Coming Clean About Washing Your Dog

Washing your dog is one of those necessary chores that must get done by you or someone else. The good news is it doesn't have to be an unpleasant job if you approach it with a positive attitude. Most dogs don't like to be washed, but they appreciate the contact and attention. Washing the dog can be a bonding activity as long as you establish gentle, kind, but firm leadership from the start.

Before washing, some grooming steps should be followed prior to the water and shampooing. A thorough brushing should be done.

Washing your dog can get sloppy; wear old clothes or a bathing suit.

Take your dog's feelings into consideration and the whole process will likely go pretty well. Use careful, gentle movements and be positively involved with pleasant voice tones.

A booster bath is recommended by veterinarians, breeders, and handlers worldwide!

You can wash your dog in the bathtub, sink or a "booster bath". A booster bath is affordable, lightweight, and portable, and makes washing and drying the dog easier on your back.

A hose and spray nozzle will help. Otherwise, an unbreakable pitcher or bowl assists with wetting and rinsing.

Place the dog in the tub on a rubber mat so it doesn't slide. A slippery surface can make your canine feel uncomfortable and insecure. The booster bath is equipped with a rubber bottom.

Before washing the dog, put cotton wool in its ears to prevent water from entering the ear canal.

The ear area, especially with dogs with ear flaps, must be completely dry to avoid a damp environment favored by bacteria and fungus.

The water from a garden hose is too cold so don't use it to wash your dog. Don't allow a dog to dry outside on a very hot day.

Test and adjust the water temperature to ensure it is consistently warm.

Wet the dog thoroughly from head to tail. You do not need to get your dog's face wet. Some dogs are sensitive about this, but do wet the head and neck areas. To wash your dog's face, use a warm, damp washcloth and as little soap as possible, or no soap. If the shampoo is not "no tears", use a little baby shampoo for the face area if needed.

When washing a dog, using human shampoo is not advised. Dogs' skin is a different pH than people's so human hair products may be drying and irritating.

When the dog is wet to the skin, apply shampoo in small amounts, beginning at the back of the neck working down toward the tail. Work up as much lather as possible before adding more shampoo. With short-haired dogs, massage in a vigorous circular motion to pull out the dirt. Use a back-and-forth motion on dogs with medium-length hair, and rub in the direction the hair grows for long-haired dogs.

Wash the dog's belly, legs, and tail, cleaning between the toes, behind the ears, and under the chin. Be very careful not to get soap or water in the eyes or ears when washing your dog. Talking in gentle tones with praise will have a reassuring effect.

Rinsing can take twice as long as lathering.

Use fresh, warm water to rinse. For dogs with heavy coats, remove as much lather as possible with your hand. It is important to thoroughly rinse. Soap residue dulls the coat, attracts dirt and causes skin discomfort; your dog will attempt to lick the irritating soap, which is not meant to be ingested.

Check for soap residue by looking for residual tiny bubbles. If there are any bubbles, keep rinsing. A small amount of vinegar or lemon juice in the final stages of rinse water will wash away strong odors. Using baking soda will leave a softer and shinier coat.

If your dog's hair tends to tangle, add conditioner at this time, according to the label's directions. Then, rinse the conditioner as you did the shampoo.

When done with rinsing, quickly put a towel on the dog's back to contain its shaking the water off. Blow lightly on your pet's nose to elicit another shake that will help remove additional water for easier drying.

If using a hair dryer, be careful not to burn the dog's skin.

Brush while your dog is drying. A lot of loose fur will come off. If you discover a tick, put a few drops of baby or vegetable oil on it so it can't breathe. It will quickly come out. Use tweezers to remove the tick by its head. If you are treating for fleas, do it a couple of days after you wash the dog. Flea treatments work through the oils in a canine's skin; most of these oils are removed when a dog is washed.

If a skunk encounter prompts an emergency dog wash, massage tomato juice, diluted tomato paste, vinegar or mouthwash into the fur, thoroughly wetting it to the skin. Rinse, and then follow shampooing guidelines.

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