New pet parents might find it confusing as to how often should they be bathing their pup or dog. How often a dog needs bath depends on different factors such as breed, coat type, lifestyle and how many hours the pet spends playing outdoors. The other important factor is how much the pet parent is ready to do. A lot of working parents take their pets to a professional groomer for their regular bathing and grooming sessions.
Taking the pup to the grooming salon every now and then that too for a simple bath is unnecessary. And not to forget the unnecessary expenses. Giving a bath to the pup is fairly easy. This activity doesn’t need as many tools as other grooming activities such as nail clipping or hair trimming. The only thing that pet owners need to do is to spend a few extra minutes to prepare. And since dogs do not need a regular bath, it is pretty much convenient to prepare at least once in a fortnight or a month depending on how dirty the coat is.
Determine the dog’s coat type
Not all breeds have a thick coat. Some have little or no coat while others have medium coat. The common myth here is short haired breeds need less bathing but experts say that some of these breeds need weekly baths. Having said that, pets with longer coat need more work with all the brushing, shampooing, drying, trimming and so on. However, dogs with large to medium coat might need a bath anywhere between one week to six weeks depending on their play, activity and exposure to outside elements.
Pet Parent’s Perspective
Most of the pet owners are quite lazy when it comes to grooming their pets. They simply depend on the local groomer. But the fact is that bathing a pet neither require the skills nor the tools. One can bathe their pets in their own homes in the bathtub, under the shower or outside in the backyard. If the weather permits, a hose is enough to give a decent bath to the pets.
Pet’s Perspective
Most dogs do not like the idea of water nor do they like the sound of water running down the bathtub. It is all a mind game when it comes to the furry friends. However, there are a few pets that love water especially if there are children around. So, pet parents who at this point have decided to bathe their pets at home, might want to run the tap before the pet enter the bathroom. Use a handheld shower which is much easier and less messy.
Preparation
Be it a bathtub or a shower, pet parents need to do some basic preparation. They first need to gather everything needed for the bath. Keep the towels ready and the shampoo handy. For a bathtub wash, get a deep bowl or mug for rinsing the pet. Brushing the pet’s coat before bathing will help clear out the tangles or mats. Shampooing becomes much easier with prior brushing. Put a cotton ball in the pet’s ears to keep the water from entering the ear canal.
Additional Tips
Keep the tub ready with warm water and do not run the water while the dog is inside the bath. Take care of the water level. The tub should be filled only half way for medium and larger breeds and much lesser for pups and smaller breeds. Keep the door closed for two reasons. The heat of the water will be inside the room and the dog too will not be able to escape.
Placing the Pet in the Tub
Some tubs might be very difficult to get into. The bathroom floor might be slippery. So keep it dry and place a mat outside the tub to keep the dog from slipping. Guide the pet to carefully climb over the edge. Use pet stairs if possible for smaller pets and pups. Rinse the pet from head to toe and lather the fur using shampoo. Make sure the entire body is rinsed including the stomach and genitals. The soap cannot be left to dry on the pet’s skin. It will cause rashes, itchiness and irritation.
Drying the Pet
Let the pet shake off the excess water. Wrap him in a towel for a few seconds until he is out of the tub. Take another towel to dry the dog on visible areas. Pet parents can use a dryer with mild heat settings to dry the coat faster.
Caution
Shower or tub, it is better to have two towels ready. Make sure the soap or lather doesn’t enter the pet’s eyes. No matter how mild the shampoo might be, the ingredients can still cause irritation. Water should not get into the pet’s ears as it can lead to yeast growth and infections. Always rinse the stomach and legs properly. Clean the potty area too for the sake of pet’s hygiene as well as to stop the bacteria from spreading.
Shampoo
Use dog specific shampoo that are made using natural ingredients and free of chemicals. Vets suggest hypo-allergenic shampoo to reduce dryness, skin allergies and irritations. There are soap bars too which do the same job as a shampoo.
Signs that suggest the dog needs a bath
Dogs don’t need a frequent bath but there are certain signs that suggest that they need a quick bath. The frequency depends on the climate too. Mild weather might not dry out the pet’s skin as much as a dry weather. Irrespective of the climate, watch out for signs such as foul smell, dandruff and visible dirt or grime on the coat. Dandruff is common in pets especially when their skin produces too much sebum oil. Get a good dandruff shampoo to get rid of dandruff. Some pets love to play outdoors. Pets that play or spend longer hours in the backyard will get dirty faster than pets that stay indoors. So, look out for visible dirt, muddiness or filth and give a bath immediately.
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