Seeing a wet, soapy puppy is a very nice sight, but he may be uncomfortable the first time you give him a bath. The puppy does not understand why he is doused with water and may feel frightened or disoriented, so it is important to make the procedure as peaceful as possible. In addition to reassuring your dog that he is in good hands, you also need to pay attention to make him feel comfortable and use the right products. If you can go through the process correctly, you can be sure that you will have a fresh and clean puppy who will be happy to repeat the experience in the future.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Assessing if the Puppy Needs a Bath
Step 1. Consider when he last took a bath
A reasonable interval between baths is about a month, although it is quite difficult for the skin to dry out if you use a mild shampoo specifically for dogs and wash it every two weeks. The puppy's skin is quite delicate and, if you bathe it too often, there is a risk of eliminating the oils naturally present on its skin, which keep it hydrated and make the coat soft.
Step 2. Check your skin carefully for signs of dehydration
See if you notice flakes of dandruff and if the coat feels rough and dull. If he has dry skin, you need to bathe him less often.
Step 3. Pay attention to whether the puppy has rolled into something
Regardless of when you last washed it, there may be a need to immediately give it a new bath. Don't hesitate to wash it thoroughly if it smells abnormally or is too dirty.
Part 2 of 3: Bathroom Preparations
Step 1. Comb the puppy's coat
Before bathing it, you need to comb it to untangle any tangles or knots. Depending on the type of fur, you should use a wide-toothed comb (for bristly and frizzy hair) or a fine-toothed one (if it has a smooth, silky coat) and brush it thoroughly. Pay particular attention to areas that your puppy tends to rub the most, such as behind the ears and in the armpits or groin.
- Try to untangle any knots a little. If they are too tangled, run the comb between the knot and the skin and with scissors carefully cut the knotted part, making the cut above the comb.
- If the puppy is restless and fidgeting, don't try to do it alone. If he moves at the wrong time, you could hurt him. Rather, wait when you can find a friend who can hold the animal still, so that you have your hands free to locate the knot and cut it safely.
Step 2. Wear clothing that you can get wet
Even a small dog can get you drenched tremendously when it shakes its fur, so consider putting on some old clothes or wearing a waterproof apron.
Step 3. Determine where you want to wash it
To wash a large dog at home, the bathroom is the most suitable place, because it is the most "water-proof" room. If, on the other hand, the puppy is small, you can safely wash it in the kitchen or bathroom sink.
If the weather is very hot, you can decide to bathe it outside in a tub or a paddling pool. But make sure the temperature is really hot before you decide to use cold water (like the one that comes out of the garden hose) on the little creature, because puppies are prone to get cold easily
Step 4. Choose a mild shampoo specifically for dogs
Don't get one just for its good smell. In addition to the scent, you need to make sure it has other properties, such as moisturizing effects or promoting a brighter coat.
- Never use a human shampoo on the puppy. The skin of dogs is much more delicate than that of humans and our shampoo is too aggressive and with the wrong pH.
- If you don't know which shampoo to use, getting an oatmeal-based one for dogs is a sensible choice because it's gentle and moisturizing.
- If your puppy has medium or long hair, you can use conditioner or a detangling product.
- If you do not know which shampoo to take and you are concerned that the puppy's skin is very sensitive, ask the vet to suggest a product suitable for your specific context.
Step 5. Prepare the bathroom area
Whether it's the sink or the tub, place a non-slip mat over the base so your puppy feels secure and stable, otherwise he may get alarmed and frightened.
Also pack a couple of towels and shampoo. Keep them handy near where you plan to bathe the puppy
Step 6. Fill the tank without putting the animal inside, for the moment
Turn on the taps and set the temperature until the water is pleasantly warm, as if you were bathing a baby. If you have any doubts, take the 'elbow' test, which consists of immersing the elbow in water to check if the temperature is slightly warmer than the body temperature. Determine if the water is too cold or too hot and adjust the temperature accordingly before bathing the puppy.
Fill the tub about 10-13 cm (if the dog is large) or to a height just below his elbow, if it is a small puppy. In this way the animal does not have the sensation of drowning, since it is a depth that allows it to wallow happily
Step 7. Concentrate on reassuring him, maintaining a calm and serene tone of voice
Keep cheering him up by telling him how good he is. However, keep in mind that the first time you bathe it the puppy may be a little worried, so remember to be particularly gentle in every movement you make. Caress him throughout the process, trying to soothe and calm him down.
Part 3 of 3: Wash and Dry the Puppy
Step 1. Put the puppy in the tub
Talk to him in a calm tone and give him encouraging taps. The puppy may whine or be nervous, as some dogs actually don't like getting wet. The sooner you start getting used to taking a bath, the sooner he will learn to accept it.
- Caress him and talk to him calmly throughout the bath procedure. This will reassure him and prevent him from getting too upset.
- Try to make them think it's a game. If you notice that he is wary of water, use his hand as a scoop and pour a little water on his back. Pour him more water and wet his paws, so that contact with the water becomes less traumatic when you put him in the tub.
Step 2. Wet it gradually
Continue to stroke the puppy with one hand, while at the same time you should start wetting his head and neck. Use a plastic cup and pour the water over his body, stroking him continuously. Continue like this until the fur gets completely wet.
- Be careful so that the water does not get into his eyes.
- Make sure it's completely wet before you shampoo it.
Step 3. Foam the puppy
Put a dime-sized amount of shampoo on the coat and rub it slowly. Make sure you cover his entire body, you need to wash him completely, from paws to neck.
- Be careful and scrub every part of the dog, not excluding the armpits, under the tail and the groin.
- You can tell you've done a good job when your four-legged friend looks like a sweet little "abominable snowman".
Step 4. Wash the muzzle separately
To wash its face you have to use a cloth soaked in warm water; rub it gently with the towel, avoiding the eyes as much as possible.
This cleaning can be quite difficult. Be patient and wait for the puppy to be relatively calm before approaching this area
Step 5. Rinse it thoroughly by removing the shampoo foam
Drain the soapy water from the tub and start rinsing it with clean water. This is one of the most important phases of the bathroom experience.
- It will likely need to be rinsed several times. Pour the water over his body until there is no more foam left on the fur. Make sure you get rid of all the soap, otherwise it could cause skin irritation.
- Never leave your puppy in the sink or tub when the taps are open. He could get scared and could risk getting burned if he were to fall under the flow of hot water. Instead, make sure you lift the puppy up and out of the sink or tub if you need to refill it, and wrap the puppy in a towel to keep him warm. The towel will be filled with shampoo and you will have to use another one to dry the dog at the end, but at least in this way the little one stays warm.
- If your puppy is of a very wrinkled breed (such as the shar pei) or has long hair, be extra careful when rinsing him to get rid of all the shampoo.
Step 6. Dry the puppy
Remove it from the tub and wrap it in a clean, dry cloth. Use a towel to remove most of the moisture. You can also use a hairdryer by setting a delicate and cool temperature after wrapping it in a towel. Keep the hairdryer at a minimum distance of 30 cm from the puppy and continue to move the appliance to avoid that, if the air flow is too hot, it concentrates on a single point of the skin and can burn it.
If you are bathing your dog outdoors on a hot day, you can let him shake in the air and run to dry naturally
Step 7. Give him a little pampering
After the bath experience, it is really important to make him understand how good he was. You should also reward him with his favorite treat for positive reinforcement of his good behavior.
