How often you wash your dog will depend largely on the breed of dog and their coat type. Some dogs need to be washed every few weeks, and some only need washing a few times a year. It is important not to bathe them too frequently as even gentle shampoos can potentially remove the natural oils on their skin and coat if used too often. As a rule, baths are generally needed when your dog has an unpleasant odour or when they are visibly dirty or muddy.
Our step-by-step guide will make doggy bath time a happy and pleasant experience for both you and your dog.
Getting Set Up
You can bath your dog in the laundry tub, bathtub or in a specialty dog tub. This allows you easy access to warm water but be sure to keep the water pressure light and the flow low if using a shower spray or hose. Alternatively, you can also use a small container or bucket to pour water onto your dog.
Some dogs may prefer to be bathed outside but you need to check that the water temperature is suitable (not too hot or cold) for them if you are planning on using the garden hose. In cases where the water is too cold it is best to use buckets with warm water instead.
Get your shampoo and towels set up before you start, so that everything is easy to access and if possible, get someone to help you.
Brush
Before you wash your dog, it is a good idea to give them a brush. This is especially important for long haired breeds but is also beneficial for short haired breeds as it can help to loosen up any dirt and debris in the coat making it easier to remove during washing.
Wash
Choosing the right dog shampoo is important because a dog’s epidermal layer of skin is thinner than human skin making it more sensitive, and it also has a different pH. Tri Nature’s Dog Shampoo is pH balanced, with a gentle plant-based formula and will leave your pooch clean and smelling great.
When washing your dog, it is important to reassure them so that they do not become scared, making it unpleasant for everyone. Keep reassuring your pup during the process using a soft calming voice.
Using warm water, gently wet your dog’s body and then apply a small amount of shampoo and massage in until it forms a lather over the whole body.
Avoid getting any shampoo on your dog’s head or face as you want to avoid getting shampoo in their eyes and ears. Wipe the face with a damp cloth without any shampoo, if required.
Rinse away the shampoo, using warm water ensuring that it is thoroughly rinsed.
Dry
Now comes the tricky part, drying your dog without getting yourself and your belongings covered in water. We recommend moving any important items out of the way before your dog lets go with the inevitable post bath shake.
Dry your dog with a towel to remove as much moisture as possible. If your dog is happy with it, you can also use a hair dryer on the lowest setting. Avoid holding it too close to your dog’s skin making sure to move the dryer around and not leave it in one spot for too long.
Condition & Shine
Many dogs will benefit from a post bath conditioning spray. Tri Nature’s Coat Gloss is ideal for this purpose. Enriched with hydrolysed oats, panthenol and rice-based conditioners it will soften, shine and deodorise your pet’s coat. It also detangles coats and helps to reduce breakage when brushing and gives your dog’s coat a lustrous healthy shine.
Simply, spray the coat gloss onto the fur and brush/comb to remove tangles. It can be used on dry or damp coats and there is no need to rinse it out.
Once you are done with the bath, you can give your dog a reward for their great work to reinforce good behaviour and help make future baths a pleasant experience.
Find Tri Nature’s Pet Care products here.
