Bath time again! Bathing your fuzzy friend can either be a fun time or a bad time for everyone. This world has few greater forces than a wet and stressed dog. So the experts have some advice to help bath time remain fun, even if you’re a new dog owner or have a particularly stubborn pooch.
Frequency
Before you even get your dog wet, it’s essential to know how often you should wash your dog. Some breeds need a good scrubbing more than others. Many smaller dogs don’t need as many baths because they can’t run around outside as much as more athletic breeds. Many smaller breeds remain inside and away from potent smells. Yet, they still need to be washed! Give all dogs a bath when they roll in something foul, every time they soil themselves, or every 4-8 weeks. A good rule of thumb is that if you leave your dog outside often, you’ll wash them more often.
Introduction to Bath Time
This step might take longer, depending on your situation. Young puppies getting introduced to bath time will have different training needs compared to adult dogs. Puppies may even be easier because they don’t have preloaded fears of a bath. So, let’s start with puppies and work our way towards stubborn and/or fearful doggies.
Puppies
Puppies don’t even need to be shampooed and conditioned early on. Their skin is very sensitive for the first two months, and they can quickly adopt a fear of washing. So, you need to wash your puppy very gently and wait about 2-3 months before shampooing a puppy. There are a few exceptions, but it’s generally good practice.
Once you first start washing your puppy, use a warm and wet rag to wash the puppy gently, including its face. This gives your little furry baby the time to get used to the new circumstances it finds itself in. The first few “baths” are just time for your new friend to get used to the water and the act of washing. To help your puppy realize this is a good thing and it’s safe, give it treats during bath time. You can even spread peanut butter on the porcelain wall of the tub as a great distraction. Once your dog is used to the rag and isn’t showing signs of fear during bath time (like shaking), you can graduate to shampoo and conditioner. The most important thing to do is to go slow. Your puppy needs time to adjust.
