Not all dogs enjoy getting a bath, so giving yours one might not be as easy as you hope. Luckily, dogs don’t require the same type of grooming schedule as we do, and a daily bath is not necessary or even good for the dog. But when it comes to washing your pup, there are some important pointers to follow to make bath time a safe and positive experience.
Remove the dead hair and mats before you bath. Brush your dog first and/or use a wet-dry brush designed to be used when the shampoo makes his coat easier to brush out.
Work from the neck down. Be careful of your dog’s eyes, ears, and mouth. Use a damp cloth to clean your pup’s face, and when it comes to rinsing, use a cup or handheld sprayer to control the direction of the water.
Prevent water from getting in the ears. One way to ensure water doesn’t get inside your dog’s ears is to place a dry cotton ball carefully at the top of the ear canal. Bendersky points out that a soaked cotton ball will allow water to get in, so changing them out a few times during a bath is a good idea. He also recommends an ear-cleaning solution be applied before and after bathing — before to clean up any wax and dirt that might have accumulated, and after to change the PH of any humidity left behind, preventing the potential for bacteria to grow. Carefully cleaning and drying your dog’s ears after a bath will prevent a possible infection.
Rinse, rinse, and rinse again. This is the most important step and should take as much time as shampooing. A dog’s skin is not as airtight as a human’s; where we have one hair for each follicle, a dog can have multiple hairs growing from each hair follicle. “Any product that is not formulated as a leave-on product could penetrate into a deeper layer of skin, causing an irritation that can range from an itch to a chemical burn,” says Bendersky.
Use a dog shampoo. Because a dog’s skin PH is different than a person’s, it’s important to use a shampoo formulated specifically for dogs. Human shampoo is made to remove the oils from our hair, but with dogs, oils help keep their skin and coat healthy and shiny so we don’t want to remove them. And it’s best to use cool or lukewarm water, never hot.
Avoid slips and falls. When you give your dog a bath, place a towel or non-slippery mat on the bottom of the tub or sink, so that he won’t slip. Bendersky also suggests keeping a loose leash around your dog in order to give you a little more control if he tries to get away. After the bath, towel dry your dog, especially his paws. “Slippery paws can lead to accidents,” says Bendersky.
Don’t bathe your dog too often. Every few weeks or once a month is enough. Frequent bathing can strip away essential oils, making the skin itch and drying out the coat. If you need to clean your dog in-between baths, there are leave-on sprays that condition and clean, and you can use a damp towel to wipe off dirt.
Source: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/at-home-grooming-tips-to-keep-your-pup-comfortable-in-the-warmer-weather/
Shampoo & Conditioner Options
- Burt’s Bees Tearless Puppy Shampoo with Buttermilk for Dogs
- CHI Tearless Puppy Shampoo
- TropiClean Hypo-Allergenic Gentle Coconut Puppy Shampoo
- Frisco Oatmeal Shampoo with Organic Aloe for Dogs, Almond Scent
- FURminator DeShedding Ultra Premium Conditioner For Dogs
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