If you’re a new pet parent, first of all, congratulations on the new addition. If you’ve been a pet parent for a long time, we love your cuddly, cute companion just as much.
With this little packet of enjoyment and companionship; comes work too. And the most important one is bathing your dog, even if it seems like a simple task.
How Often Does Your Dog Need a Bath?
It depends on the Dog breed and lifestyle. The length of their coat, short or long? OR if your pooch is a messy one who loves to play in the mud, you might want to consider bathing them more than once a month. Otherwise, monthly bathing works just fine!
The same goes for the length of their coat. Longer or shorter coats, you get the gist. However, some exceptions, such as the Chinese Crested breed, have a shorter coat of fur but require more baths. Better if you ask your groomer or vet about the frequency of bathes.
Any Specific Shampoo or Just Human Shampoo?
Did you think you and your canine companion can have the same shampoo? Well, think again and throw the thought out the window this time. The pH levels of dogs and humans are very different. They are more alkaline. Hence, human shampoos can irritate the little munchkin’s skin.
Also, who doesn’t like a fresh-smelling dog? Always choose the best-smelling dog shampoo for your pet to become more huggable.
Emergency Situation?
Suppose it’s 3 in the morning, and your dog decides to go on a ”little adventure” of rolling into something disgusting. If you need a quick wash but don’t have dog shampoo at hand, would you use human shampoo? Yes! The frequency of using a human or acidic shampoo for the dog reacts, but if it’s a one-time thing, then your pet would probably be fine.
Where to Bath Your Dog?
For small dog breeds, you can bath them in small spaces, even in a kitchen sink. But if your dog is huge-sized, the most common go-to place is a bathtub.
Get the place and your shampoos ready before you get the dog in for a bath because, believe me, you won’t like a wet dog running around your house while you’re looking for their shampoo.
Another approach could be the use of wash stations for pets. If you want your family bathtub NOT to get clogged with dog fur, then you might want to look at bath stations.
Execute Mission Bath Time
Apart from shampoos, the second most crucial thing is to get your pup to take a bath. While some dogs (Golden Retrievers, I’m talking about you, good boy) love bath times, others may run farthest when they hear a splash of water.
Try making bath times fun for them (or at least less chaotic). Try the positive reinforcement method. It includes praise, treats, or petting. Like when your dog listens to you or is going towards the bathing station, give them a treat, and when they’re done with the bath, get them something good like praise or pet them. So, every time you call them for a bath, they have something positive to look forward to.
You can even get them a little wet, but hold off on the shampoo at first. You can even feed your dog in the tub, so they associate it with something positive. Make bath time fun. Offer best dog treats, give lots of praise, and act like you’re enjoying it yourself—even if you’re a little stressed out too.
Is Your Dog Too Skittish? Try Doing This
It’s great to have a partner who can hold the dog for you while you bathe them. But if that’s not the case, try letting your pooch play or do tons of exercises before bath time. An exhausted dog would be much easy to handle than one who may cause a tornado in the bathroom.
Bath Time Tips
Now, getting into the bath, how do you give one? Here’s a step-by-step guide for you;
- Brushes your dog’s fur out as it detangles any knots formed and may also relax a dog before they get into the water.
- If your dog allows, put some earplugs in their ears to prevent water from coming in.
- Start soaking your dog with water, and prevent eyes and ears. Be very thorough in damping your dog from head to tail.
- Shampoos are usually concentrated. That being the case, it’s better to dilute it with water. This makes it easier to create lather and spread it evenly on the dog.
- Gently rub them, do not scrub them. Massage the shampoo the same way you would massage your head. Saturate the coat with shampoo; this might be a little difficult for a double or thick-coat breed.
- Rinse the shampoo and apply some conditioner. Let the conditioner sit for a few minutes before you rinse it off. Conditioners help in detangling and keeping fur soft and shiny.
- As for the face, it’s safer to use a face towel. Damp it in soap water and run it over your dog’s face, then damp it again in clean water and rinse any product left on the dog’s face.
- Before ending bath time, ensure that you run water through your pet enough times; so that there is no product left on their skin.
- No matter where you bathe your dog, remember to towel drying. Get a towel over their back as soon as the bathing is done to prevent a wet dog shake.
- Blow dry with special pet dryers or human ones with a cold setting. Either this or air dry, run a brush through them every 10 minutes to prevent mats.
Now is the time for treats!
Baths should be given either monthly or after every 4-6 weeks. Rarely giving baths may invite fleas, while too much bathing dries out your pal’s skin.
Bathing is an essential part of your dog’s hygiene. Apart from cleaning visible dust, it keeps parasites away. But at the end of the day, you should bathe them whenever you feel like they can’t be cuddled with any longer. And with these tips and tricks in mind, you will surely give a successful bath to your pup. As for you, the feeling of doing something nice for your canine pal is beyond amazing.
Also read about how to keep your dog’s life full of joy. To read click here