Bathing Your Dog
A short-haired dog is fairly easy to bathe.
A small dog can be bathed in a sink or in a bathtub.
A shower hose attachment makes the job alot easier in the bathtub.
A large or long-haired dog may require more than one person
It is best to bathe a large dog in the bathtub, or in the yard when the weather permits.
Any gentle, tearless dog shampoo will do for a regular bath.
If your dog has any skin condition or fleas, you should use a shampoo made specifically for the problem. Your vet may be able to recommend one.
Regular shampoo should be diluted for best performance. For specialty shampoos that are for specific problems, please follow the directions on the package. If you dilute medicated shampoo or flea shampoo, you will be diluting the active ingredients.
Do not use "people" shampoo or dish soap; these are much too harsh for your pets skin and can cause skin problems.
Bathing preparations and instructions:
Brush your dog very well to remove all the dead fur - especially if your dog has a thick heavy coat. This brushing removes the dead fur and the undercoat, gets rid of all the knots, tangles and mats and will make the bathing much easier on you and your dog.
A conditioner will not remove mats or knots. If you bathe your dog without first brushing him, the dirt and shampoo will remain in the mats and knots making more of a problem afterward as the mats will become much tighter and difficult to remove, and could cause skin problems.
Bathing alone will not remove all the dead fur.
Thoroughly wet your dog, apply the shampoo from the neck to the tail.
Leave the head, the face and the ears for last.
Shampoo in order of:
the hind legs,
the tail and rear end,
the body,
the chest,
and the front legs.
Then carefully wet the face, head and ears. Apply shampoo and lather being very careful to not get suds in the dogs eyes.
Rinse, rinse, rinse and thoroughly rinse starting at the head, face, ears, next rinse the body, then the legs. Don't forget to rinse the underside. Keep rinsing until you no longer feel any shampoo anywhere on the dog and the water runs extremely clear.
Any residue of shampoo left on your dog can cause itching, flaking and skin problems.
When finished, wrap your dog in a towel to absorb the excess water. This also prevents him/her from shaking water everywhere.
Towel your dog paying attention to each part of the body, face, legs and tail.
If it is a cool/cold day, ensure your dog stays warm while drying or use a blow dryer to dry him/her quickly - make sure that the blow dryer is at a comfortable temperature and do not hold it close to your dogs skin.
Tips:
- have all the towels and supplies ready before you begin.
- place a rubber mat in the tub or sink so that he/she will not slip on the surface and will feel more secure.
- do not place cotton in your dogs ears. Cotton soaks up water and allows wate to enter the ears. Just be careful to not let water get into the ears.
- wear old clothes or clothing that you don't mind getting wet. You will get very wet along with your dog.
- do not let the fur go down your drain.
- only apply one application of shampoo unless your dog is very dirty or has not had a bath in a very long time.
- if your dog is extremely matted, it may be best to take him/her to a professional groomer instead of brushing and bathing the dog yourself.
- most dogs no not need a bath more than once a month. Too frequent bathing can dry out the skin and coat.
- it is a good idea to get your dog used to brushing and bathing at an early age.
