Dog Washing

Dogs give off a very unpleasant odor when they need a bath, which is why you should know how to be able to bathe your pet. The ritual of washing a dog doesn’t have to be hectic or unpleasant if you follow a few simple guidelines. You will need to practice and you will need patience until your dog gets used to being washed.

You should consult the vet before you bathe the dog because you need to know how often you should wash the dog and which type of pet shampoo you should use. If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, it will need to be washed more often than one that spends most of its time indoors. Some breeds, such as poodles, need to be washed more frequently than other breeds, such as a German shepherd. You also have to look at the dog’s coat. If it has a smooth coat, it won’t need to be bathed as frequently as one with a long, bushy coat.

You also have to be careful about bathing your dog too much. Too much washing will remove the oils from the dog’s coat and cause the skin to dry out. Regular grooming, such as brushing, will reduce the number of baths the dog needs.

There is a checklist you can prepare for yourself to get ready to wash your dog. First of all you need to have everything ready because once you get the dog in the water, it will want to get out, if you have to leave it get what you need. It is likely that you will have a harder time washing the dog and make him anxious the next time you want to repeat the process. You should first gather up the shampoo you want to use, and have the washcloth or sponge ready as well as the towels. Large dogs will need large bath towels in order for you to dry them properly.

You need to use a warm area free of drafts for washing the dog. A bathing tether is a good idea whether you are washing the dog indoors or outdoors. You will need a brush and comb for the coat and a soft brush for cleaning the nails and toes. If the weather is cool, you should never wash the dog outdoors.

Brush out the coat to remove all bits of dirt and to comb out ay matted fur. If not, the matted areas will only get worse with the water making it very painful for both the dog and you to comb them out after you finish the bath. Use a drop of mineral oil in each eye to protect them from the shampoo and put cotton balls in the ears. Fill the tub you are using so that the water reaches the dog’s knees and have it at about the same temperature as the dog’s body - 102ºF. Gently pour the warm water over the dog’s body and when you have the coat wet thoroughly, you can apply the shampoo to soap up the coat.

Drain the tub before you start to rinse off the soap. It is important to rinse twice because any shampoo left on the coat can cause an allergic reaction. Let the water out of the tub and wrap the dog in a towel to dry it off thoroughly.