How to wash your dog properly

Dogs can keep their coat clean for a long time due to the active work of the sebaceous glands. They disinfect the skin by cleansing the fur. But this is not enough to maintain a good level of pet hygiene.

Despite the fact that many of the dogs actively run into the river and can safely swim in the sea or lake, they can hardly endure the bathing procedure. Therefore, it is worth figuring out how to wash a dog in order to do everything right and not scare the pet.

Dog hygiene rules

Many tailed owners are wondering if the dog can be washed. Bathing is a healthy procedure. The main thing is to do everything right.

The process allows you to improve the condition of the pet's coat, get rid of the unpleasant odor. Washing should also be carried out for various health problems, including fungus or the presence of fleas.

Note! You don't need to wash your pet after every walk. It is enough to wipe his paws. If there is dirt on the wool, it is removed locally, without water procedures for the whole pet.

It is worth noting that even if the dog has a positive attitude towards bathing, the owner cannot be avoided getting wet. Therefore, the procedure should be carried out in old, unnecessary clothes that you will not mind throwing away.

At what age can you bathe your puppy?

First, it is worth figuring out at what age it is permissible to start carrying out water procedures for a puppy. Experts advise to take the first bath when the pet is 3 months old. Newborn pets are licked by their mother. But if the puppy already lives separately from her, it is enough to wipe it with a damp cloth. It is still too small for a full wash.

If the pet previously lived on the street, then it should be redeemed immediately. Its age does not matter. But if he is not yet 3 months old, you should proceed with extreme caution. Additionally, in such a situation, the animal is treated with a special drug against fleas. It's also best to show it to your veterinarian.

It is at the age of 3 months that puppies are often purchased from breeders. You should not immediately carry your pet to the bath. It will take him a while to get used to his new home. Therefore, bathing is recommended to be postponed for 2-3 weeks.

How often can you wash your dog

If the pet is completely healthy, then it is washed every six months. Frequent water procedures are not required for the animal. To make your pet's coat look good, you need to brush it regularly. The exception is when the street is too dirty.

Usually, in the spring and autumn periods, when it rains often, the dog can come from walks very dirty. If you can't get rid of dirt in local areas, you can wash your pet. Especially if the pet smells bad at the same time.

Note! For bathing, only special products are used, which can be purchased at the pet store.Shampoos are selected depending on the breed and condition of the coat. Replacing them with baby shampoos is not recommended.

But you can't bathe the animal too often. Otherwise, it will turn from a useful procedure into a harmful one. Frequent washing will cause your pet to remove natural lubricant from its body. This will lead to the fact that the skin will be left without a protective layer. It becomes dry and cracks begin to form. A special fatty film simply cannot recover with constant washing, especially if special shampoos are constantly used.

Among the negative consequences of frequent washing, it is worth highlighting:

• Allergic reaction to dog shampoo.
• Constant itching. The pet will start to itch, which will lead to wounds and scratches.
• Dandruff
• Increased sebum production.
• Hair loss.

How to properly wash your dog at home

When figuring out how to wash your dog in the bathroom or shower, you should first decide on a specific location for the procedure. It all depends on the size of the animal. For compact pets, even a regular bowl is suitable. But if the dog is large, then it must be a bath. If the shower is spacious enough, you can use it too.

Before starting the procedure, it is recommended to lower the rubber mat to the bottom of the selected place. This will prevent the pet's paws from sliding, make it more stable and prevent injury.

It is important to choose the right water temperature. You cannot be guided by your own feelings. This is due to the fact that humans and animals have different body temperatures. In dogs, it is higher, so if the water is warm for people, then for the pet it will be hot. The optimum temperature is 31-33 degrees.

The next important point is the selection of suitable bathing products. Human shampoos won't work. It is especially worth giving up laundry soap. The ideal option would be the selection of special products for dogs, taking into account the breed and characteristics of the pet's coat. The most convenient are gels, liquid products. It is much more convenient to apply them when washing.

Washing a pet at home consists of the following steps:

1. Ensuring the protection of the animal's ears from water ingress. To do this, you can use cotton swabs.
2. Using a muzzle. It will come in handy if your pet bites during the procedure. Also, some dogs try to taste the resulting lather. A muzzle in both cases will help to avoid problems.
3. All the necessary tools are prepared in advance. An animal shampoo and a comb are left near the washing area.
4. The water temperature is adjusted. It has already been noted that a suitable range is 30-33 degrees.
5. Only when everything is completely prepared for washing, you can put your pet in the bath or shower. It is necessary to behave calmly, to talk affectionately with the animal.
6. Begin to gently wet the pet's coat. It is not recommended to pour water on top of the dog, as well as in the groin area.
7. When the coat is completely wet, you can proceed to soaping. For this, it is recommended to mix a small amount of shampoo with water. The resulting mixture is applied to the wool and massaged throughout the body of the animal. Then continue to massage for 5 minutes, trying to thoroughly rinse all areas.
8. When soaping, pay special attention to the paws. It is on them that a lot of dirt accumulates. Therefore, they are processed more diligently.
9. With gentle movements, the resulting foam is washed off the coat. Then they take a comb and carefully, but carefully, comb the pet.Then the rest of the shampoo is washed off again.
10. When completely the special agent has been removed from the animal's fur, it is thoroughly wiped off. A microfiber towel works best.
11. When done with wiping, the dog should be brushed again. This completes the washing procedure.

The steps described are universal and will work for all dog breeds, regardless of size. But there are some nuances of washing, which are related to the size of the pet, which should be taken into account when washing.

Big

Washing a large dog can be accompanied by some difficulties associated with the size of the pet. The most suitable place for the procedure will be a bath. If the shower room is spacious enough, you can use it too.

It is worth noting that it is quite difficult to wash a large dog alone. Better to ask someone to help. This will make the process much easier.

Everything you need, including a towel, is prepared in advance and left next to the bathroom. Be sure to use a rubberized mat placed on the bottom of the bathroom.

Small

Compact rocks are much easier to wash. Even a suitable sized basin will do.

A rubber mat is lowered into it to prevent the paws from sliding, the required amount of water of a suitable temperature is poured. The rest of the procedure is done as described in the instructions above. It is quite possible to cope with a small dog alone.

Note! Regardless of the size of the pet, wash his head last and do not use any shampoos or other soap products.

For medium-sized dogs, both a bathtub and a large basin are suitable.

How to train your dog to bathe

Not all dogs go through the bathing procedure with delight. For some, it causes fear and stress. To reduce negative emotions and fear of a pet, it is necessary to properly accustom the pet to the procedure.

To do this, it is recommended to use the following recommendations:

1. To make the dog less afraid of water, it is necessary to accustom him to water procedures from puppyhood. To do this, it is enough to wipe the pet's fur with a dampened sponge.
2. Before and after the procedure, the pet is treated to a treat or a favorite toy to play.
3. During the procedure, you must not raise your voice to the animal. You need to talk to him gently and calmly, be sure to iron. This will help the dog calm down a bit.
4. The water pressure should not be too strong. It can be increased during the procedure, but at first it must be weak.

These steps must be done before each wash. Over time, the pet will get used to it, and the procedure will not cause him much stress.

After bathing

After the procedure, many dogs begin to rush around the house, can tremble violently and try to climb into the owner's arms. This is normal behavior. This is how the animal tries to keep warm. The owner can help the pet dry out faster. To do this, first, while still in the bath, the wool is wrung out by hand. They are waiting for the dog to shake himself off.

Then blot the fur with a towel. It is recommended to take a second towel, which will be dry, wrap the pet in it and leave it for 15 minutes.

If the animal is not afraid of the hair dryer, you can dry the fur with it. The method is suitable for the winter period, drying is carried out at the minimum speed of the hair dryer. When drying, the animal is combed at the same time.

If it was not possible to avoid the formation of tangles, they are carefully cut out with scissors. For breeds with very short coats, it is recommended to apply a special moisturizing balm.It should be noted that the first few hours after bathing, you must not let the dog out into the street or balcony.

How to brush your dog without washing

In some cases, it is impossible to wash the dog. For example, if he is old and there is a high probability of catching a cold, due to various skin diseases, during wound healing. In such situations, washing without water can be carried out. It will be just brushing the wool.

This will require a special powder based on talc. It is necessary to distribute the product on the selected area of ​​the coat and comb it. The procedure is pretty quick and easy. It is recommended to completely comb the dog in advance and remove all mats.

The procedure for washing your dog will not cause problems if you carefully prepare and perform all the actions correctly. It is worth remembering that it is necessary to act so that the pet feels as calm as possible. Therefore, as often as possible, you need to stroke and praise the dog while washing.

Dog breeder tips on how to wash your pet properly