From what shampoos to use to how to prepare your puppy for their first bath, it is important to take bathing your pooch seriously! There are so many tips and tricks to keep in mind in order to make bath-time a pleasant experience for everyone involved. We are going to share some of our favorite bath-time hacks with you in today’s bog.
When to Bathe?
While some of us might like the smell of puppy breath, none of us like the smell of a stinky puppy! Once your puppy has reached eight weeks of age, he/she can now self-regulate their temperature more effectively. Archview puppies will be introduced to the idea of bathing, but we encourage you to continue teaching your puppy the rules of bath-time.
Once a month is a good rule of thumb, but of course, if your puppy manages to make a mess of himself before then you may need to bathe more frequently. The more you bathe, however, the dryer your puppy’s skin will get. This can lead to some discomfort for your furry friend, so try not to over-bathe.
Bonding Over Bathtime
Pick a safe, quiet space to introduce your baby to bathing. Kitchen sinks are great for smaller puppies, but as your puppy grows you may need to transition to the bathtub. Either way, place a rubber mat at the bottom of the basin. Your puppy will feel a lot more secure if they are not slipping and sliding around your tub. We recommend having the water run prior to putting your puppy in the sink/tub. The sound of the running water is very loud and can be intimidating to your four-legged friend! If your puppy looks especially worried, toss their favorite toy in the bath with them as well!
Reassure your puppy in a soft, soothing voice. Remember, you are your puppy’s comfort zone and protector! As you shampoo, take that as an opportunity to massage your puppy. They will LOVE that they are the center of attention which will make bathtime even more fun!
What You Need
There aren’t a ton of items you will need, but we do suggest keeping this is of essentials on-hand for for your pooch’s bath:
- Puppy-proof, tear-free shampoo (We like Puppy Tears by Telco)
- Conditioner
- Tangle-free comb
- Dog approved hair-dryer (human hair-dryers can often get too hot and dry out your pup’s skin)
- Plenty of toys, treats and kisses!
Make sure you have all the essentials nearby during bath-time. The last thing you want is to be searching for the shampoo when your dog is mid-bath in the tub!
Tips and Tricks
Bathing doesn’t have to be complex, follow these simple tips to make the most of bath time:
- Always brush your dog PRIOR to bathing them.
- Make sure all of the shampoo is out of your dog’s coat. Leftover shampoo residue to lead to dry, scratchy skin.
- If you can, use a retractable shower head attachment to make bathing easier.
- Keep moisture out of the ear canal. Many dogs can get ear infections from excess moisture in their ears. You can pop some cotton in your dogs ears if they are extremely susceptible.
- Monitor the water temperature.
Make bath-time as positive as possible and treat your puppy with care. If you don’t enjoy giving your pup a bath, there are plenty of places or services that you can use to simplify bath-time, such as mobile bath services or bath bars in dog stores. A clean pooch is a happy pooch!
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