Dog Bath Time
How to Give a Dog Bath
Dog bath time can be fun! Learn how to bathe a dog so it is easy and fun for both of you! Look below for step by step directions for bathing a dog. If you get everything ready before you start, the bath will go smoothly and you will stay in control of the activity. So, get everything ready for an awesome afternoon of fun! How often should you give a dog bath? Did you know that bathing your dog too little or too often can be harmful? What if your dog meets a skunk? Here are some tips to make bath time fun for both of you!
How Often Should You
Give Your Dog a Bath?
Dogs don’t need to be bathed nearly as often as we bathe! Most dogs require a bath every 2 weeks. But...if your dog gets dirty or smelly—it’s time! Skipper, our miniature schnauzer, is a little dog of the outdoors. She just loves to run outside and go into the woods that are beside our house.
Photo by Augie Schwer
Herbal Shampoo
and Oatmeal Shampoo
help to keep dog skin and hair healthy.
After it has rained and she goes for a run, Skipper sometimes looks like a little mud ball when she comes inside. It’s the perfect time to take a dog bath!Skipper also loves to find awful, smelly feces or worse when she goes out into the woods. And…you guessed it--she loves to roll in it! This justifies another bath for her—and quickly! Even if your dog doesn’t get as dirty as the examples I just gave, she will eventually start to smell a little “doggy!” It’s time for a bath in that case, too. So, the bottom line on time for bathing a dog, is it’s time when you want him to smell and look a bit fresher. Use your own best judgment. You may bathe your dog once a week. Or, if your dog is inside most of the time and stays pretty clean, you may bathe your dog once every 2 weeks. Keeping your dog smelling fresh is probably your very first reason for bathing him. But there are other benefits to consider. When you bathe your dog, you rid her of certain skin parasites. And, in addition, keeping your dog clean will also help to keep both dry skin and oily skin conditions under control.
Gather Your Bath Equipment
Before the Bath
Before you take your dog to the bath area, assemble all the things you will need. Believe me, it will be a lot more difficult to get something after you have your dog. If the dog bath is not his favorite activity, your pet may disappear while you are getting the shampoo!
Photo by Johnny Jet
Never use people shampoo on your dog.
Always use gentle dog shampoo.
Keep everything that you will need for your dog bath within reach.Make sure that you are wearing clothing that can get wet. This can be a messy affair! You will need: - cotton balls
- towels
- dog shampoo - gentle herbal or oatmeal shampoo or
flea shampoo
- brush
- conditioner
- plastic container to use for rinsing
- baby bathtub or other container for the bath
- dog treats to be used as a reward
How to Bathe a Dog
and Make it Fun!
The best way to make sure that your pet is OK with his bath is to start giving him baths when he is still little. Introduce the activity as something that is fun.
Photo by La Marga, Italy
Make sure that your puppy or dog understands that his dog bath is not an option—you are going to finish what you are starting!If you prefer, you can give your dog a shower with a hand held shower instead of giving her a bath. The hand held shower head allows you to direct the water to where you want it to go. You can turn it on and off easily.
Hand Held Shower If you decide to use a hand held shower, make the water warm before you put your dog in the shower area. You only have 2 hands and you may need both to control your dog!Using a regular shower for your dog's bath time is not a good idea, as you can get water and soap in your dog’s eyes, ears and nose. It is very frightening to your dog to have water in her nose—it feels like she’s drowning! Here are the steps to giving your dog a bath: - Fill the bathtub with warm, not hot water
- Brush your dog to get rid of any matted areas or tangles.
- Put cotton balls in her ears to keep soap and water out of them. The cotton balls should be placed snugly, but not deeply, in your dog’s ears.
- Next, we always remove Skipper’s collar. If you think you will need to have a way to control your dog, you may want to keep his collar on him. You will need to make sure that your dog doesn't get out of her bath!
- Place your dog in the bathtub (gently)
- Wet your dog, using the plastic container filled with water. Make sure that you keep water from getting in her eyes.
- Apply the shampoo and rub it into her fur. If you are using a flea shampoo with a puppy, read the label to make sure that it is safe for a dog her age.
- Rinse her carefully, making sure to keep the soap and water from her eyes. Rinse your dog's head before rinsing the rest of her body. Dry it before rinsing the rest of her body--this will help prevent her shaking water all over you.
- After you have rinsed her coat, you can apply a conditioner if you would like. Rinse again.
- Squeeze excess water from your dog's coat and then towel dry your dog. Remove the ear plugs and gently dry the insides of her ears.
- If she is not afraid of it, you might use a hair dryer on the low setting to dry her.
- Give your dog a dog treat or two after her bath. Even if her behavior has not been exactly perfect. You want this to be an experience that just keeps getting better all the time—for both of you!
Happy Canine Bath Times Here are some tips for making your dog baths go well. - Keep talking to your dog while you bathe her. Tell her she’s good, reassure her so that she knows that this activity is normal—not scarey!
- Don't forget to reward her with treats. Dogs do remember, and if she knows that a treat is waiting, she will associate her bath with pleasantries.
- After the dog bath is over, make sure that everyone tells her how good she was and how pretty she is. You would be amazed to know that dogs like to be “pretty”.
- Dogs often run around the room (or outside) with excitement after having a bath. Pepper, our former miniature schnauzer, used to toss her towel up in the air and then chase it.
- Dogs will also roll over when they are excited. It would be a good idea to make sure that your dog is in a clean area for awhile so that he doesn't go rolling in some unpleasant, smelly (or dirty) area!
Brush your dog regularly. This will help to keep him fresh and clean-smelling. Brushing removes dead hair, dirt and parasites and it distributes oil through the hair to keep it nice and shiny. Start when your dog is still a pup, so he gets used to the idea!
What if Your Dog
Meets a Skunk?
If you live in the country, some things are different. One of those things is the presence of skunks.With a dog’s curiosity and, for some, their hunting instinct, it’s not hard to see how a skunk encounter might occur. When this happens, your dog loses—big time! If this happens to your dog, here is what you can do—you guessed it—the first step is bathing your dog. This bath is going to be an outside one! Prepare yourself. This dog bath is not going to be much fun for either of you!
- Give your dog a bath, using his normal dog shampoo. Alternatively, you can use 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of his regular shampoo to wash him.
- Rinse him with milk or tomato juice.
- Rinse him thoroughly with water.
This will probably not make him smell fresh on the first try. You will most likely have to repeat this dog bath process over several days until your dog smells like a “dog” again! In the meantime, you might want to consider keeping him in a room in the house separate from the main living area.
Dog Bath to Holistic Dog Care
Dog Bath to Best Dog Treat Recipes
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