Helpful Tips and Techniques for Bathing Your Dog in the Right Way

Bathing your dog helps them to maintain a healthy coat and skin, keeping them free from parasites and preventing dermatological problems. How often you bathe your pet depends on their breed, whether they are in-home pets, frequently active outdoors, or have a lighter colored coat. Some breed types such as terriers and short haired dogs require baths a few times a year compared to longer haired and lighter colored pets. Similarly, certain breeds (such as Basset Hounds) which tend to have more oily coats may require weekly baths, whilst breeds with water repellent coats (such as Golden Retrievers) may require less frequent bathing to help preserve the natural oils in their coat. Puppies tend to be more active outdoors, requiring more frequent bathing than older dogs. It is important to begin bathing puppies at an early age (between 7 weeks to 7 months of age) to familiarize your pet with bathing, helping them to have a positive experience associated with water, thus making bathing easier. Inspecting your dog's coat to see if there is any dirt or smell is often a good way to determine if your dog requires bathing, although one a month is considered average.

Prepare all equipment such as dog shampoos, conditioners, anti-slip mats and towels in advance to make the process quick and easy. Depending of your dog's size, some smaller breeds may be able to be bathed in your sink. Alternatively, using your showers with a detachable shower head is ideal. Portable doggie tubs can also be purchased from many pet stores. Before bathing, brush your pet's coat to remove any debris. This action also reduces the tendency for your dog's coat to hold excess water in matted coats. It is also easier to brush a dry coat than a wet coat.

When bathing, concentrate on washing the areas from the ears below so too much water does not enter the ear canal. Instead, you can wash the ears before your dog steps in the bath. Use only shampoos specifically formulated for dogs as these are non-toxic, biodegradable, soap free, natural, and free from coal tar or sulfur derivatives which can be drying to the skin. If your dog has long hair you may want to consider a conditioner to help reduce matted and tangled coat. There are many medicated options available for specific skin and coat problems and in tick season you may want to consider frequent insecticidal baths in addition to regular bathing.

Use lukewarm water and hold your pet to reduce slipping. This also serves to prevent their natural instinct to shake the water of its coat. Massage the shampoo thoroughly into the coat to help loosen up any dirt, remembering to clean your dog's feet and skin folds. Massage is also a wonderful way to help calm your dog during the process. After helping your dog out of the bath, allow them to shake their coat before using a towel to dry excess water. If tolerated, you can use a hairdryer on low or no heat. It is important to frequently praise and reinforce your dog verbally during the bathing process to make it as enjoyable an experience as possible. After bathing, you may consider giving your dog a treat as a reward.