How to Bathe Your Dog
Dogs need to be bathed on at least a semi-regular basis. As a general rule, you should bathe your dog at least every three months. Depending on your dog’s breed and how much time he spends outside, some dogs will need more frequent baths than others. Bathing will keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy and will keep your dog cleaner and smelling fresher. Follow the steps below to get your bathing routine started.
Step One: Orientation
Not all dogs like to get wet. And some dogs who like to get themselves wet (i.e. chasing a stick into the water), will not like you getting them wet. If your dog has never had a bath and is naturally timid, or if you have a puppy, you may need to start by getting your dog used to the sound and feel of water. Start by keeping them in the bathroom with you when you shower so they hear the sounds. Pet your dog with wet hands so they can get used to the feel of water.
Whenever you and the dog are both ready to try a bath, gather all your dog washing supplies, including some old towels and head to the bathroom. Let your dog sniff the shampoo bottle and whatever else you have gathered. You may even want to turn the water on very low so she can sniff the water. Next, lift your dog into the tub if she is small enough. Otherwise, good luck: you may need to use a combination of sweet talking, bribing and commanding to get her into the tub. Once her curiosity of the tub runs out, it is time to begin. If you are unsure of how your dog may react to the bath, it is a good idea to ask someone to help you with the first bath.
Step Two: Fun in the Tub
Using warm water, get your dog completely wet, being careful not to get water in her eyes, ears and nose. Some coats will take longer to soak through than others so you will need to run your hand through your dog’s fur to check the depth of wetness. Once your dog is completely wet, it is time to lather her up. Make sure to scratch and rub all her favorite spots while you clean to keep her happy and talk softly and reassuringly throughout the whole bath. If your dog wiggles around a lot or tries to run away, you may have to settle for wetting and washing one area at a time. Make sure you are wearing old clothes, because the more your dog wiggles, the better your chances of getting wet!
Step Three: Time to Dry Out
Once the bath is complete, beware as your dog may try to shake off all the water onto you. Preempt this doggie shake by immediately wrapping a big, fluffy towel over your dog. Rub your dog all over, until she is as dry as you can get her. This is another good time to scratch all of her favorite spots. You can also use a hair dryer to dry your dog (if the noise doesn’t scare her). After a quick towel dry, use the dryer on warm and check the temperature often.
After an initial shock, your dog may come to like her bath time as she will usually feel pretty good afterwards. Just make sure to keep the experience positive with lots of scratches and praise. Consider rewarding your dog after the bath with a bone to chew. Not only will your dog come to look forward to the treat, but it will also keep her distracted and calm while her fur dries so she is less likely to get dirty again.
