It’s that time again…bath time for your dog!
Bath time for dogs varies from calm to crazy, and everything in between. Some dogs love being bathed, and others would rather do anything else. From my experience, there are a few ways to help make bath time for your dog easier on the both of you.
Clear the area!
Unless you have one of those triple decker shower caddies, you probably leave your shampoo bottles around the bathtub (like in the photo above of Isla). If this is the case, move the bottles elsewhere for bath time. Otherwise, your pup will literally knock every single bottle into the tub when they try to jump out.
Cover the floor
Lay down a couple of towels on the floor outside the tub. This will make cleaning up the bathroom easier when your sopping wet dog emerges from the bath tub.
Bring treats to bargain with
Bring treats and keep them nearby. If your dog detests being bathed, a little bribery will help keep them distracted. Who could say no to liver treats?
Set the atmosphere
It’s important to set a calm atmosphere for bathing your pup. I do this by running the bath at a lukewarm temperature and waiting until the faucet is off to bring Isla in. That way, it’s nice and quiet when she’s being bathed.
Avoid accidents
petful.com’s Gayle Hickman suggests taking your dog for a long walk beforehand. It’s especially important that you at least let your dog out for a pee. This way, they won’t have an accident during or after their bath. I learned that one the hard way.
Pick the right shampoo
A lot of articles on bathing dogs will tell you to use shampoo made specifically for dogs. I like to go with one that has as mild a scent as possible. If you’re bathing your dog more than once a month, use a conditioner to ensure that their skin does not dry out.
Head and ears are off limits
Avoid getting their heads and ears wet! Wet ears so often lead to ear infections, which are painful and annoying for your dog. Instead, clean their ears after the bath and make sure they’re left nice and dry.
Prepare for drying rolls
After bath time, dry your pup as much as possible with a towel. I find with Isla’s long coat that towel drying is not quite enough. If your dog has a long coat as well, be prepared for them to try and dry themselves on every surface in the house. It’s helpful to spread a towel out for them to roll around in and keep them away from your carpets.
The crazies
Lastly, be prepared for the zoomies! Isla goes ballistic whenever her coat is wet, and she’ll even go as far as rolling in dirt to try to dry herself off. The craziness usually only lasts about 10 minutes, and then they crash into a deep sleep. It’s often fun to watch, so get your phone out and try to catch some of the madness on video!
How do you prepare for bath time with your dog? Share your tips in the comments below.