A wet and frothy puppy is so cute! But puppies can feel uncomfortable the first time they are given a bath. Yours won't understand why it's being put in water and might be scared and puzzled, so you need to make it as calm as possible. You must also reassure him, make sure he is comfortable and use the appropriate products. If you do all of this, you will have a clean and fresh puppy who will be happy to repeat the experience.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: know when a puppy needs a bath
Step 1. Remember if he took a bath recently
One bath per month is a reasonable interval, although you are unlikely to dry out its skin if you bathe it every two weeks using a mild dog shampoo. Dogs' skin is pretty straightforward, and if you wash it too often, it may lose the oils that protect it and keep it soft.
Step 2. See if her skin is dry
Dandruff and a coarse, dull coat are signs of dry skin. If this is the case with your dog, wash it less often.
Step 3. Know if it has rolled into something
It doesn't matter when you last washed it, sometimes you have to do it right away. Do not hesitate to give your dog a bath if he smells unusually bad or if he is very dirty.
Part 2 of 3: getting ready to bathe a puppy
Step 1. Comb his coat
Before wetting your puppy, comb out any knots he may have. Depending on its coat type, use a wide-tooth comb (for thick, dry coats) or a fine-tooth comb (for soft, silky coats) and comb it out. Pay special attention to areas where the coat exerts friction, such as behind the ears, armpits and groin.
- Gently untangle the knots. If they are too tight, try running the comb between the knot and the skin, then cut with scissors, being careful to do it far enough from the skin.
- If your puppy can't stop wriggling, don't try to do it alone. If he moves at the wrong time, you could cut his skin. Instead, wait for a friend to hold it so that you have both hands free to find the knot and cut it safely.
Step 2. Put on clothes that you can get wet
Even a tiny puppy can get you quite surprisingly wet when shaking, so you should put on old clothes or a waterproof apron.
Step 3. Decide where to wash your puppy
To give a large breed puppy an indoor bath, the bathroom is the best place because it is the most waterproof room in the house. However, a small puppy may very well take a bath in the sink or sink.
If it is very hot, you can bathe her outside in a tub or baby tub. The weather needs to be really hot so you can use unheated water (like water from the garden hose) on a toddler puppy: they tend to catch cold easily
Step 4. Choose a mild shampoo designed for dogs
Don't pick one just because it smells good. It should smell great and offer something else, like moisturizing effects or a shiny coat.
- Never use human shampoo on your puppy. Dogs' skin is much more delicate than human skin, and human shampoo is too harsh and has the wrong pH.
- When in doubt, an oatmeal shampoo for dogs is a good choice because it is gentle and moisturizing.
- You can use conditioner and conditioner on puppies that have long hair.
- If you're not sure which shampoo to buy, or if you're worried your puppy has very sensitive skin, ask your vet for a brand recommendation.
Step 5. Prepare the room
Whether you use a basin or a bathtub, put a non-slip mat at the bottom so that your puppy is safe and not slipping, which could panic him.
You will also need to prepare some towels and your dog shampoo. Place them within easy reach of where you will be bathing
Step 6. Fill the tub without your dog
Open the faucets until the water is hot enough, about the temperature you would choose for bathing a baby. If in doubt, do the 'elbow' test: dip your elbow in water and see if the temperature is slightly warmer than your skin. See if it's too cold or too hot and change the temperature before putting your puppy in.
Fill the tub with about four inches of water (for large breeds) or less (for small puppies), so that it sits right under your puppy's elbows. That way, he won't feel like he's drowning and will happily wade through the water
Step 7. Try to reassure him by keeping your voice calm and cheerful
Tell him over and over how smart he is. Remember that the first bath can be a scary time, and remember to be as gentle as possible in everything you do. Pet your puppy throughout the process, keeping him calm and happy.
Part 3 of 3: washing and drying a puppy
Step 1. Put it in the tub
Talk to him in a soft voice and stroke him to encourage him. He will probably moan or be nervous as some puppies don't like to be wet at all. The sooner you get him used to the baths, the more he will tolerate them.
- Pet him and talk to him calmly throughout the bath. Doing this will soothe him and keep him from splashing all around him.
- Try to make it a game for your puppy. If he's afraid of being put in the water, use one hand to wet his back a little. Pour in more water and wet his paws so that the water is less of a danger to him when you actually get him wet.
Step 2. Wet it as you go
While continuing to stroke it with one hand, you should start to wet its head and neck. Use a plastic cup and pour water over its body, stroking it between each drink. Continue until his coat is completely wet.
- Try to avoid getting water in their eyes.
- It should be completely wet before you apply the shampoo.
Step 3. Lather your puppy
Proceed by putting a dab of shampoo on his coat at a time. Make sure to cover every inch of his coat: his paws should be washed, as should the back of his neck.
- Remember to take care of all parts of his body, including his armpits, under his tail and groin.
- You're done when your puppy looks cuter and smaller than the abominable Snowman.
Step 4. Cleanse her face separately
You must use a washcloth dipped in lukewarm water to clean his face. Rub him gently with the glove avoiding his eyes as much as possible.
It will probably be difficult to do so. Be patient and wait until your puppy is relatively calm before trying to wash his little head
Step 5. Rinse your puppy by removing any shampoo residue
Drain the soapy water and start rinsing with clean water. Rinsing is one of the most important parts of the bath.
- You will need to rinse your puppy several times. Pour water until there is no more foam on the coat. You need to be sure that there is no soap left, as if any is left it could cause skin irritation.
- Never leave your dog in the tub with the faucets open. Doing this will frighten him and he could get burned if he goes under the jet. Instead, remove it from the tub while you refill it by wrapping it in a towel to keep it warm. The towel will be covered in soap and you will need another towel to dry your puppy off, but he will not catch a cold.
- If your puppy is very wrinkled or has a long coat, be extra careful when rinsing it: remove all the shampoo.
Step 6. Dry it
Remove it from the tub and wrap it in a clean, dry towel. Dry it vigorously with the towel. You can also use a blow dryer on a cool, low position after towel drying. Hold the hair dryer at least 30cm away from your puppy. Keep it moving constantly so that it doesn't burn any part of your dog's body in case it gets too hot.
If you give him a bath outside on a hot day, you can let him shake and run around to dry off
Step 7. Give her a hug
After the bath, it is very important to tell him that he is a good dog. You should also reward him with his favorite treat to reinforce his good behavior.