Professional Dog Bathing Done at Home

If your dog has long hair, then you are probably on a schedule of going to the groomer to get them bathed. However, if your dog is short haired then there may not be a reason for you to make the trek over to the groomers. Grooming your dog is a great way to be able to evaluate their whole body for anything abnormal or new as well.

The frequency that your dog needs to get a bath depends on what their daily habits are. If your dog is used for hunting or you live on a farm, chances are you will need to give them a bath more frequently than a dog that lives in the city where there is not a lot of grass and dirt. I usually do not recommend bathing your dog more than every other week, unless they have a skin condition that requires bathing. In that case your veterinarian may recommend more frequent bathing. Excessive bathing can dry your dog's skin out causing dandruff and making them itchy.

Make sure to purchase shampoo and conditioner that is formulate for dogs. There are many different varieties, scents, and ingredients. Dog formulated shampoo is made differently than human shampoo because the pH of their skin is different. If your dog is short haired, you will not need to condition them at all. I like Douxo Care as a routine shampoo product.

If you have a teacup or extra small breed dog, then the easiest way to give them a bath is in the sink. Larger breed dogs will need to be put in a bath tub or shower stall. When the weather is warm outside they can also be given a bath with a hose outside.

Before you give your dog a bath, collect all the supplies you need: shampoo/conditioner, brush, cotton balls, and towels. Place the cotton balls in your dog's ears to prevent them from getting water into them. Make sure the water temperature is not too hot. Wet your entire dog and lather shampoo into their fur, making sure it makes contact with their skin. Make sure to get into the webbing of their feet and under their tails. Avoid getting shampoo into their eyes and make sure when you rinse you block the soapy water from running into their eyes. After they are all sudsy, rinse off the water. Apply conditioner and brush it through their fur and then rinse it off.

Towel dry their hair as much as possible. You can blow dry them on a low heat setting, but be careful because you can burn their skin or cause heat exhaustion if the blow dryer is used on a high setting or for too long. Make sure to remove the cotton balls from their ears and I would recommend cleaning them as well. See my blog Tips and Tricks for Healthy Ears.

When you give your dog a bath, it is also a great time to trim their nails. See my blog Dog Nail Trim Must Haves for recommendations on products to help trim your dog's nails.