To be a good dog owner, at least every few weeks your dog will need a thorough bath.  Is this something you would like to do on your own or would you rather take the dog to a professional dog groomer to have this done for you?   Depending upon your dog’s breed, your personal preferences and your budget, you may want to try bathing the dog yourself.

You would think that giving a dog a bath should be basic and simple enough, right? Well, it all comes down to your individual dogs temperament, size and your patience.  The first thing to do is to have everything ready before the bathing ritual begins.  You do not want to be running around trying to find the dog shampoo, towels and other supplies.  Meanwhile, your dog will be jumping around flinging water and suds everywhere! 

Once the supplies are gathered for the dog bath and if you are able, lift the dog into the sink or tub rather than have them jump in.  If they know they can jump in, they will know they can easily jump out.  You also want to minimize the risk of them slipping.  Some owners use a non-slip mat on the bottom of the tub or sink to prevent slips and falls.

When bathing your dog, use warm or tepid water and always use dog shampoo.  Human shampoo is not safe for a dog’s skin and coat.  Always rinse well and then rinse again.  Itchy, dry or inflamed skin on your dog is usually caused by shampoo residue that is left behind after washing.

If your dog understands the basic commands of  “Stay. Sit. Stand”, here is the time to test them.  Your dog’s job in the tub is to obey the commands.  A dog should usually be towel dried after a bath, although if you need them to dry fast, you could try using a blow dryer on very low heat.  Also, keep the dryer moving back and forth to prevent burning the dog’s skin.  However, please note that some dogs will absolutely hate the soft roar of the blow dryer.  Don’t force the use of the blow dryer on them if they fear it.  Usually a few towels and a sunny room will get the dog dried quickly.

Some dogs simply fear taking a bath.  Getting the dog to relax before the bath will be necessary.  Your human instinct will want to talk calmly and soothe them, but this will not work well with your dog.  This approach backfires because what you are really doing is encouraging them that it is okay to feel this way.  By verbally reassuring a nervous dog, you are actually reinforcing their anxious feelings.  They can’t understand your exact words.  It is best to say nothing, however be kind yet firm and use the basic commands that they already understand.

Some owners prefer to bathe their dogs once a week, and some a few times a year.  It all depends on a variety of factors, including your personal preference.  If you have a muddy backyard that the dog likes to roll around in, you might be looking at giving a bath more often.  Whatever you choose, your dog should be at least brushed once a week to keep their coat as clean as possible in between baths.