Don’t Despair, The Best Advice On How To Bathe Your Dog

If bath time is a war zone for you and your dog, if he cries, runs or ends up wetter than him, we can help you with some tips on how to bathe your dog. But before we start with the step by step, let’s review some situations:

What space and materials do you have?

Space is important because it will allow you to better manipulate your mischievous little friend. Probably if you live in an apartment or in a house without a terrace or patio, you will have to bathe him in the shower, this will limit your movements a lot, but he will also have less space to flee to. The shower has another advantage and it is warm water, although it is not very ecological to leave the shower open for a long time, another advantage is that once you finish you can relax.

If you have a patio you can have a lot of space, but I recommend (in case your dog is like mine), use the leash to prevent it from escaping. In the patio or terrace you can use a bucket with warm water or the hose, I generally use the hose with a water flow regulator (you have to help the planet), although you should consider another method if you do not have a heating system. water, it is not mandatory, but if your pet is not used to cold water, he will resist you.

Always use specialized shampoo and soap for pets, products for humans or for general hygiene can cause skin problems. If you are going to use a hairdryer at the end of the bath, DO NOT point it directly at his face or put it on his skin or fur directly, you can scare him, cause pain and burns. Many times these products are not even good for you.

What specific care your pet requires

According to the breed, the type of coat or the pathologies, your pet will require some specific care while you bathe it.

Allergies or skin diseases:

In the event that your dog has any kind of allergy, infection, fungus or any skin problem, you should bear in mind the recommendations of your veterinarian. You may be allergic to some products or foods, and this is indicated by redness on the skin. Infections and other types of pathologies require special treatments, which can range from the application of antibiotics or a topical product, to daily washes. Always keep this in mind and try to check the condition of your pet’s fur and skin, including areas such as ears, fingers and tail, to detect any problems it may have.

Hair Type

The length of your pet’s coat will determine the time that must pass between one bath and another. In this way, it is suggested to bathe short-haired dogs every six to eight weeks, those with medium hair every four to six weeks, and those with long, thick hair every four weeks.

Special conditions according to breed

Some dogs require special care during the bath, for example dogs with wrinkles require you to wash with soap inside each of them, including those on their faces and then you must dry them well to avoid the appearance of fungus.

Steps to a good bath

Step 1:

Stroke your dog with your hands to loosen all the dust and dead fur that it may have, if your dog has long fur, take the opportunity to untangle it a little with your fingers. Stroke it against the hair and then brush it.

Step 2:

Wet your dog trying to make him stay calm and still, if you use warm water, make sure it is not too hot, it can cause hair problems. You can use the walking leash in case he gets really fussy. Avoid getting his face wet during this process, wash him only from the neck down.

Step 3:

Go back to stroking it against the hair and wet it again to make sure that the water enters well inside the inner mantle and the skin.

Step 4:

Apply the shampoo that you consider necessary according to its coat, keep in mind that if you put a lot of it you can take a long time rinsing it afterwards. Rub her entire body well with your fingers, massaging her scalp, pads, and fingers.

Step 5:

Rinse using plenty of water, massage well to make sure all the shampoo comes out, if you leave even a little shampoo it can cause irritation.

Step 6:

Once it is well rinsed, put a little water on your hand and wash his face with it, apply a little soap, especially if he has wrinkles. Rinse his face in the same way, thus avoiding the risk of water getting into the ear canal.

Step 7:

Let it shake, then wrap it in a towel and rub it dry, if you have a chance it gets a bit of sun much better, pay special attention to the wrinkles and between its fingers. Remember that you can reward him at every step if he behaves well. Finally, you can spread a dry sheet or towel on the floor and let it roll over, better there than on your bed or furniture, don’t you think?