How to Properly Bathe a Dog
Bathing your dog regularly is an important part of caring for your pet. Are you wondering how often you need to give your dog a bath? It really depends on the breed. Some dogs with longer coats require more frequent baths or trips to a groomer. You should at least give a bath once a month though. This article will provide some tips on how to properly bathe a dog.
The first thing you will need to do is determine where you are going to give your dog a bath. You may have a designated spot just for your dog or they may bathe in the family bathtub. Do not forget that there are DIY dog bath facilities. Just do your research to find out where they are! You will want to start with the right products before turning on the water. Make sure that you are using a shampoo that is specifically made for dogs. You may want to consider a puppy-specific shampoo if you are bathing a puppy.
After you shampoo your dog all over, you will need to apply conditioner. You always want to follow up when you’re grooming at home with a conditioner because when you use your shampoo you strip a lot of the natural oils out of the skin and hair. The conditioner does a great job of rehydrating the skin.
So, you have the right products. What do you do next? Wet your dog with warm water. Next, you will need to shampoo your dog twice. The reason you do this twice is because the first time around, the shampoo binds with the dirt and helps get rid of it. The second time around, you are really washing the skin and pulling out all the remaining dirt and oil from the hair. Use your hands to massage the dog and try to make it an enjoyable experience. Apply the conditioner and leave it on for a few minutes. Rinse well until there is no more product on the fur. If you need shampoo or conditioner on the fur, it will cause irritation on the skin. This is worse than not giving them a bath in the first place!
The hard part is over! Next, towel-dry your dog as best as you can. Use a dog-specific hairdryer on a medium to cool setting. Be sure to reward your four-legged friend for a job well done! They will eventually get used to a bath and enjoy it too!
