10 Tips on Giving a Dog a Bath

Here are some tips on giving a dog a bath so that the experience will be enjoyable for both you and your dog. Just expect to get wet.

1. Choose the most comfortable place for the bath. A small dog can be bathed in the kitchen sink, but a large dog may require your bathtub or may need to be bathed outside.
2. Never leave a dog unattended when bathing him. Some people think the dog is safe if he is restrained on a grooming table or in a bath, hooked on a frame, or tied up. Dogs have hung themselves in a matter of seconds when a groomer makes the deadly mistake of leaving the dog unattended.
3. Keep all bath supplies nearby. These should include your dog's brush, a small bucket, a hair trap for the drain, a rubber mat for the floor of the tub, a coat conditioner, a couple of towels, cotton balls, a gentle shampoo, a hair dryer, and a spray to help detangle your dog's coat.
4. Brush your dog's coat before getting him wet. This will help prevent his coat from knotting and will make bathing easier.
5. Place cotton in your dog's ears. This prevents water from getting inside and causing an infection.
6. Wet the coat thoroughly with warm water. Lift long hair to be certain to get down to the roots. If your dog is sensitive about having his head wet, be particularly gentle around this area, and wet his head last.
7. Apply the shampoo and lather down to the skin. Avoid getting soap in his eyes. Pay attention to the more difficult to reach areas such as between your dog's toes, behind his ears, under his chin, and around the rectum.
8. Thoroughly rinse with warm water. Any soap left in the coat will cause intense itchiness. Position your hands over his eyes so soap and water can't get in.
9. Dry the head first to make the dog comfortable. Work along the body, using a super absorbent towel to remove most of the moisture. Use a hair dryer to completely dry him off.
10. Make sure your dog is perfectly dry before he goes outside. If he rolls around in the dirt before he's dry, it will negate the bath you just gave him.

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