How To Give The Perfect Dog Bath

Most pet owners do not think twice about spending big dollars to buy their dog
premium dog food, the best health care or even blissful days at a doggie day care
facility. Most pet owners also don’t think twice when it’s time to give Bowser a bath.
Grab the Head and Shoulders and fire up the backyard garden hose. But lets give it
a bit more thought than that.

But a proper dog bath is key to maintaining your pet’s vigorous good health. The
skin is the body’s largest organ and a perfect dog bath is key to stimulating blood
circulation and keeping the skin healthy. Improper bathing can cause a matted
condition in the coat which is uncomfortable to your dog. The first step in the
perfect dog bath is a good brushing.

For short-haired dogs brush in a circular motion with a curry comb made of
rubber with teeth cut into the edges. It will pull the dead coat out. Slicker brushes
will take out the dead undercoat. Start on the legs and hold the outer hair so that
you can brush from the skin outward. If it is not removed, the coat will easily mat.
Use this technique all over the dog – legs, body and tail. Dogs resent the tail being
brushed so save it for last. For fine-haired dogs use a natural bristle brush. Moisten
the area to be worked with a good coat conditioner.

For long-haired dogs use a pin brush if the coat is not tangled, a slicker brush if
the coat is tangled. Start at the legs, again brushing from the skin out and brushing
only a few hairs at a time. The secret to thorough brushing is to brush only a few
hairs at a time. Check each area with a comb; if the comb goes through without
stress continue all the way up to the middle of the dog’s back. Go to the loin area
and to the back legs; then move to each side of the back of the dog.

You are now ready to wash. Never use human shampoos to wash your dog. Dog
shampoos are specially formulated to match the pH level of a dog’s skin. Human
shampoos can strip a dog’s coat of essential oils. The right way to bathe a dog is
determined by the texture and length of the coat. Short-haired dogs are washed
with a vigorous circular motion which will pull out the dirt. On dogs with a medium-
length coast, use a back-and-forth motion. As the hair gets longer, go only in the
direction the hair grows.

Step 1. Rinse the dog completely.

Step 2. Apply the shampoo along the back, working up as much lather as possible;
do the same with the belly, legs and tail.

Step 3. Rinse the coat with one hand to run water on the dog and the other hand in
a kneading fashion to work the soap out. Make certain all the soap is out as dried
soap will dull a coat and cause skin problems.

Step 4. Before towel-drying, squeeze as much water out of the coat as possible by
pulling the hair straight out and squeezing at the same time.

Step 5. Use a washcloth to clean the dog’s face and avoid getting water in his ears.
Moisture inside the ears provides the conditions for fungus infections.

Step 6. Towel dry your dog and use a hand-held hair dryer on thick-coated dogs
but never use a human hair dryer as they run too hot and can burn the dog and
damage the coat.

Voila! A clean, healthy dog.

copyright 2006