Proper Dog Washing Technique
When you have chosen the right place and have the right products ready to use, the real fun begins. Here's the bathing process our pros recommend:
- Coax or place your dog in the tub or wash station. Treats are a great way to get the process off to a positive start!
- Dilute the shampoo with water. Try adding some to a bowl full of water, or put the shampoo in a dispenser that contains water. Diluting shampoo helps it suds up and spread better. Easton explains that most shampoo is thick and concentrated, and adding water can make it easier to use.
- Wet your dog using warm water. Checking the temperature with your hand is just fine, Easton says.
- Shampoo the dog twice. Easton explains that the first time, the shampoo binds with the dirt and helps get rid of it. The second go-around, you're really washing the skin and pulling out all the remaining dirt and oil in the hair. Easton recommends a loofah sponge to help spread around the shampoo. Be sure to not overlook places like the pads of the feet, armpits, and bellies. Above all, make it an enjoyable experience. "You can use your hands to really massage the whole dog. And if you're doing that, and you're using warm water and the dog is someplace where it's warm, it should be a fun experience for the dog," she says.
- Use conditioner. Leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse it away.
- Rinse well until there is no more product on the fur. "You want to scrub them really good, but you also want to make sure that all of the soap is out. That's probably the most important thing," Easton says. "Because if you don't get all the soap out, then the soap will stay on the skin and irritate it. It's worse than not giving them a bath."
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