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a person washing a dog in a bath tub

Bathing your pooch

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Category Must-Know Information

Published By Deni D (CEO)

From The Experts Available

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Author

Deni D.

Position

Founder & CEO

Regular bathing is essential for maintaining your dog's hygiene and overall health. However, bathing your furry friend can be a challenging task without the right approach and techniques.

Why check out this article?

Our Top 10 Tips for bathing your dog

Gather Supplies: Before starting the bath, gather all necessary supplies, including dog-friendly shampoo, towels, a non-slip mat for the bathtub or shower, and a handheld sprayer or jug for rinsing.

Brush Before Bathing: Begin by brushing your dog's coat to remove any tangles, mats, or loose hair. Brushing before bathing helps prevent mats from becoming worse and ensures a thorough cleaning during the bath.

Prepare the Bathing Area: Set up the bathing area in a warm and comfortable space, such as a bathtub or shower with a non-slip mat to prevent slipping. Fill the tub with lukewarm water, ensuring it's not too hot or too cold.

Wet Your Dog: Use a handheld sprayer or jug to wet your dog's coat thoroughly with lukewarm water. Start from the neck and work your way down, ensuring all areas are evenly wet.

Apply Dog-Friendly Shampoo: Apply a small amount of dog shampoo to your dog's coat, starting from the neck and working your way down to the tail. Be careful to avoid getting shampoo in your dog's eyes, ears, and mouth.

Massage and Lather: Gently massage the shampoo into your dog's coat, focusing on areas that are prone to getting dirty, such as the belly, legs, and paws. Create a rich lather by rubbing the shampoo thoroughly into the coat.

Rinse Thoroughly: Rinse your dog's coat thoroughly with lukewarm water, ensuring all traces of shampoo are removed. Use the handheld sprayer or jug to rinse from the neck down, avoiding the head and ears.

Dry Your Dog: Use clean towels to gently pat your dog's coat dry, starting with their head and working your way down to the tail. Avoid rubbing vigorously, as this can cause tangles and matting.

Air Dry or Use a Dryer: Allow your dog to air dry naturally or use a low-heat setting on a pet dryer to speed up the drying process. Keep the dryer at a safe distance from your dog's skin to prevent overheating.

Reward and Praise: After the bath, reward your dog with treats and praise for their cooperation. Make bath time a positive experience by associating it with rewards and affection, reinforcing good behavior for future baths.

From the experts: During bath time, take care to prevent water from entering your dog's ears. Use a damp cloth to gently wipe around the ears, avoiding deep cleaning inside the ear canal. Excess moisture in the ears can lead to infections, so it's important to keep this area dry and clean during bathing.