While bath time may not be fun, it’s extremely important to keep your pooch clean! As strange as it may sound, though, a lot of dog parents don’t bathe their pet “correctly.” For example, did you know that you can actually over-bathe your dog? I found that one out the hard way when my vet told me I was drying out my chihuahua’s skin by giving him a bath once a week.
So, how often should you bathe your dog?
In general, once a month is fine. If your dog has oily skin and gets dirty often, though, then you will need to pop him in the tub more frequently.
Check out the following infographic for more tips on how to properly bathe your dog:
Key Guide
- Brush Your Dog’s Coat: Brush your dog’s coat thoroughly to remove any mats before your pup gets wet. If you don’t, the mats could get worse and you may be forced to cut them out.
- Place a Rubber Mat At Bottom of Tub: This will help prevent your dog from slipping.
- Don’t Fill Tub with Water: You don’t want your pooch splashing around in his own dirt. Instead of filling the tub, use a hose attachment to wet your pup with lukewarm water.
- Shampoo: Use the shampoo that’s designed specifically for dogs. Start by shampooing your dog’s neck and work your way down his body. Get a nice lather around your pup’s neck, back, legs, and feet.
- Be Careful Washing Your Dog’s Face: Use a washcloth to clean your dog’s face. Be very careful around the eyes and don’t get water in your pup’s ears.
- Rinse Thoroughly: Before you turn off the bath water, make sure all of the soap is washed out of your dog’s coat.
- Drying: First, towel dry your dog. If your pup has a short coat, let him air dry. If your pooch has a longer coat, wait until his coat is lightly damp and then blow dry on the lowest setting. Be very careful to avoid burns.
- Brush & Reward: Once your pooch has dried, brush his coat to make sure there aren’t any mats. Then reward your dog by giving a lot of praise and treats!
