Giving Your Dog a Bath Like a Professional

How often should dogs be bathed?

The true answer is that it DEPENDS on the dog. Most dogs need a bath once every month to six weeks in order to minimize odor and oil build-up. This can vary depending on the breed. Oily-coated dogs, such as retrievers and hounds, may require baths more often than non-oily breeds, such as poodles. It also depends on how active your dog is outside, and what the weather is like(rain, mud etc.).

Tips and Tricks

• Do not attempt to bathe your dog alone if s/he is anxious or afraid. Have a helper help you to hold and steady them so they feel safe. A noose, attached by a suction cup to the side of the tub, can also help to steady your pup if you are alone.
  

• Place a cloth or towel down in the bathtub/sink to provide a slip-free surface so that your dog feels more secure.
  

• Do not pour water over your dog’s head as many breeds are prone to secondary ear infections from moisture getting into their ear canal.
  

• Clean furry faces with a washcloth to avoid getting water and soap in their eyes and ears.
  

• Use warm water when bathing your dog. You will have a much more compliant and happier pup. As well as the fact that cold water does not clean as well as warm water.
  

• Do not shorten the rinse time. It is very important to rinse all of the shampoo and residue off of your dog. Shampoo that dries on your dog’s coat can cause skin irritation.
  

• Do not use human shampoo on your dog. Proper dog shampoos and conditioners are PH balanced for them, and are very different from human grade shampoo. Products designed for dogs rinse out easier as well.
  

• Have plenty of towels around and use them to gently squeeze water out of their hair from head to tail- work from your dogs backend down to their belly, legs and paws as you dry them off.
  

• If possible use a hair dryer (on low/warm NEVER HOT setting) to fully dry your pup.

8 Steps to Washing Your Dog Like a Professional.

1. Remove loose fur. Always brush your dog before a bath to remove loose fur. If your dog has any mats carefully cut them away.

2. Rinse your dog with warm water, making sure to fully saturate the fur with water.

3. Shampoo. Lather up the shampoo and massage it into the fur.

4. Rinse and repeat step 3 if necessary.

5. Condition.

6. Rinse.

7. Towel dry - microfiber towels work well to absorb water.

8. Brush - only when fur is fully dry.