How to Wash a Huge Dog in the Winter

Depending on the breed and how furry your dog is, how often it needs a bath will vary. You'll be able to tell if your dog needs a bath by doing a simple smell test. But be careful because all dogs have a natural odor, and frequent baths can be bad for their skin. While giving any dog a bath can be difficult, bathing a huge dog during the winter can pose some additional challenges. Having at least two people to help handle a huge dog is beneficial. Also, it's important to bathe it in a warm indoor location, then monitor the dryness of its fur before allowing the dog outside.

Things You'll Need

  • Brush
  • Small bucket or pitcher
  • Dog shampoo
  • Towels
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Instructions

  1. Preparation

    • 1

      Remove any debris from the dog's fur, such as twigs or leaves, and brush your dog's fur thoroughly to remove any loose fur and loosen any tangles.

    • 2

      Line the bathroom floor with towels, keeping enough extra towels on hand to completely cover the dog's back, plus two extra to dry the dog's underside, after the bath.

    • 3

      Fill the bathtub with about 5 inches of lukewarm water; there should be just enough water to allow you to soap up and rinse down the dog to avoid making too much of a mess.

    The Bath

    • 4

      Lead the dog into the bathroom, close the door and remove the dog's collar.

    • 5

      Coax the dog into the bathtub with a treat or a toy or stand in the water and give it the "come" command. Alternatively, stand on the outside of the tub or with one foot in the tub and one foot out and, with the assistance of another person, lift the dog with your arms underneath its body and gently place it in the tub.

    • 6

      Keep one person by the head of the dog and one by its rear during the bath. Gently pet the dog's head and talk in a reassuring voice to keep it calm.

    • 7

      Wet the dog's fur by filling up a small bucket with water from the tub and pouring it over the dog, repeating this until the dog's fur is thoroughly wet.

    • 8

      Liberally apply dog shampoo to the dog's back and work it into the dog's entire coat until you have a nice lather.

    • 9

      Rinse the dog using the small bucket, working the water into the fur to get out all of the soap. Repeat rinsing process as necessary until no more soap remains on the dog's fur.

    • 10

      Drain the bathtub of water and put towels over the dog while it's still in the bath and the water is draining from the tub. This will help prevent the dog from shaking and spraying water all over the bathroom.

    • 11

      Give the dog permission to exit the tub, or gently lift it out of the bathtub if the dog is unwilling to get out on its own, and quickly rub the dog dry with the towels draped over its body.

    • 12

      Open the bathroom door and lead the dog into a larger room before removing the towels to minimize any water splatter on walls, as the dog will want to shake itself after you're done towel drying.