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Bath time is usual an ordeal most owners and pets dread. Most owners hate the time, effort, and mess involved. They are continually amazed at the amount of area even the smallest Chihuahua can get wet while shaking the water off itself. By the end of each session, it is often a toss up as to who is actually wetter, dog or owner.
The dog dreads it because it is often a time filled with angry behavior by the owner, stinging eyes from soap and water running into sensitive ears. His dread of the ordeal increases to fear as the owner often turn from a loving master to a rough stranger who is yelling and grabbing for a scruff, leg or any other hand hold on the animal.
These feelings can often be eradicated by following the simple instructions below.
For the purpose of this article, I will assume you are bathing the dog in the bathtub of your home.
Once you have decided to bathe your dog, plan ahead and get all the needed items together. You will need an actual pet shampoo. Human shampoos are Ph formulated and often can cause skin irritations when used on a pet. In addition to the shampoo, you will need the dip if you are planning on using it to control external parasites and a container to mix it in. You should mix the dip before starting the bath and place it within easy reach. If you do not have an attachable hose for your tub/shower area, you will need a large plastic glass or pot with a handle to pour water over your dog. Other items needed are cotton balls, eye ointment or mineral oil and plenty of towels. Some owners prefer having a soft scrub brush for shorthaired breeds like Dobermans, Dachshunds and Bassets.
To begin the bath, tell your dog in a happy voice “Come on (dog’s name) it is bath time.”
Make him look forward to it as a treat, not a dreaded event.
Coax your dog into the bathroom with lavish praise and edible treats and once in, gently close the door behind him. Pet and inform him he is a “good dog.”
Before placing your dog in the tub, firmly place cotton balls into each ear. This will keep the water, shampoo and dip from running inside and starting a frenzied shaking of the body. It will also lower the number of times you the owner get the resulting shower.
If you have informed your veterinarian of your intention to bathe your dog and requested an eye ointment, now is the time to apply it. ALWAYS check with him or her before using any human eye products. Ointments with steroid bases can cause serious complications in animals that have existing eye problems. If no ointment is to be had, a couple of drops of mineral oil in each eye will protect against the pain of shampoos and dips.
You may have to play a little with the following to see which method works best with your dog. Some will prefer to be in the tub and allow the water to slowly rise while others will behave better if the water is already in the tub. Warm water is best because it is less of a shock to your pet.
Once in the tub, have your dog sit or lie in the water. If you have a small dog, it will be easy to get him completely wet whereas a larger one will require the use of the cup or pot.
It is important to get your dog completely wet. This process can take a bit of time especially on the long-haired, double-coated breeds like Collies, Shelties, German Shepherds, and so on. Many retrievers will also be harder to get wet because they have natural oil that inhibits the hair from absorbing the water.
Once you have gotten your dog wet, you can let the water out of the tub and start the shampooing process. Do this by opening the shampoo and pour a small amount into your hand. Rub your hands together and start at the head and begin the lathering process. Be gentle around the muzzle and face area so your dog will not become head shy.
Moving on to the ears, scrub these gently as well and make sure you clean both sides of the earflap. From there, work your way on down the dog until you finish at the tail. The Neck, body, legs and tail can be done with a firm scrubbing type of movement by your hands. If you have one, these are also good areas on which to use the scrub brush.
It will usually require two latherings to get your dog’s skin and coat free of oils and dirt. Remember to rinse well between each time and change your water as needed. As with wetting the dog, use the cup or pot to transfer the water to your dog. To rinse the face area, it is often best to use a washcloth so you have more control over the amount of water and the dog doesn’t get the feeling of being drowned.
When finished, remove the cotton balls with a wiping motion to clean the ears, dry well with clean towels and allow drying in the bathroom or other area where the water won’t hurt the floor. This works best because it is very common for a just washed dog to go outside and roll in the closest dirt pile available.
The ordeal of bath time can become a fun time if praise and rewards for your dog are given when he is behaving and you the owner, remembers it can also be considered quality time spent with your pet.
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