Dog Bath Tips

Only When Necessary

• Some dog owners incorrectly believe that they must bathe their dogs once a week, or even more often. Dogs are not like people. They have oils in their coats that help keep them clean; they also clean themselves regularly. Some dogs, like northern breed dogs, keep themselves so clean that you only have to bathe them occasionally. Other dogs (like retrievers, labs and terriers) who tend to burrow in your backyard, need baths more often. If you have a dog that spends a lot of time outside, tends to get into dirty or dusty places or smells bad, plan on bathing him once every couple of weeks. For poodles, and other light- or non-shedding breeds, a bath once a month should suffice.

  In between baths, use dry shampoo and bathing wipes to take care of small, dirty areas and to keep your dogs smelling nice. Hertz has excellent dog bath wipes and dry shampoo that you can use between baths. Brush your dog every week. Keeping your dog clean between baths makes bath time easier.

Wet, Soap and Rinse

• Run water into the tub so that it is about two inches deep. Use a spray nozzle to wet the dog, and use your other hand, or someone else, to put soap on him right away. Use a shampoo specifically designed for dogs. Petco and Walmart brand shampoos work just as well as more expensive brands like Hertz. Getting him wet and soapy at the same time saves a step and makes the process go quicker.

  Massage the soap into your dog's skin and coat, and make sure that you get soap everywhere. Don't take any longer than you need, especially if your dog is squirming. Use a cup or nozzle to rinse your dog carefully from his head to his feet, and make sure that you remove all of the soap.

Dry

• Drain the water from the tub, and leave your dog there to shake the water out of his hair. Lift the dog to the floor and use towels to dry him as well as you can. Good towels to use are those that have a high pile. You may be tempted to use old towels, but they won't get your dog dried quickly. Vigorously dry the dog and then allow him to roam in a room that is temperature controlled. Dogs should not go outside again until they are dry, especially if it is cold out. When your dog is 90 percent dry, use a comb to get the tangles out of his fur.