Translated by Nick R
Bathing your pet may sound like a difficult and tedious task, but don’t worry! Here I’ll explain in an easy and simple way everything you need to know to bathe your furry friend for the first time.
Table of Contents
Importance of bath in dogs
Bathing is just as important for canines as it is for people. Keeping your furry friend clean is vital to avoid any inconvenience in the future.
Bathing will clearly remove dirt and grime, reducing the production of bothering odors for you and your canine. Moreover, it’ll help to remove the fur remaining on the body (especially in breeds with long hair).
The process will also help to eliminate some fleas from the animal’s coat and make it feel relieved. There are special soaps to complement an anti-flea bath.
In addition, bathing can prevent skin problems for your canine. It can develop dermatological diseases as a result of dirt, which can lead to the formation of fungus or to the acquisition of mange.
How often should you bathe your dog?
Each dog requires different care in its growth stage. Here I’ll show you the factors that influence when to bathe them.
Puppy If this is your puppy’s first bath and it gets dirty, try using wet wipes, or if you are not sure you can take it to the vet. Puppies should only be bathed when they are three to four months old and have their complete vaccination schedule, which will help them to have better immune defenses.
When bathing, use a special soap for puppies. The recommended frequency of bathing for puppies is one month, but it also depends on their activity. If it gets very dirty, do use more frequent baths and remember to do it with warm water and dry it very well.
Adult
For adults, the bathing frequency is one to two months, and for older dogs, it depends on their lifestyle. This means that if it is still active, it will require frequency bathes (every two months), but if it is the opposite, you can extend the bath when it starts to look very dirty or smell bad.
Breed, coat type, and lifestyle
There will be breeds that due to their coat type, will be cleaner, an example of these is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier which has a short coat, or the Xoloitzcuintle being a canine with no hair.
Others, due to the active lifestyle they lead because they spend their time walking in the mountains or in nature, will get dirtier, so they will require a bath every 2 weeks.
But remember that it is not good to bathe them so often because it can affect their pH and natural oils. This would be negative because it would no longer maintain the shine or resistance in its coat that these biological factors provide.
Health problems
Some dogs will develop skin allergies, so they will need more frequent bathing to eliminate the ailment. These baths are usually done with special soaps that treat the dermatological problem without affecting the dog’s pH or natural oils.
An example of skin problems is atopic allergic dermatitis, which is itchy and causes the canine to scratch or lick causing lacerations.
As this is your first time bathing your pet, visit your veterinarian to make sure if your dog needs a special cleaning in any part of the body, whether it is the ears like the Cocker Spaniel or the wrinkles on the muzzle of the Pug.
Preparations for the bath
Apart from having an excellent attitude, patience, and all the disposition to make this experience as fun and comfortable as possible, you will need to prepare the place.
Utensils needed to bathe your dog
To bathe your pet, you will need the basic tools for the bath, here I show you what they are.
Soap or Shampoo
This is one of the most important items. Choose one specially made for dogs, as they are made to avoid drying or mistreating their fur and skin without altering the pH of their skin and their natural oils.
Sponge to scrub
This item is optional, some people like to use special sponges to scrub their pet and others simply use their hands. Try comparing one is better for your friend.
Towel
You should have a towel exclusively for your pet since it will eventually get full of hair. In addition, a large one won’t get wet so quickly and its fabric won’t be so rough. Bamboo fiber or cotton towels will make your furry feel good.
Brushes
The type of hair of your dog will determine this. There are two main types of brushes.
One brush has firm, stiff bristles ideal for detangling your canine’s coat, especially if it is long. The bristle material is usually nylon or metal. However, new types of brushes that can be more comfortable and effective for this task of detangling the hair are coming out in the market.
On the other hand, a brush with firm but soft bristles. It is made of boar bristle material and is normally used for combing and removing dead hair from your furry friend.
Dryer
It’s advisable to have it so your pet’s drying cycle will be perfect. It should have air temperature and power control. This way you can choose a warm temperature so as not to burn or cause cold to your canine.
Cotton
This will prevent water from entering your dog’s ears and causing a major problem.
Special complementary implements
Some dogs have certain health conditions on their skin, such as severe dryness. According to your veterinarian’s recommendations, you will know if your dog has any special condition that needs to be treated during the bath.
There will be other items to make bathing easier, such as a specific flea soap or a spray to help untangle your canine’s coat.
Where do I bathe my dog?
According to the space you have, you will be able to determine where it will be more comfortable to bathe your dog.
House
You probably have a patio, terrace, or your own area in front of your house, usually a garden or paved floor. Certain places inside, such as the shower or bathtub, are also suitable.
Determine where your pet is most comfortable and where you have the supplies handy. These two factors will help you choose the best option.
Apartment
Here the options are limited to two, the shower or bathtub and outdoors on the street. We advise you to bathe it inside unless you’re on the first floor and there is a garden area nearby, then you can contemplate the outside option.
If you don’t have these facilities, you will have to use your shower or bathtub. However, if your dog is not comfortable then it is better to send it to the veterinarian’s office for a bath.
The ideal environment
Pay attention to the date you will bathe your canine, as the weather will influence whether you will be able to do it or not.
The weather
The weather should be sunny and warm so your dog won’t feel cold after the bath. Avoid bathing it in a windy or cold season, such as winter, since dogs are more prone to lower their temperature.
If your pet is exposed to the cold for too long without a heat source nearby, it can get hypothermia. That is why you must not let this happen, because it could bring complications to your pet’s health.
Your Pet’s Comfort
This feature is important to make bathing your furry friend a fun experience. If your dog is not a water lover, you have to prepare the environment. Don’t make your canine feel tense before the bath, so using a plastic or rubber toy for this process will help him relax.
Avoid scolding so your dog doesn’t feel like bath time is a bad and stressful moment, on the contrary, while bathing it, pamper it and let it know that it is behaving well. You can reward it with a snack at the end to let it know it did well.
This process takes time, but if you do it with patience and love, your furry friend will love bath time.
Water Temperature
Aside from being cautious of the weather, water temperature is also a vital factor in bathing your canine. The ideal temperature is between 26°C to 45°C, which means lukewarm. This way the water won’t cause any adverse effect on your pet’s coat and skin.
What clothes do I wear at bathtime?
You too need to be prepared for the bathing. Wear clothes you don’t mind too much
because you will be covered in the hair during the bath.
Think also about your comfort. Wear something you can easily move around in like shorts and a shirt with short sleeves. Tie your hair back so it doesn’t get in your face as a lot of movement will be waiting for you.
Previous recommendations
Before starting with the steps, you are going to put a generous piece of cotton in both ears to avoid water or soap getting into your dog’s ears. Remember to put them in well and sink them in a little bit to make sure they won’t come out.
Also, be prepared at any step, because your canine won’t doubt to shake to get rid of the excess water or soap he feels in his body. So, watch your eyes!
9 Simple Steps for Bathing Your Dog
Now I’ll explain in detail the steps you should follow to bathe your furry friend.
1. Wet your dog’s body
First, wet the entire coat’s surface. Pour the water from the neck down. Avoid wetting the head or the ears to avoid problems. This part should be left for the end.
As you pour warm water over it, move its fur so that all the hair gets wet. Then lift its neck and wet its chest area and finish by wetting its paws. Once everything from the neck down is wet, we can move on to the next step.
2. Soaping the fur
Whether you use soap or shampoo, start pouring the soap from the neck down. Once the soap is impregnated in the animal’s coat, start rubbing it firmly with your fingertips, so that the soap penetrates the coat and reaches the skin. If it dries out, moisten the fur again.
Rub thoroughly the back, paws, and pads, as these areas accumulate the most dirt. Don’t scrub the pads too hard, but use your fingertips to remove any dirt that may be embedded or entangled in the hair between. Then put a little more soap there and rub the pads in circles until they are well lathered.
Also, in this step, you can alternate the force with which you rub it. First, you rub it firmly all over the body and then you do it as if you were scratching with your fingertips. This will make the canine feel relaxed and you can accompany that part with praise to let it know it is behaving well.
Depending on the soap or shampoo you use, you should leave it on for a few minutes, so check the instructions to verify the time or if you should rinse immediately.
3. Rinsing the fur
Then, you will rub the fur with one hand while pouring warm water with the other so that the water penetrates the hair and the soap comes out.
You’ll need a lot of water, so it is better if you have previously heated the water and just warm it with cold water. After checking that you pour the water over the body and no more soap comes out, you will have finished rinsing it.
You will need a lot of water, so you better heat the water beforehand and just warm it up with cold water. Once you see that no soap comes out of the body, you will have finished rinsing.
WARNING: If your dog is too dirty, you will probably need to repeat step 2 and then step 3. If not, a single rinse will be enough to get it clean.
4. Wetting, soaping, and rinsing of the head
Now you’ll need a bit of your strength. Put your hand on its head, leave the three middle fingers (index, middle, and ring fingers) in the middle and bring your thumb and little finger to each ear and pull them down. Your hand will look like a hook grabbing stuffed animals out of a machine.
Keep just enough pressure to keep your dog’s head from lifting, without squeezing the ears. With your free hand, pour the water from the head and let it fall on his snout.
Then you rub the soap over the top of the head, the nose bridge, and the sides of the muzzle and rub it in. Do the same for shampoo. Be careful not to get soap in its eyes, if it happens, rinse it immediately.
Rub carefully the outside of the ears (don’t do it inside) with the soap that is already on the canine, always downwards. And after lathering the head, put your hand in the hook position that I have already explained and pour water so that all the soap drains out.
Do this process until you are sure all the soap is gone. Then check that your dog has no eye discharge (usually seen more in the parts near the bridge of the nose) or dried snot. If it has either or both, wet your fingers and gently wipe it away, especially from the nose. The water helps to soften the area and makes it easier to remove.
Your dog will shake its head hard and pretend to sneeze, but that is completely normal. This is to get rid of the remaining water.
5. Towel drying
Before starting to dry, try to wring out as much water as possible from the fur in zones like the paws and barbs. Let it shake off as much water as possible and finally remove the cotton balls that you put in his ears.
First, take it to a dry area and start drying from the head. Rub the towel firmly over the head, then run it around the ears, especially in the folds. Take each ear and make it as if you were ironing them with your hands flat. Then dry the whole muzzle.
For the back, put the towel over the back and start drying from the neck to the tail, as if you were caressing it. Here you can rub the towel harder: this is where the animal accumulates more water, especially if it has an abundant coat.
Once the back and sides are less wet, you can move on to the paws. Run the towel in the direction of the hair growth and vice versa. Next, take each leg and carefully run the towel over the pads and joints.
Finally, dry the tail by rubbing the towel in the same way. Dogs have a sensitive tail, so be gentle and prevent it from feeling uncomfortable.
Have another towel(s) available in case the one you are using gets wet too quickly, to make sure you are drying it well.
6. Detangling brushing
Take the brush with firm bristles and start untangling the hair. You can start with the beard (if any) or the chest, always combing in the direction in which the hair grows.
When the brush passes without getting stuck, go on with the back area, where you will comb evenly from the neck to the tail. Then, continue with the lateral parts of the back, brushing downwards.
For the legs, it is advisable to use a comb that can grab the fur properly, unlike the brush, whose bristles are already too long. Your sign to know when to stop will be when the comb runs effortlessly through its hair.
If your dog has short hair, you can skip this step.
7. Blow-drying
If you don’t have a hair dryer, you can use a towel to dry the hair as much as possible. Then take it out in the open air in warm weather.
Now, this is a more complex step because you have to make your furry feel comfortable when you are going to use the dryer on him. The first thing you are going to do is to plug in the dryer and get it ready. Then, you are going to call your dog to the area where you have the dryer but put him behind you so he can’t see it.
Pet and scratch your dog’s back for a while, maybe 5 to 10 minutes. After that, continue stroking him with one hand, and with the other, you will take the hairdryer and turn it on at the lowest power level.
Next bring it close to you and then to the dog’s back slowly and without ceasing to caress it. Keep the power on at a medium temperature for a while, as your dog gets used to the noise and the wind sensation. Remember not to put the dryer too close to the dog, but between 5 and 10 cm away.
After a couple of minutes, increase the dryer’s power, keep some distance and put your hand between the dryer and the fur you’re drying as you pass the machine to act as a filter.
Once you are done with the back area including the sides and tail, move on to the chest area. After that, start drying the paws. To dry the pads and ear areas, turn down the power of the dryer to avoid discomfort.
Don’t forget to pamper and pet it while drying it, this will help it to relax and stay still. If it doesn’t stay still, you can use the low power of the dryer for a longer period of time so that it adapts better.
The zone where you dry your dog should not only be dry, but it should also be a place you don’t mind filling with hair. I assure you they’ll fly everywhere!
8. New brushing for styling
After drying, you will now use the soft brush to remove the hairs left on the back or elsewhere. While you brush in the direction where the hair grows, you can stroke it under the neck or on the chest, so that it feels at ease.
9. Air drying
This third option is to finish the drying process well. You can take it for a walk between 30 minutes to an hour so that the dog not only dries but also relaxes by walking for a while and enjoys the wind and the warm weather.
The ideal place to walk your dog is where the grass is short so that it doesn’t get dirty again. And remember, take him with a collar, it can get mischievous and dirty again.
ClarificationsAlthough not all canines need several drying or brushing processes, it depends on the type of coat your furry friend has. On the other hand, some owners will opt for only one drying option, whether it is the towel, the dryer, or the open air, but it is important that the animal is well dried.
