How to Bathe a Puppy & Use Lotions

Puppies, like dogs, occasionally need baths to keep them healthy and smelling clean. Bathe your puppy when it becomes dirty, smelly or greasy. If your puppy spends large amounts of time outdoors, you will likely need to bathe it more frequently than if it is an indoor pup. Introduce your puppy to bathing when it is approximately eight weeks old to accustom it to the process. It will be easier to bathe your adult dog if it was introduced to baths as a puppy.

Things You'll Need

  • Gentle shampoo formulated for a puppy
  • Conditioner formulated for a puppy
  • Moisturizing lotion formulated for a dog
  • Bathtub, sink or large tub
  • Rubber tub mat
  • Plastic pitcher or hand-held shower head
  • Towels
  • Cotton balls
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose an enclosed space, such as the bathroom or kitchen, to bathe your puppy. You do not want it to be able to get far if it escapes during the bath.

    • 2

      Place the rubber mat into the bathtub, sink or tub that you are using for the bath. The rubber mat will prevent your puppy from slipping and give it a sense of security.

    • 3

      Gather your bathing supplies and place them within arm's reach of the tub. Do not leave your puppy once you have placed it in the water.

    • 4

      Add a few inches of warm water to the tub. The amount of water will depend on the size of your dog. Ideally the water should remain below your puppy's belly. The water should be lukewarm and comfortable for the puppy.

    • 5

      Remove the collar from your puppy. You can leave the collar on if you think that your puppy will be extremely squirmy during the bath and difficult to control. If you leave the collar on, make sure that you remove it after the bath and allow it to dry fully before placing it on your puppy.

    • 6

      Insert cotton balls into your puppy's ears to prevent water from getting into the ear canal.

    • 7

      Place your puppy in the tub, gently lowering it into the water. Talk soothingly to your puppy as you bathe it to help keep it calm.

    • 8

      Apply water to the puppy's coat using the pitcher or hand-held shower head. Thoroughly wet the coat, making sure that the water reaches the skin.

    • 9

      Mix a small amount of shampoo with warm water in your pitcher and pour it over your puppy, avoiding its eyes, nose, mouth and ears.

    • 10

      Lather the coat well, paying special attention to the feet and legs, as these are often the dirtiest part of the puppy.

    • 11

      Clean your puppy's face using a damp washcloth.

    • 12

      Rinse the coat thoroughly with clean water until all of the shampoo is removed.

    • 13

      Apply conditioner if desired and rinse again. Make sure that all the shampoo and conditioner are thoroughly removed from the coat. Residual shampoo and conditioner left in the coat can aggravate the puppy's skin.

    • 14

      Drain the water from the tub. Squeeze the water out of your puppy's coat as much as possible with your hands. Dry your puppy gently using a towel to remove the remaining moisture from the coat. Avoid tangling the coat by rubbing too vigorously. Remove the cotton balls from your puppy's ears.

    • 15

      Remove your puppy from the tub and allow it to air dry inside until completely dry. If it is really warm outside, you can also allow your puppy to air dry outside, but be careful not to let it roll and get dirty again.

    • 16

      Apply moisturizing lotion to your puppy's paws and any dry spots on the skin. Massage the lotion into the puppy's skin until it is thoroughly absorbed. Avoid applying lotion to parts of the puppy that are covered in hair, as the lotion can make the fur greasy.