your pet is as comfortable as possible. Use a tearless baby shampoo or dog shampoo and be careful around your pet’s eyes and face. Most dogs will lick their faces when they get wet and a mouth full of soap can be dangerous and unpleasant for you and your animal so avoid soap in this area or rinse right away.

How to Get a Dog Really Clean

Aside from the normal dog smell, certain breeds and dogs naturally have more hygiene issues than others. Cocker spaniels and terriers have a tendency to have tears on their faces. These deposits, like sleep in the eyes, occur naturally and can’t be prevented. Buildup of these deposits can become very hard and sores can develop underneath. It is important to clean these off as often as possible to avoid irritation and infection. To remove, use a warm washcloth and very gently rub the area.

There are products available at most pet stores that can be used as well but be very careful not to get these products in the eye. Dogs with longer hair have a tendency to develop mats or thick knots of hair. These mats need to be cut off your dog as soon as possible to again avoid sores and infections underneath. Sores are cause by trapped moisture that begins to putrefy on the skin. These mats and sores are very painful and sometimes may require medical attention.

Easy Step By Step Instructions For Bathing a Dog

• Acclimate your pet to the bath setting you will be using. Whether outside or in a tub, be sure your pet is as comfortable as possible.
• As you get your pet ready, talk to them in calm, soothing tones. Pet them or offer treats as a reward.
• Start at your pet’s head and move towards the tail. Avoid getting water in their ears and eyes. Use a tearless baby shampoo or a puppy shampoo. These are nontoxic and won’t harm your pet if soap gets into their eyes.
• Rinse thoroughly. Be sure to get all the soap off your pet. Leftover soap will be licked off and can cause vomiting, and diarrhea.

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions When Bathing a Dog

If your pet is overly stressed and fighting with you, it may be in your best interest to let a professional handle the bath. The more your pet is exposed to the process however, the calmer they will become.

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