How to Clean a Dog's Fur Without a Wet Shampoo

Dog owners know how troublesome it can be to give their four-legged friend a bath. Sometimes it is easier to deal with the dog's stink and dirt than to battle the dog in a bathtub. Luckily, a quick and simple method cleans a dog̵7;s fur without causing a standoff with the pooch. Using dry dog shampoo is an alternative to a traditional bath with water and wet shampoo.

Things You'll Need

  • 1/2 cup baking soda
  • 1/2 cup ground oats
  • 1/4 cup crushed lavender
  • Large salt shaker
  • Old bed sheet (optional)
  • Dog brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Combine 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of ground oats and 1/4 cup of crushed lavender in an empty, large salt shaker. The ingredients form the dry shampoo, which is a powder. If you do not have all of the ingredients, you may use only baking soda.

    • 2

      Set up an area in your home where you will give your dog the dry bath. Because the method uses a powdery substance, it may make a slight mess. A good way to prevent a mess is to lay an old bed sheet on the floor. After you are done cleaning your dog, you can take the sheet outside to shake off the powder or wash the sheet in a washing machine.

    • 3

      Place your dog in the area you set up for the dry bath. Hold its collar, and set the dog in a standing position. Shake the dry shampoo onto your dog's dry coat, and rub its powdery ingredients into the fur. Let the powder sit on your dog̵7;s coat for 10 minutes. During that time, the mixture absorbs dirt and oil from your dog̵7;s coat.

    • 4

      Brush your dog̵7;s coat thoroughly with a dog brush. Brushing removes the dry shampoo that absorbed dirt and oil as well as excess dry shampoo. Removing the excess dry shampoo is important because it can irritate the dog's skin.

    • 5

      Repeat the dry shampoo procedure whenever your pooch begins to have an odor or look dirty. Bathe the dog with water and wet shampoo after four consecutive dry shampoo baths.