How to bath Your Dog?
1. Gather your supplies
You don’t want to be looking around for cleaning supplies with a wet dog in the tub, so you’ll want to make sure you have the tools you need put together before you start. You should also make sure you dress conveniently and wear clothes that you are not afraid will get dirty. Put a towel on the edge of the tub to prevent water from splashing on it. Put a few more towels for drying.
2. Place a non-slip mat at the bottom of the tub
The tub becomes slippery once it gets soapy. This is to prevent the dog from slipping.
3. Use warm water for the shower
Hot water can hurt your dog’s skin, especially if your dog has short hair. You need to check the water before putting it in, otherwise it may cause unnecessary stress and burns. You may need to spend some time coaxing him with treats so that he is not sensitive to the sound of running water. Be sure to take your time to avoid overwhelming your pet and making things worse for both of you. If you only have a tub and no shower, use a hose or you won’t be able to penetrate the coat or rinse out the shampoo completely, but if your dog is completely submerged in water, it can cause infections as well as dry skin. This is true even for short-haired dogs like bulldogs. You don’t need any high power settings for the hose, just use a hose that doesn’t hurt or stress the dog.
You’ll want to read the shampoo instructions carefully, as diluting it too much may affect how clean your dog is. Some shampoos are only used for flea and tick treatment and not for prevention.
4. Securing the dog in the tub
Some dogs like to run around in the shower. You can buy a leash for dog bathing from a pet supply store. This is a leash that is fixed to the wall of the shower with suction cups and can hold the dog in place while bathing. A slip cord that can be adjusted to the dog’s struggle is best, but no matter how it is restrained, the dog may choke on itself, so watch its breathing carefully and adjust as necessary.
5. Soak your dog thoroughly
Before you start applying shampoo to your dog, make sure your dog’s coat is completely wet. If your dog is not afraid, you can purchase and use a hose and water pressure attachment for the faucet. This will help a lot with larger dogs or dogs with double coats. It avoids letting water into your dog’s ears. Water in the ears can lead to infection. Be sure to only spray/rinse water onto the dog’s neck. The head can be washed separately.
6. Washing your dog’s hair
Starting at the neck and moving towards the back and legs, apply the shampoo with your fingers and work it into the skin. Save the head for last and do not use soap around the ears and eyes (unless you have a tear-free shampoo specifically for dogs). Instead, use a wet towel or washcloth to clean the head.
Once the shampoo has been applied, running a rake or rubber curry brush through your double-coated dog’s coat will help loosen the coat and distribute the shampoo better – just be careful not to leave it in one place for too long. If diluted properly, the shampoo will be more easily rinsed out.
7. Rinse your dog thoroughly
As soon as you see dirt or soap suds coming out of a spot, keep rinsing. You can use the method of soaking your dog’s coat before shampooing. If your dog is fearful and you are concerned about not being able to do it yourself, some veterinarians can give appropriate sedation, but remember not to use too much, just enough to allow you to finish grooming in a few hours. Touch the dog’s entire body to feel for shampoo, especially the chest area and between the legs, which are easy to overlook. If you rub the hair with your fingers and pull gently and feel a squeak, then it has been cleaned.
8. Drying your dog
Use a squeegee or use your hand as a squeegee to dry the water from your dog’s body. While it is still in the bath, dry it with a towel if possible so it doesn’t make a mess. Place the towel on the dog’s back or hold it next to it to allow it to shake the water off its body. Many dogs will learn the “bath rule” and wait until you place the towel on them to inhibit water droplets before shaking them off. Or you can use a chamois towel, which is a thin fleece-like towel that can be wrung out when wet. It is very efficient to use. By using the chamois first, then the towel, you can reduce the worry of dry fur after drying.
If you have a double-coated or long-haired dog, you may need to use a hair dryer to dry it.
9. Use a hair dryer if necessary
If towel drying does not solve the problem, use a hair dryer. If your dog’s coat is particularly long, you may need to blow dry the coat while brushing. Towel drying while blow drying is the fastest way to do this.
Make sure the hair dryer is on the cool setting! This may take longer than usual, but it will greatly reduce the amount of time your dog’s coat and skin will dry out.
If your dog is afraid of the sound or feel of the hair dryer, don’t push him. Towel dry him as much as possible and let let let him dry in an open area. Do not let your dog go out completely wet, as water can cause skin and coat irritation and dryness if not at least towel dried first.
