How to Properly Bathe Your Dog

Generally, you may think that dogs only need to be bathed when they get to the "stinky" stage. That's when you can't stand to smell them anymore. Actually, according to the experts who know, a dog needs a bath every month...no matter if they want it or not. A monthly bath will not only keep your dog clean, (at least, relatively clean, depending on the activities of your dog),
but it will also help keep flea infestation under control.

To bathe your dog properly, you should use a bath tub or a utility tub if you're going to bathe him or her outside. A shower sprayer hose is a great device to use in an inside bathtub. But, if you're going to wash them outside, your garden hose needs to be able to provide hot and cold water together. Place a rubber mat in the bottom of the tub. This will make your dog feel secure because their feet won't slide around uncontrollably. Most dogs don't like taking a bath anyhow, so you need to make them feel as comfortable as possible.

Brush your dog's fur out first before you give him or her a bath. The brushing will get rid of tangles and matted places that might be in their fur. If his or her is a tangled mess, there are detangling products on the market that are made especially for dogs.

Fill the tub with about three inches of lukewarm water, and gently place your dog into the water. Next, place a cotton ball gently into each of its ears. The cotton balls should extend just inside the ear canal. The purpose of the cotton is to keep water out of their ears.

Wet his or her coat down thoroughly with a garden hose. Then, start with their main body and lather it up with a good quality dog shampoo. Work the shampoo into a rich lather with your fingers. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions on the bottle in order to achieve the best results. For example, many flea shampoos recommend that you leave the lather on your dog for a certain period of time.

Then, lather up your dog's stomach, legs, feet, and tail. It's a good idea to soothe your pet by speaking to him or her in reassuring tones.

Finally, finish the washing process by pouring a bit of the shampoo into one hand. Rub your hands together and carefully wash his or her face and head. Be careful not to get any shampoo into their eyes, nose, or mouth. If you do, use a soft, clean towel to wipe it off.

To rinse your dog, start with their head first. Rinse your hands off. Then, cover their eyes by cupping one hand over them. Carefully hold their head back at a slight angle so the suds don't run into their eyes or into their nose. Next, cover your dog's nose and rinse off the rest of their head.
Repeat this process as many times as need be in order to remove all of the shampoo and suds from their fur.

Next, work your way down their body with the garden hose or shower sprayer hose. Once you have finished bathing your dog, wipe your hand over their fur to remove the excess water.

Then, remove the cotton balls from his or her ears. Use thick, absorbent towels to dry your dog off completely. If the weather is warm enough, you can allow him or her to air dry afterwards. If the weather outside is cold, you should use a hair blow dryer to finish the drying process. Just be careful not to hold the blow dryer too close to their fur or they can get burned.

And, finally, your dog may not be too happy, be you should be! He or she is clean, their fur is detangled, and they are once again smelling good!