How to Wash A Dog

I often get asked by customers how to wash a dog and so now I  have decided to make an information sheet on this very process so that people can find out about this interesting but at times daunting process. Firstly how old should a dog be before you can start washing it? Well the answer is very simple any age is fine. As with all newly born or very young mammals we need to take great care to keep them nice and warm both while they are in the water and after they are out and while they are drying and most important to make the experience safe and pleasant.I usually start to washing my puppies when they are about 4 weeks of age after their first experience I usually wash about every 7 to 10 days on a regular basis. By the time my puppies are twelve weeks of age the bathing process is lots of fun and eagerly anticipated. I had one dog who used to moan with joy while under a warm shower getting his back rubbed. If your dog is older before you start bathing then coax the dog gently into warm water and make the process fun and make him or her feel that they are safe Dogs usually end up hating the process because the water is cold hot or they feel unsafe.The very worst kind of dog washing, in my experience, is the dreaded mobile dog washer. I pose this simple question, on a cool to cold day would you be happy to take a shower on the back of a trailer in your front yard? Would you like to be washed in luke warm to cold water and then deposited in the yard to shiver dry? No wonder most dogs run for their lives when the mobile dog washer arrives. These mobile untis also have problems keeping their units clean as they may have already washed 20 dogs before they arrive at your house. So stear clear of the mobile dog wash they may be convenient and chep BUT you get what you pay for and the dog will hate the experience in most cases. In most salons the dogs are washed in clean, warm water and then either professsionally dried or are in an airconditioned warm environment while they dry.

Here are some golden rules about dog washing:

• Don't use harsh shampoos. Products like oatmeal dog shampoos are great as they are gentle on the skin, and they smell wonderful.
• If your dog has any allergies or has skin reactions to most shampoos then try Aloveen, this is a wonderful product and it is very very gentle on the skin and the coat. It will leave the dogs' fur shining and smelling like heaven.
• If you have problems with fleas, most people find that Fidos dog shampoo is an excellent product to wash your dog with. Fido's have an extensive range of general shampoos, flea shanpoos, oatmeal dog shampoos and others.
• Don't have the water too hot or too cold if it is pleasant for you then the dog will find it the same
• Don't get soap into the dogs' eyes, it may irritate the dog who will become afraid of the bathing process.
• Make the experience FUN and reassure the dog that the process is not stressful. Stop if the dog squirms or panics and reassure him or her that everything is OK. Only move forward when the dog relaxes. Make sure that he has a good footing and slippery surfaces simply stress the dog.
• Shampoo your dog quickly and then rinse the coat with water until all of the suds are out of the coat. When all of the shampoo is out of the coat then apply the conditioner much the same as you would for your own hair. Rinse and dry the dog thoroughly.
• Ever been to a hair dresser for a hair cut and received a scalp massage? Was it good?  Dogs love this also make sure you massage the dog during the bathing process.
• At the end of the process get a rough dry towel and dry the dogs coat briskly, this is usually the part that my dogs love the most as we play a game and they get their massage here. They just love being towelled off.
• The very most important golden rule is dry your dog well with a warm dryer or Keep it in a very warm room until it is dry. Remember you don't step out of a cold shower and then sit in a cold draughty room room until you dry , if you did you wouldn't like the experience, so neither would your dog.
• Bathing should be safe, fun and enjoyable for you and the dog.

If you have a shower cubicle in your home then use it to wash your dog, try having a shower together its fun and it can work well for the dog and yourself. The dog sees that you are in the shower with him so feels safer and you can adjust the water to be warm and pleasant and you can massage your dog during the process and he usually has good footing on a rubber mat. Most dogs panic because they loose their footing in slippery baths.When you have finished bathing your dog then it is time to put some coat shine and some deodorant on his coat.

If you want more tips on washing let us know and we will keep adding to our information sheet on how to wash a dog.

send suggestions to jimd@petshopboyz.com.au