Did I Bathe My Dog Properly?

Did you brush your dog before a bath?

Did you use lukewarm water?

Did you talk to your pet in a calm and reassuring voice?

Did you use shampoo for dogs?

Did you rinse your dog well?

Did you let your dog air-dry?

Matted hair holds water, leaving your dog with irritated skin. If you can’t brush or cut the mats out yourself, take your dog to a professional groomer. You may also want to put a cotton ball in each ear to keep water out. It helps prevent ear infections and irritation.

Dog skin is different from ours, and hot water can burn dogs more easily. Bathwater should never be hotter than what you’d run for a human baby. Keep it even cooler for large-breed dogs who can easily overheat.

Dogs generally do not like being bathed, so it is important that the owner talks to them in a calm and reassuring tone so that the dog can understand that bathing is not torturing.

Use dog shampoo. It dries their skin less than people shampoo. Work the shampoo into a gentle lather and massage it all over your dog’s body, being careful not to get soap in their eyes.

You should rinse your pet well after shampooing. Any soap left in their fur can irritate your dog’s skin once they’re dry. Rinse, rinse, and repeat the rinse.

You have bathed your dog properly. You can reward your dog after a bath with a treat or by petting it to reassure them and teach them to be less afraid of bathing.

Hot air from a human blow-dryer can be too hot for a dog's skin. Either air-dry or use a blow-dryer designed for dogs, its lower temperatures won’t cause itching or dandruff.