5 Simple Tips for Giving Your Dog a Bath

Grooming your dog can be challenging, but it's a vital part of his overall care. Regular grooming not only makes your dog look and smell better, but it contributes to his overall health and well-being. Bathing your dog is probably one of the bigger challenges of grooming. Many people prefer to avoid the task by making an appointment with the local groomer. The truth is, it's really not that hard to give your dog a bath at home and save yourself some cash. A few simple tips will ensure this goes smoothing both before and after your dog's bath.

5 tips for bathing your dog:

1. Prepare all your tools beforehand.

Why would this make a difference? Once you've started bathing your pet dog, you don't want to leave him unattended. Should you forget the conditioning spray or a brush, you will likely have a wet runaway to handle.  By preparing ahead of time, your pup will be safe and it also means that you won't have a very wet sudsy pet tracking water and soap all around your house.

2. Use shampoos or conditioner which has been made specifically for dogs.

This is important because the pH level of dog's skin differs from that of humans. Dog shampoos and conditioners are formulated to be gentle on your dog's skin and coat, where human soaps may be too harsh, causing dryness and irritation.

3. Make sure you rinse your puppy off thoroughly after soaping him up

You'll want to make sure you've rinsed off every bit of shampoo out of your dog's fur. The main reason for this is that residual shampoo might cause irritation on your dog's skin. This can lead to an itchy, uncomfortable dog. Furthermore, if your dog is scratching himself repeatedly, it can result in further problems, including dermatitis and other skin infections.

4. Towel dry your dog before letting him out of the tub

Using a towel, blot off any excess water off of your dog before letting him leave the tub. And just why's this a good idea? Having the excess water off your furry friend before allowing him out of your bathroom will lessen some of the "water spray" you're going to see when bath time is over! And - I assure you - you will have water spray :-) The dryer you can get him, the less "damage" he's going to do.

5. Don't bathe your canine more often than once a month.

Your dog's coat has naturally protective oils that keep his skin lubricated. Excessive shampooing can rob his skin of these precious oils and lead to scratching and infection. It's never fun having an itchy, uncomfortable dog.

Just carefully stick to the 5 tips above and you'll have an easier go of it in in terms of your dog's bath time.

For more detailed information about dog grooming, read our article:  Basic Dog Grooming Tips