Some dogs have no problem going to the groomer, but yours may be one of many who can't tolerate noise and strangers hanging around the salon. Small dogs can be washed more easily, so you could do it safely at home. Save money and make the experience more relaxing for your four-legged friend by perfecting a simple home method.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Getting Ready for the Bath
Step 1. Get everything you need
Depending on the energy you want to dedicate to the bathroom, you can make a simple one or prepare yourself for a more thorough cleaning. While it is recommended to do a deep clean from time to time, maybe your puppy just needs a quick wash. Before you begin, prepare the following tools so that you have everything at your fingertips:
- Towels: Enough to dry the dog and protect the floor from water splashes.
- Dog shampoo: One formulated for humans will dry out your canine friend's skin, so buy a specific one at the pet store, vet, or online. If your dog has skin complaints, consult your vet for a product recommendation.
- Sponge.
- Comb or brush.
- Glass or basin (for pouring water).
- Dog biscuits (optional, but can calm nervous animals).
Step 2. Consider optional items for a deeper clean
Bathing your dog too often will dry out and flake his skin, but you should still wash him thoroughly every now and then. When you notice that its smell becomes unpleasant, it is best to clean it well. In addition to everything that was indicated in the previous step, you will need the following products (they are not mandatory):
- Dog conditioner: will keep the coat soft and smooth after shampooing.
- Toothbrush and toothpaste for dogs.
- Cotton balls to clean the ears.
- The first time you wash it, you don't have to go through all these steps. If you think your dog is feeling overwhelmed, just bathe him first. Then, you could add more complex actions, like cutting his nails, later.
Step 3. Decide where to bathe your puppy
Since it is small, you have the choice between a bathtub and a sink. Alternatively, you can wash it outside, in a plastic tub or basin. Choose a place where you can stand, sit or kneel comfortably, effortlessly. The bath area should be warm and free of drafts - only wash your dog outside in hot weather so that he doesn't get cold.
- If there is a possibility that the dog is restless and escapes you, wash him in a bathtub. Avoid the sink, otherwise you risk dropping it.
- You could take it with you to the shower cubicle when you need to wash. After all, you will have to get wet, so it can be a time-effective approach, not to mention that it will save you a lot of mess.
- If you take him in the shower with you, put cotton balls in his ears. This prevents water from entering it, averting the risk of infection.
Step 4. Place a rubber mat or towel in the sink or tub
From experience, you will know that the tub becomes slippery when soap and shampoo run through it. To prevent your dog from slipping on the wet surface, prepare a mat or towel so that he can rest his paws on it. It will feel more comfortable and safe, so you can proceed with the bath with more peace of mind.
Step 5. Prepare the dog for the bathroom
If she doesn't have a problem with bath time, you can skip this step. However, washing scares some dogs, adults or puppies, so go slowly in this case. Help him associate the tub or sink with an enjoyable experience by experimenting. Depending on the dog, this can take a few days, several hours, or a few minutes - let him get used to his own pace.
- Help your dog get used to the dry tub. Speak reassuringly to him in a quiet voice, stroking and praising him as he sniffs the surface and explores. Give him treats to stay calm in the tub.
- Touch and massage him from head to tail while he's in the tub, so he knows how the bath process will work.
- Once he is confident, try sprinkling him with water and continue praising him and giving him treats.
- Let him listen to the splash of water when he is out of the bathtub; wait until it feels scarier.
- After each session, massage it with a clean towel to get it used to drying.
- Place it in the bathtub or sink after filling the bowl with enough water to cover its paws, then gradually increase the volume of the liquid for a full bath.
Step 6. Before bathing, groom your dog
Brush it to remove dirt, remove loose hair and loosen knots, which will be more difficult to manage once the hair is wet. If it is full of knots, take your four-legged friend to a professional groomer, then take care of it more regularly in the future to prevent the problem. Even experts can scratch the skin when they try to untie the most intricate knots - if you try to do it yourself, you could cause serious damage.
- To remove the small knots, place your fingers between the animal's skin and the knot, then peel off a few hairs at a time.
- Check under the tail to see if there are any knots with loose stools that need to be trimmed. If the stool is too hard, you can wait until the dog has immersed himself in the water to detach it from the fur.
- After removing the knot and taking a bath, apply diaper rash or hemorrhoid cream to the irritated skin around the anus.
Step 7. You could protect his eyes with a special ointment
If you intend to wash your dog's face, you can buy eye drops that will prevent burns from soap. This is especially important for breeds that have bulging eyes. You can buy it at a pet store. Also, you can use a drop of mineral oil in place of a prescription ointment.
- Use a dropper to pour the ointment or mineral oil into the eye socket, without touching the eye itself.
- Let the dog blink several times (or open and close them yourself) to get the eye drops or oil to spread into the eye.
- Never use your finger to apply the ointment into the eye, and don't let the tip of the container touch it.
Step 8. Protect the dog's ears with cotton
If water or shampoo gets into a dog's ear while bathing, this can lead to an infection. To prevent it, gently stick a cotton ball into each ear, but be careful not to push it too far. You should be able to see it and pull it out easily.
If in doubt, skip this step and use a sponge to wash the dog's head instead of pouring water on it
Part 2 of 2: Bathing the Dog
Step 1. Fill the tub or sink with enough water
The fluid level should be up to the dog's chest. Check the water temperature before you start wetting your fur - it should be warm, but not hot. Keep your hand in the water to make sure the temperature continues to be adequate.
If your dog can't get into the tub on his own, help him gently
Step 2. Shampoo him thoroughly
Work from the front of the body to the back, but leave the head at the end so that the shampoo cannot drip into the eyes. Work the product to create a light foam, and move it from the neck to the tail, passing through the back; finish on the belly and paws. Make sure you don't overlook the spots between the fleshy pads, toes, tail, and genitals. Combine the massage with reassuring praise - your dog should appreciate the care you give him.
Step 3. Examine the dog carefully
Skin problems often indicate more serious ailments, so take advantage of this real opportunity to inspect it. Look for strange marks on the skin, rashes, scales, redness, bumps or growths, hair loss or a change in skin color. The vet can carry out tests to understand if they are skin problems or if it is an internal disorder.
Step 4. Thoroughly rinse the shampoo off the dog's coat
If you wash it in the kitchen sink, you can use the pull-out spray (if you have one). If not, simply pour the water over the fur using a glass or basin. Either way, use a wet sponge on the muzzle so you don't stress your four-legged friend. If you can still see foam on the fur, you need to rinse it a couple more times. The residue of soap, shampoo or conditioner on the hair can attract dirt, negating the purpose of the bathroom. Traces of these products can also irritate the animal and cause itching.
- Dog conditioner is useful for those with long hair. Apply it after rinsing off the shampoo thoroughly and follow the instructions on the package.
- You can buy a pull-out shower head for the bathtub at the pet store or online.
Step 5. Brush your dog's teeth (optional)
Make sure you use toothpaste formulated for dogs, not humans - if your four-legged friend swallows it, it will likely cause an upset stomach. Before brushing his teeth, make sure he is used to having your face touch his face so he won't bite you.
- Lift your lips and brush your front teeth.
- Gently encourage him to open his mouth by pulling on the sides of the muzzle. Brush your internal teeth.
- Praise him and speak to him in a reassuring voice as you go, taking frequent breaks to pet him.
Step 6. Clean his ears with cotton balls and a special dog product (optional)
Ear cleaners intended for dogs with pH balanced help prevent infections. Apply some to a clean cotton ball or gauze pad available at the pet store. To start, massage the cleanser around your ear, then apply it to your outer ear. You can push it slightly into the ear canal, but don't stick your finger in the ear.
Do not pour anything, including water, into your dog's ears, as it can become trapped in the eardrum and cause infections
Step 7. Dry the dog
Place it on a clean towel, then wrap it with another towel to absorb most of the water. Change it as needed to continue drying the fur. Once you have dabbed as much water as you can, let it air dry. Dry the inside of your ears with a cotton ball to prevent infections.
- Dry the hair with a hair dryer to speed up the process, as long as you tolerate it. Make sure you set it to the lowest possible temperature so you don't burn the dog's skin.
- If the dog is afraid of the hair dryer, do not force him. Spend more time towel drying.
Step 8. Reward the dog for bathing
Fill him with praise and give him a tasty treat, even if he struggled over the course of the experience. She will soon learn that it is nothing to worry about… in fact, she will eventually receive a treat!
Step 9. Before attempting to brush it, let the coat dry
It is very important to brush the dog after each bath, so that the coat does not create knots and dandruff does not appear. As with humans, brushing or combing is much more difficult when the coat is wet, and there is a risk of damaging it. Additionally, the dog may begin to associate bathing with painful and unpleasant brushing. Before combing it, wait for the hair to finish air-drying.
Advice
- Grabbing the dog's ears can prevent him from shaking the water off. You should only do this while taking it to a place where it can shake it off quietly.
- Always tell him something positive.
- Clipping your dog's nails is easier in the tub after a bath. They will have softened and your four-legged friend will not care too much. It is safer to use a dog nail clipper.
- If your dog tends to shake a lot, try putting a hand on the back of his neck while you wash him. This can prevent it from shaking before it starts, and keeps you and your surroundings relatively dry.
- Some small dogs prefer to rest their front paws on the edge of the tub, with their backs to the person washing them. This can help him calm down, and from this position it is difficult for him to jump to get out, so proceed calmly.
Warnings
- Dry your puppy thoroughly and keep it indoors until drying is complete - small dogs are vulnerable to cold and can get sick quite easily.
- Do not wash it more than once a month. Going overboard with baths can deprive it of its natural sebum and reduce the impermeability of the coat, drying out the skin. Of course, if your vet advises you to do otherwise, listen to him.
- Do not wash your dog with a human soap. It can damage the skin by drying it out, cracking it or causing chemical reactions. The human epidermis is not the same as that of a dog.
- Use lukewarm water. If you have to use the cold one, pour it slowly. The water that flows from the tap continuously can have a temperature that is around 16 ° C, and a dog's body may not tolerate it, because it is cold for him. If he is young, old, small, has little hair or fat, go for lukewarm water.
- Be careful not to get water into the dog's nose, as it can choke very easily. Try covering the nose with the palm of your hand or, as stated before, use a sponge on the muzzle, without splashing or pouring water on it.
- Don't let the water get into his ears, as this can cause an infection.
