Dog bathing tips- Don’t make these mistakes!

At some point, every dog parent has to give their dog a bath. Whether you use the kitchen sink, bathtub or a self-wash business, there is more to bathing your dog than most people think. Here are the most common mistakes I have seen folks make while bathing their dog, and how to avoid them!

Dog bathing tips- Don’t make these 5 mistakes!

1. You are using hot water.

Humans enjoy a hot shower or bath, so it is no surprise that people accidentally think that their pet will enjoy the experience as well. But let me ask you a question…have you ever spilled hot water on your shirt? What happened? The wet shirt stuck to your skin, right? If the water was hot enough, that wet shirt might have even caused a burn.

Now picture a dog with longer fur, like a golden retriever…what is that hot water going to go to their fur? Same effect as the hot water on your shirt. Dogs also have more sensitive skin than we do, magnifying the effect of the water’s temperature.

So what temperature should you be using? Most groomers and veterinary clinics recommend using lukewarm water. You can feel the perfect temperature on your forearm (not your hand) with a little practice! The water should feel warm enough on your forearm that it is not cold, but just slightly cool. If the water feels warm on your forearm, it is still a bit warmer than ideal.

2. You use a scented shampoo, or one designed for human hair.

Do you love using a product that makes your pooch small like a lavender satchel? Maybe you favor a musky, more perfumed puppy? Does your dog head straight for the compost pile after a bath?

Dogs have a much more sensitive nose than humans, and many odors we find pleasant are painful or rank to them. You will noticed that veterinary staff generally do not wear any scents or perfumes on the job- because we recognize that this is unpleasant to many animals. Once you bathe your dog using a “stinky” floral or perfumed product, they can’t get away from the scent! Until they find that pile of goose poop in the park…

Pick a shampoo made for dogs that has a mild scent. It’s fine if your dog smells clean after a bath, but they should not smell like a bouquet of roses. You dog will thank you!

3. You are not brushing your dog first.

Sometimes you have to do the bath first. A wet, muddy puppy is not very brushable. But I often see folks at self-wash places just toss their dogs into the tub and go straight to the bath. And then I watch them scrub and scrub, or see them spend a ton of time trying to untangle wet matts of fur.

Do a through, full-body brush down before you get your dog in the tub. This will loosen the dirt from the dog’s fur and skin, making it easier to wash away. It is also much better to shave or brush out the matts first- just like with human hair, wet fur is really hard to untangle.

4. You are not making it fun for your dog!

Does your dog hate baths? Maybe they put up with them, but still kind of resent the whole process? If you are all about getting the business done when bathing your dog, you are missing a great opportunity to train and engage with your dog!

Make the bath process more fun for your dog! I give my golden, Deuce, a massage while I am working in the shampoo, and he loves the process!

‘For a dog who dislikes getting a bath, use something to distract and occupy them. Smear wet dog food, peanut butter or even a squirt of canned cheese (squeeze-cheese) on the tub by your dogs head and let them spend the bath time “cleaning” it it!

5. You are not rinsing your dog long enough.

How long do you spend rinsing your dog off after a bath? Just until the “soapy” feeling is gone? Then you, like most folks, are NOT rinsing long enough!

Pet shampoos are not designed to be as “soapy” as shampoos designed for humans. You might notice that these animal products rarely create as much lather as you would expect. In fact, we often use too much shampoo when bathing our pets just because we are trying to get the same sudsy feeling we get while shampooing our own hair.

The reason this matters is that shampoo that is left on your dog can irritate the skin and make them itchy. When I worked in Vet clinics I would typically see two or three dogs a year that developed skin infections shortly after having a bath. The use of hot water during baths and a too-short rinse cycle are common suspects in these cases.

Rinse your dog for at least a full 5 minutes (and longer for one that is very furry or has a dense undercoat). Rinse well past the point where you can feel any soapy areas. Be sure to rinse their underside, between their legs and under their tail- several times. Start the rinse-cycle on the back of their neck, down their back, to each side, tail, and then progress down to their belly. Be sure to lift and rinse their feet and pads well too. Do this rinse several times.

These dog bathing tips will help you bring your skills to the next level! You dog will appreciate it!

Do you have a great dog bathing tip? Post in the comments or on our Facebook page!