A wet, foamy puppy looks absolutely adorable to us, but your puppy may feel uncomfortable especially if it's their first time bathing. The puppy doesn't have any clue why it should be submerged in water and your pet may be frightened or confused. So you need to make this bathing process as relaxing as possible for her. As well as making sure your puppy is calm, you also need to pay attention to making him comfortable and using the right products. If you do so, you will create a fresh and clean puppy who will be happy to repeat the experience in the future.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Determining If Puppies Need To Be Bathe
Step 1. Find out if your puppy has just been bathed
The proper interval between baths is one month, although you are unlikely to dry out the skin if you use a gentle dog shampoo and bathe it every two weeks. Dog skin is relatively simple and if you bathe it too often, you run the risk of releasing oils that are beneficial for nourishing the skin and maintaining the softness of the coat.
Step 2. Look for dry skin on the dog's body
Including signs of dry skin are dandruff flakes and hair that feels rough and looks faded. If your puppy has dry skin, don't bathe him too often.
Step 3. Find out if your pup has ever rolled over in a dirty place
Whenever he was last bathed, take your time when the puppy needs to be bathed again. Feel free to give him a clean bath if he smells unusual or the puppy seems very dirty.
Method 2 of 3: Start Bathing the Puppy
Step 1. Comb the puppy's fur
Before you start wetting your puppy, brush out any tangled fur. Choose a comb that is suitable for your puppy's coat type. Use a wide-toothed comb (for tough and coarse hair) or a fine-toothed comb (for soft, silky hair). Brush the dog's fur thoroughly. Pay special attention to areas where the hair sticks to the skin, such as behind the ears and the inside of the armpits or thighs.
- Gently comb any tangles. If the tousled hairs stick together too tightly, try to comb between the matted hair and the skin, then carefully trim the matted hair with scissors. Make cuts above the comb, away from the skin.
- If the puppy is squirming, don't try to do the slaughter yourself. If your puppy moves at the wrong time, you could injure his skin. Wait until someone can help hold the puppy firmly, so that your hands are free to pull the tangled hair together and trim it safely.
Step 2. Wear clothes that allow you to get wet
Even small puppies can get you wet when they shake their bodies. So, you should change into an old one or wear a waterproof apron.
Step 3. Decide where you will bathe the puppy
For bathing large breed puppies indoors, the bathroom is the best location, as it is the most water-resistant.
If the weather is very hot, there is the option of bathing the puppy outdoors in a regular tub or a baby bath. The weather must be really hot before you use cold water (like the one sprayed from a water hose in the garden) to bathe them, as puppies tend to get cold easily
Step 4. Choose a gentle and good shampoo specially made for dogs
Don't use shampoo just because it smells good. It's a good idea to choose a shampoo that smells good while offering other ingredients, such as a moisturizing effect or adding shine to your dog's coat.
- Never apply human shampoo to your pup. In fact, dog skin is much softer than human skin. The use of shampoo made for humans is too harsh and the pH is also not right.
- If you are in doubt about the type of shampoo to use, oatmeal shampoo for dogs is the right choice, as it is gentle and moisturizing.
- Detangling products and conditioners can be used for puppies with medium to long coat.
- If you don't know which shampoo to buy, or if you're concerned that your pup has very sensitive skin, talk to your vet about the shampoo brand he recommends.
Step 5. Prepare the bath area
Place a non-slip mat at the bottom of the sink or tub, so the puppy feels safe and doesn't slip around him, which may frighten him.
You will also need to get some towels and dog shampoo out of the way. Place everything within reach of where you will bathe the puppy
Step 6. Fill the tub without putting the puppy in it
Turn on the faucet until the water has a pleasantly warm temperature, much like you would bathe a baby. When in doubt, do the 'elbow' test, where you dip your elbow in water to see if it feels a little warmer than your skin. Consider whether the water is too cold or too hot, then adjust the temperature before adding the puppy.
For large breed puppies fill the tub about 10–13 cm deep, or alternatively for small puppies just below the elbow. That way the puppy doesn't feel as though he's drowning, as most dogs will happily swim in that depth of water
Step 7. Concentrate on calming the puppy, keeping your voice light and happy
Keep saying how great the puppy is. Be aware that bathing for the first time can be a scary time for your pup. So remember to be as gentle as possible during your bath. Rock the puppy during the bathing process to keep him calm and happy.
Method 3 of 3: Bathing and Drying Puppies
Step 1. Put the puppy in the tub
Speak to calm the puppy and pet it for encouragement. Maybe your puppy will whine and look nervous, that's because some puppies really don't like getting wet. The earlier you start bathing the puppy, the greater his tolerance for bathing will be.
- Caress the puppy and talk to him casually during the bathing process. Stroking and talking will be soothing and will prevent the puppy from splashing too much water around him.
- Try to make play in between bathing the puppy. If so, be careful about putting the puppy in the water, use your hand as a dipper and splash the water down its back. Take more water and wet the paws, so the water won't be too much of a shock when you lower them into the water.
Step 2. Wet the puppy's body gradually
While continuing to pat the puppy with one hand, begin to wet his head and neck. Take water with a plastic dipper, pour it over his body, and stroke it between each splash of the dipper. Use this method to wet the entire coat.
- Try to avoid getting water into the puppy's eyes.
- It's best if your dog is completely wet before you shampoo him.
Step 3. Apply shampoo to the puppy
Gently rub a small amount of shampoo on the hair. Make sure you shampoo every part of his body, his paws need to be cleaned as often as the neck.
- Don't forget to pay attention to every inch of his body, including his armpits, the underside of his tail, and his genitals.
- When you're done bathing him, the puppy should look like a smaller, cuter version of a snowman.
Step 4. Wash the puppy's face separately
To wash your puppy's face, you should use a washcloth/towel dipped in lukewarm water. Gently wipe his face with a cloth/towel, avoiding the eyes as much as possible.
It may be difficult to clean a puppy's face. Be patient and wait for the puppy to calm down enough before you try to grab his cute little face
Step 5. Rinse your puppy to thoroughly remove the shampoo lather
Discard the foamy water and start rinsing the puppy with clean water. Rinsing is one of the most important parts of the shower experience.
- You will need to rinse the puppy more than once. Sprinkle water all over his body until no more foam remains on his fur. You need to make sure all the lather is clean because any leftover shampoo can cause skin irritation.
- Never leave a puppy in the sink or tub while the faucet is running. The flow of water is very scary for a puppy. In addition, puppies are also at risk of burns if they are under a hot water faucet. So it's a good idea to get the puppy out of the sink or tub when you refill the tub. While outside of the tub, wrap the puppy in a towel to keep him warm. The towel will get soapy, so you'll need another towel to dry him completely, but still keep him warm.
- If your pup is very tangled or has long hair, pay extra attention when rinsing all the shampoo out.
Step 6. Dry the puppy
Remove the puppy from the tub and wrap it in a clean, dry towel. Dry the body with a towel. After toweling it you can also use a hairdryer set to a cool breeze or a low temperature. Hold the hair dryer at least 30 cm away from the dog's body. Keep moving the dryer so that the temperature is too high, the heat won't just focus on one point and cause burns.
If you're bathing your puppy outside in hot weather, you can allow him to rock and run around to dry himself
Step 7. Give the puppy affectionate caresses
Once your puppy has gone through the entire bathing experience, it's important to let him know how great he is. To encourage these good habits, you may also need to gift them their favorite foods.
