Eight Steps to a Successful Dog Bath

How to give your dog a bath: With these Dog Grooming Tips bathing your dog can be a pleasant experience for both YOU and your PET. Bath time, could turn out to be a looked forward event or a dreaded event for your dog and yourself. It all depends on what you make out of it. Be sure you set aside enough time to complete this essential part of Dog Grooming. Taking your time will make your pet more comfortable than if you are rushed.

     Dirt and odors love dogs, which makes learning how to give a dog a bath an essential part of caring for your pet. You may have visions, or past experiences, of your dog tearing through the house half-soaped up and shaking water all over your new furniture. But bath time doesn't have to be an occasion to dread if you plan ahead and give your dog a bath he'll enjoy. Have patients with your pet. I am a Dog Groomer and believe me when I tell you patients is awarding for both you and your pet. I have a couple clients that have dogs that only have three legs , one is terrified of water, but all these dogs have trust in me, I have taken the time to show them how to stand, how to relax in the tub, bath time can be frightening to many pets. Trust and Confidence is an essential part of Pet Care. With this seven step dog grooming course, giving your pet a bath will be a snap.
      If you have read “about Cheyenne” in my blog, you will understand that not all dogs are the same. She used to be very scared in the tub; she would hit the panic button big time! I never would get upset with her, and showed her I wouldn’t hurt her and that bath was a good thing. I still have to be very slow with her, but she has accepted bath and grooming time without to much trouble.
Let’s get started: First you want to gather you bath and grooming supplies, collect all the grooming supplies you’ll need for bath before you start. Some of the essential dog grooming bath supplies that I like to use includes:
Brush or comb: Have on hand the appropriate grooming brush or comb for your dog’s coat. One of my best recommendations is the Soft Rubber Dog Brush - Removes loose hair like a magnet, stimulates capillaries and natural oil production for healthy skin and coats.
Dog Shampoo and Cream Rinse: Be sure to use a Shampoo and Cream Rinse formulated for your pet. Product made for people don’t have the appropriate pH balance for dogs and this in turn can damage the coat and skin. I like to use an Oatmeal base shampoo; it seems to help with the itches.
Small Cotton Balls: These are for there ears, you need to keep water and soap clear of their ears.
Plastic Pitcher or Removable Shower head: The pitcher works great if you don’t have a removable shower head for wetting and rinsing you pet.
Lots of Towels for Drying your pet.
A couple optional items you might like to use when you give your dog a bath are special ophthalmic ointment to keep your dogs eyes from being burned by the shampoo this is available from your veterinarian or a pet supply store, and an ear dry solution if your dog has a lot of ear infections.


Eight steps for bathing and grooming your dog:
When you have everything gathered up, its time to give your dog a bath! A word of warning is be sure to close the door to the bathroom or whatever room you’re using to bath them, you don’t want any escapee’s…
Step one: Brush you dog
Be sure to always brush you dog before giving them there bath (this is also an important step in weekly dog grooming) you want to remove loose hair, tangles, and mats - bathing them before your do this will only make the tangles worse.
Step two: It time to jump into the tub
Place your dog into the tub, if they will climb in the tub this is very helpful if not gently place your pet into the tub, remember you don’t want to scare them. This is when you will want to put the cotton balls in the ears and apply the protective eye ointment in there eyes if you’re so inclined.
Step three: Get your pet wet!
Check the temperature of the water you will want to use lukewarm water to wet you pet. Start from the front and move to the back and the underneath, save his head for last – a dog with a dry head has less of a tendency to shake, since the best shakes start from the front and move back. You can keep a better hold of your pet with his hair dry around his neck and head.
Step four: Time for the Shampoo
You will want to use a generous amount of shampoo, (but go easy on the shampoo around his head and ears). Work the shampoo in to nice lather starting at the neck and moving back to the tail. Don’t forget to shampoo there belly and between the toes. If your dog has a longer coat, be sure to squeeze and press the shampoo through his hair rather than rubbing it, this can cause tangles.
Step five: Rinse and repeat if necessary
Rinse out the soap completely, Turn you hand over your dogs and check for any left over soap. Soap left on your dog can cause skin irritation. Be thorough when rinsing! If you dog is real dirty and smelly you may have reapply the soap to the offending areas wash and rinse again.
Step six: Wash the face last
Wet you dog’s head carefully and use your fingers or wash cloth to soap up his skull, muzzle and ears. Keep the soap away from his eyes. Then rinse everything again from front to back and do one last check for soapy residue that could need rinsing.
Step seven: Apply the cream rinse
Once you have your dog completely rinsed, it is time to apply the Cream Rinse. A good hint for this is to mix your Cream Rinse half and half with water, this way the cream rinse isn’t to thick and it won’t go on to heavy. Massage the cream rinse evenly all over your pet. I like to try and comb or brush the cream rinse into there coats, I feel this enhances their coat, and helps eliminates snarls in there coats. Be sure to rinse your pet thoroughly front to back as you did when you shampooed your dog.
Step eight: Prepare Yourself for the shake!
Remove the cotton balls from your dog’s ears. I have found if you hold a towel and stand back to let your do shake, they will shake themselves almost dry. Then use towel to dry as much of them as possible. If they have long hair remember to pat them dry this will help avoid tangles. If your pet will stand for it, you can use a blow dryer to help dry them. After a pleasant bath your dog may go nuts! Expect a sudden burst of craziness – running and rolling. Keep them inside and out of drafts until they are completely dry. I have found where ever your pet like to lie place a towel there to help absorb any excess water.
That is it; you are all done with your pet’s bath. See it isn’t that bad. Bathing should be a regularly practice with good dog grooming. Make sure you have the appropriate grooming supplies and equipment on hand and close by saving lots of confusion and trouble during there bath time.

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