A good dog bath

Do not bathe your dog too often as this removes the natural oils from the skin. If you use shampoos not suitable for dogs then you may damage the coat and skin. The oils that are in the coat are there for a reason: waterproofing and insulation.

If you take your dog to a groomer, he will give your dog a bath. So there will be no need for you to give him another one. Check the shampoo that they use, or even take your own along. If you are bathing your dog in your own bath make sure you put a non-slip mat on the bottom. Not only does this stop your dog from slipping and sliding, it also protects your bath from being scratched.

If your dog is wearing a leather collar remove it before bathing, replace it with a nylon type one if you can. Remember to use shampoo that is suitable for your dog’s skin. Do not use household soaps and cleaning liquids, use a special dog shampoo. These dog shampoos also lather less and make it easier to rinse from the coat. The water for bathing your dog in should be lukewarm. Make sure you wet the coat thoroughly before adding the shampoo. Some dogs are quite hard to soak because of the type of hair they have If the dog wants to shake itself while it is being bathed, place your hand on the back of its neck, the scruff, if necessary and gently lift the scruff. This action should be enough to stop the shake from occurring. Once you are sure that you have washed the dog all over, it is time to rinse. Again, top to bottom. Start with the head, tilt it up slightly, and work backwards.

Repeat the rinsing process until you are sure that all the shampoo has been washed from the coat. Use your hands to gently squeeze the coat to get rid of the excess water. If you do not do this, the dog will come out of the bath and shake, soaking everything in its path.

The next step is to dry the dog. Some dogs will tolerate a hairdryer; others will have to be towel dried. If you decide to try using a hair dryer, let the dog see what you are doing. Switch it on and let it become used to the noise before you try to dry the dog. Remember the hairdryer should be set at a low heat and move it around. If you concentrate on one place for too long at a time, it may hurt your dog. After drying, one last groom will finish off the whole process of grooming and bathing your dog. Don’t worry. If this seems like a lot of hard work there are professional groomers.

Dog Ears
You should clean your dog’s ears to prevent them being dirtied with earwax. Use medicated ear powder to dust its ears weekly. Some dogs have excess hairs growing at the opening of the ear canal. These can be trimmed or plucked out gently. Apply medicated ear powder to prevent infections.