Wet Nose Guide Blog

Your four-legged buddy has exited the dog run after hours of playtime and you’re walking home contemplating how to clean him up.

To avoid the “great escape” from your bathtub to the nearest exit, here are some easy steps to achieve a squeaky clean dog.

1 – Brush your dog’s coat before bathing him. A good brushing removed unwanted tangles and loosens dirt. This will also make your job easier once you start the bathing process. Brushing also stimulates the natural oils in your dog’s hair.

2 – Be organized! Think through all the items you need before getting your dog wet. Have all your items nearby, within arms reach. You will need gentle dog shampoo (avoid baby shampoo as the chemcials are not meant for sensitive dog skin). If your dog has thick long hair, you may want to have a scrub brush. Have lots of towels, old ones will do just fine. I recommend having a colar and leash to control your dog during the bathing process. Make sure you put cotton balls in their ears to avoid any future unpleasant ear infections. Ask your veterinarian for a special ear rinse.

3 – Dogs are warmer than we are, so set the water temperature accordingly. Depending on the size of your dog the kitchen sink or tub will do the trick. Just remember to close the door to avoid the “great escape!” Make certain that your dog is thoroughly wet before applying the shampoo. Massage the shampoo into the coat and play extra attention to the tummy and butt area. Rinse several times with warm water and massage to get out shampoo residue. Dogs can experience skin irritation due to shampoo not thoroughly rinsed from their coats.

4 – Once your sure all the shampoo is out of your dog’s coat and down the drain it’s time to towel dry your dog. I like to get a big beach towel to wrap Sweetie in it. Of course dogs will naturally dry themselves. To avoid dog splatter on the ceiling, try holding the towel a few inches above their bodies as they shake off the water.

5 – Hug your clean pooch and give ‘em an extra big treat!

If after reading this you still aren’t up to the task of washing your dog in your home, there are many groomers in the city that will be more than willing to help you out.

Tags: dog wash, grooming, shampoo

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 19th, 2009 at 8:50 pm and is filed under Doggie Advice, Doggie How To Guides. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.