How to Bathe a Stinky Dog

Dogs do not groom themselves the way that cats do. Dog owners must give their dogs regular baths to keep them clean. Unfortunately, dogs love to play outside and roll around. Sometimes they may roll around in their own feces. This will cause your dog to become very stinky. If you don't give the dog another bath, the smell will begin spread throughout your house. There are some additional things you can do while bathing your dog that will help to get rid of the unpleasant odor.

Things You'll Need

  • Non-slip bath mat
  • Dog brush
  • Dog shampoo
  • 2 tbsp. vinegar
  • 1 qt. luke-warm water
  • Pitcher
  • Towel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay a non-slip bath mat down in your tub. This is important because dogs can't get a good grip on your tub floor with their paws. You don't want the dog to slip and get hurt during bath time.

    • 2

      Fill your bathtub with luke-warm water. You only need one or two inches for a small dog, or three to four inches for a larger dog. Pet Insurance Pro warns against using water that is either too hot or too cold. Dogs have sensitive skin that can burn with water that is too hot, or shake from water that is too cold.

    • 3

      Brush your dog in the bathroom before you set it in the tub. You can do this while the water is filling up. This will remove any clumps of dirt or debris from whatever your dog was rolling around in.

    • 4

      Set your dog in the bath water and use a plastic cup or pitcher to wet its fur.

    • 5

      Lather your dog up with a shampoo made for dogs. Never use a human shampoo, as human shampoos contain a different pH balance than what a dog needs.

    • 6

      Rinse your dog off with some clean luke-warm water. You can collect the water from the tub faucet with a cup or pitcher and then pour it over your dog.

    • 7

      Rinse your stinky dog one last time. This time fill a pitcher with 1 qt. of luke-warm water and 2 tbsp. of vinegar. Pour this over your dog and then dry it off with a towel. The vinegar is a strong odor remover and will get rid of any odors that did not come off with the dog shampoo. If you have a large dog, use 2 qt. of water and 4 tbsp. of vinegar.