How to wash a dog ? Do you ever wonder if giving your dog a bath is as simple as you think? There is a right way and a wrong way to bathe your dog. When you do it correctly, you and your dogwill both enjoy the experience.
How to Wash a Dog
Here are the correct steps to follow:
- Dog Grooming Supplies Before bathing your dog, gather the dog grooming supplies that you’ll need and put them near the dog wash tub. You’ll want a shampoo made specifically for dogs, a large bowl or special shower head, cotton balls and a few towels. If your dog has a skin condition, medicated shampoo can be prescribed by your veterinarian.
- Prepping Turn on the water and let it run until it is lukewarm. If your dog is prone to ear infections or has pendulous ears, place a cotton ball just inside the ear canal. Cotton will prevent water from entering your dog’s ear. Place a towel in the bottom of the dog wash tub and wet it thoroughly to give your dog traction. Put your dog in the tub and you’re ready to give it a bath.
- Bathing your Dog Wet your dog thoroughly, starting with its head and working toward the tail. Make sure that you soak your dog’s stomach, legs and the area under the tail. Squirt shampoo into your hand and run it over your dog. Repeat this over the major portions of your dog’s body. When your dog is coated in shampoo, begin to lather the shampoo with your finger tips, working it into your dog’s coat. After you’ve scrubbed your dog completely, carefully rinse all of the shampoo away. If your dog is prescribed a medicated shampoo, make sure that you follow your veterinarian’s instructions. Most medicated shampoos will need to sit on your dog for five to ten minutes prior to being rinsed off. Allowing the shampoo to sit on your dog allows the medication to do its job.
- Drying your Dog Carefully remove your dog from the wash tub and dry it off with a towel. If your dog is large, it may take two or three towels to do the job. If the weather is warm, let your dog run outside to dry off its fur. In chilly weather, a hair dryer set to the lowest setting will remove the moisture from your dog ’s coat.
- Fearful Dogs If you have a dog that is afraid of water or is too large for you to handle on your own, a groomer’s services may be helpful. Dog grooming is a booming business, making groomers easy to find. These professionals are trained to handle fearful and large dogs properly, ensuring a safe bath for your canine companion.
Giving your dog a dog bath isn’t difficult, but it must be done correctly to be effective and stress-free. Follow the steps above and your pooch won’t smell like a dog for long. Don’t be worried about bathing your dog too often; if you use a pet-safe shampoo, you can safely wash your dog once a week if necessary. Now you know how to wash a dog, go here to read how often your dog needs grooming and to learn more about supplies for healthy pets.
