One of the most important duties of a dog parent is to keep their furry babies clean and tidy. Bathing them regularly ensures their overall good health and benefits their skin and coat. You will be happy to know that bathing a dog is not at all stressful. If you’ve just adopted a dog that you need to give a bath or planning to take over your dog’s bath-time responsibility from your groomer, this step-by-step guide is all that will need to refer. Read on to find out more.

Step-by-step Instructions to bathe your dog

Here is all you need to know about how to bathe a dog:

• Gather all the supplies

Before you begin to bathe your dog, make sure to gather all necessary supplies like dog shampoo and conditioner, de-shedding tool, nail clippers, toothbrush, cotton balls for ears, detangling spray, towels, comb, treats and toys.

• Brush your dog’s fur to remove mats

If your dog has medium or long fur, you will need to brush them to remove the mats and tangles as water makes mats worse.

• Secure your dog

Dogs generally do not like to take baths and tend to run away. You may make use of a grooming loop to secure your dog to the faucet.

You may also make use of this time to brush your dog’s teeth as whatever mess takes place while brushing will get cleaned up along with the bath.

• Insert cotton balls inside your dog’s ears

While bathing your dog it is important that you insert cotton balls in its ears as it keeps their ears dry and protects them from infections caused by moisture. Dogs with floppy ears are more prone to ear infections than the ones with perky ears. You can use a whole cotton ball for large dogs and half of it for smaller pooches.

• Wet your dog’s coat

Begin with wetting your dog’s coat with lukewarm water right from its rear. Make sure that the temperature of the water is not too cold or hot. Wet your pal’s head at the end as a majority of the dogs hate that part the most.

• Apply dog shampoo and lather

Pour a generous amount of dog shampoo on your palm and apply it on your dog beginning with its tail area to the back of its ears. Concentrate more on the dirtiest parts of your dog’s body like the feet and genitals.

Avoid applying shampoo on your canine’s face as it can disturb their sensitive nose and ears. If your dog has short hair, you can clean its muzzle with the help of pet-specific wet wipes. Be careful while cleaning the areas around its eyes.

However, if your dog’s face is dirty and needs a wash, you can safely use the dog shampoo as they are completely safe. But make sure to avoid its eyes and nose.

• Rinse well

Once you’ve scrubbed your dog’s coat well, rinse it with clean water. Give special attention to each and every body part while rinsing as dog fur tends to hide pockets of soap which may lead to skin problems if remains unwashed. You may use your hand to feel around your canine’s body especially on the armpits, around the belly and genitals to make sure that they are clean.

• Apply conditioner and rinse well

A dog conditioner works well for dogs with long hair and dry skin. A conditioner prevents tangles and smoothens the skin. Apply the conditioner on your dog’s skin just like the shampoo avoiding the eyes and nose. Leave it for a few minutes and rinse well.

• Remove the cotton balls from your dog’s ears

If your dog hasn’t shaken out the balls from its ears, remove them from both ears and discard them in the dustbin.

• Clean your dog’s ear and clip its nails

After you’ve bathed your dog, you can clean its ears with the help of a suitable ear cleaner. If it has thick nails, it is easier to clip them when they are wet. Therefore, before you begin to dry your dog, consider clipping its nails with a dog-specific nail clipper.

• Use detangling spray

You may consider applying a detangling spray on your dog’s coat before drying it. This will add extra shine to the fur and make it easier for you to brush the coat.

• Dry your dog

Dry your dog’s coat well with the help of a clean towel. If you’re using a hair dryer, make sure to use it in a cool setting to avoid overheating.

• Brush your dog

Once your dog’s fur is completely dry, brush them with the help of a dog-specific comb to remove tangles and loose fur.

• Treat your dog

After the bath, it’s a nice idea to reward your dog in the form of its favourite treats and toys.

Can you bathe your dog every day?

According to studies, dogs are not required to be bathed every day as it can dry out their skin. However, you may only do so if advised by a vet.

The ideal bathing frequency for all dog breeds is 4 – 8 weeks. However, the frequency can vary according to a dog’s breed, coat type, activity level and other factors. Active dogs or dogs with skin issues may need to be bathed every 1 – 2 weeks while cleaner dogs can be bathed every 8 weeks.

Concluding Note

Now that you’re well-briefed on how to bathe a dog, we’re sure that you will be able to offer your furry friend a smooth and seamless experience. You will need to be patient as it may take time but with diligence and practice, you will be able to transform your dog’s bathing session into a perfect bonding experience for both of you.