Bathing your dog isn’t rocket science, it’s just a tad more complicated than most dog owners at first believe. Even if you’re still not quite sure about how to bath a dog at home, hopefully this article will help you out. To begin, you’ll need a tub or shower. Whether you use a tub in the bathroom or just outside it doesn’t really matter. You’ll want to make sure it’s big enough for your dog and that there’s room all around him. Some dogs like to be able to wiggle their way in or out.
Next you’ll need a nice warm bath which is preferably one with warm water and a few drops of soap. Use a towel or some soft towels to soak up the water. Dogs like a nice hot bath because their skin dries out, which prepares them for the next step. Rinse him off, and then pat him dry. You can use the shower head in your bathroom or something else close by.
Once he’s dry, apply shampoo and conditioner to his coat or fur in the same way you would to your own. This may seem like an unnecessary step, but dogs really don’t do well without shampoo and conditioner. This helps remove any excess oil on their skin, which can sometimes be a problem. To give your dog a good brushing, you can either brush him while standing, or position him on his tummy. It’s important to get rid of loose hair before you start shampooing, so make sure to brush beforehand too.
You can get him into the tub with your help. If it has an opening, all you need is a leash and some water. If it’s a one-person tub, you will need two people to fit comfortably in the tub with you dog. When you let your dog into the tub, turn on the shower so that it sprays warm water all over him. That should help soften the fur on your dog’s body.
The next step in the process is to turn the hose on low, and begin spraying the dog’s body with the water. Use a hand to wipe the bathing solution from his face, and make sure you don’t spray the floor. You don’t want to leave any residue on his coat or paws when you rinse him off in the tub. Some dogs have a sensitive skin, and they may have difficulty rinsing their ears and skin once they are wet.
When you’re finished, you will need to bathe him again, and this time you may want to use a shampoo or conditioner. Dry him off, and give him a pat. This should help give you an idea of how often you should bathe your dog. Most dogs prefer to be bathed at least once a week.
When your dog is wet, do not rub him. Rubbing the coat can cause dirt to get into his skin. Instead, rinse the dog off with warm water and a mild shampoo, and then dry him off with a towel. If your dog has long hair, like mine does, you can wrap it around your waist and legs to keep the extra moisture in.
In summary, when you are learning how to bath a dog, start by washing him very gently. Then, give him a nice rubdown and rinse him off. If your dog has sensitive skin, you can use a conditioner or shampoo after he is bathed. It will keep him clean and healthy.
For medium sized dogs, you can use a large tub and run a hot bath while giving your dog a rinse. Use warm water, and follow up with towels to absorb the water. You can also purchase dog shampoo that is specially designed for small dogs. Many pet stores carry these, or if you have a local pet store, they should be able to recommend a place where you can buy them.
Finally, I would like to touch on the idea of using oatmeal to soothe the dog. Since I live in Florida, it is very common to come down hard on my dogs. Because of that, I am always looking for ways to make sure that they are not suffering from dehydration or other problems. Using oats can be a great way to remedy this problem. Once you rinse off your dog with oatmeal, you should see him feeling a lot better.
There are plenty of grooming articles out there for you to read. In this article, I merely scratched the surface. However, if you take the time to look, you should be able to find the best information available on how to bath a dog.