Many people love the ease of dropping their dog off at a professional groomer for a simple bath or opt for the full salon treatment including coat trim and nail clip. For the hands-on type, do-it-yourself doggie bathing facilities are popular with amenities such as raised tubs, a large assortment of shampoos and conditioners, piles of fluffy towels, and staff available to assist.
But the time-honoured tradition of bathing the pooch in the household tub remains the venue of choice for many people. There are challenges involved, of course, but the dog, the human, and the bathroom end up smelling delightfully clean. And here's an added motivating feature for the human: The average dog owner burns 245 calories per hour while bathing the pooch.
Bathing Products Depend Upon Skin and Coat Type
A veterinarian should be consulted to discuss frequency of bathing and the best products to use according to the dog's particular coat and skin type. A wide variety of shampoos is available at pet supply stores including special formulations to address issues such as oily, dry or sensitive skin, fleas, or allergies. Conditioners are generally required for long-haired dogs to help avoid tangling, or those whose skin is sensitive to the drying effects of some shampoos.
Keep in mind that skin and coat can change according to factors such as weather, health problems, diet, and simply the progression of time. Just as human skin and hair requirements change over the years, a dog may require product adjustments as well.
A clean dog is a happy dog but too much bathing can cause skin irritation. Most dogs don't need to be bathed more than once a month. Many dogs are bathed only once or twice a year. Rule of thumb: if your canine smells "doggie" or dirt is visible on his skin, it's time for a bath.
Here's What You'll Need:
- Skid-proof rubber mat to create a non-slip tub surface
- Hand-held shower head
- Brush and/or comb
- Shampoo and, if required, conditioner
- Washcloth
- Towels
- Cotton balls for the ears (arguable and, therefore, optional - see below)*
Here's What to Do:
- Get into your bathing suit or birthday suit. If you've never bathed a dog before, consider it an adventure akin to a visit to the local Water Park with a human toddler.
- Protect yourself, your dog, and your belongings by removing breakable soap dishes, glass containers and any unnecessary furniture from around the tub. Flip the shower curtain over the rod or tie it in a loose knot to avoid getting tangled in it.
- Gather up everything you'll need from the list above. Place shampoo, conditioner (optional), washcloth and towels within easy reach. Place the skid-proof mat on the bottom of the tub. Fill the tub with enough lukewarm water to reach a minimum height of the dog's knees.
- Brush and/or comb your dog to remove tangles, mats, loose hair, bits of foliage, and dirt. Readying the skin and coat for a bath is a big time-saver.
- Place the dog in the tub. If he sees no problem with this, go to the next step. If he sees a problem with this, encourage him with treats, happy talk or toss his favourite rubber toy into the tub for company.
- *Some people insert cotton balls into a dog's ears to prevent water from entering but many groomers warn that this creates a "wick" which causes water to be drawn into the ears. If in doubt, forget the cotton balls and use caution.
- Pour a small amount of shampoo onto a damp washcloth and clean the face, taking care to avoid the eyes, nose, mouth and inner ears. Rinse well with tub water or a very light spray with the hand-held shower head.
- Use your hands to suds the rest of the dog then rinse well with cool or lukewarm water via the shower head. Rinse again, making sure that the product is completely gone. Some shampoo labels suggest a repeat but unless the dog is unusually smelly or dirty, one go-round should do the job.
- Apply the conditioner, if needed, and follow up with another rinse. Continue rinsing until all traces of the product have disappeared.
- Lift the dog carefully out of the tub and dry him with clean towels. A hair blower will help but be sure to set it to "cool" to avoid over-drying which may cause damage to the skin and coat.
- Unless it's warm outside, keep your dog in the house until he's absolutely dry.
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