Do it Yourself Dog Baths

Giving your dog an at-home bath can be easy with the right preparation. The necessary frequency of baths depends on the breed of your dog and other factors, such as how much time the dog spends outdoors. Use common sense: If your dog smells, give it a bath. Typically, more than two baths a month is considered excessive. If your dog has reoccurring odor problems or irritated skin, consider calling a vet or consulting with a professional groomer.

  1. Preparing the Bath

    • Many dogs are not fond of bath time, so it's best to get your supplies ready in advance. You'll need a towel, dog shampoo and a faucet or hose. Little dogs usually do best in a smaller area, like a sink. Bigger dogs will require a bathtub or, if weather permits, a hose outside. If you're using a sink or tub, put down a rubber bath mat so your dog will feel more stable and secure on the slick surface.

      Dog shampoo is preferable to people shampoo since it's specially formulated for dogs' skin. If the shampoo is very thick, try diluting it with a little water to make it easier to lather.

      Prepare yourself for the bath, too, especially if you have a large dog. You're probably going to get wet.

    Preparing the Dog

    • Brushing your dog's coat prior to a bath can help reduce the time needed for bathing and limit the amount of dog fur that will go down the drain.

      For dogs who are apprehensive about baths or new to them, it may help to get your dog used to you touching its paws and ears. Work on building up the dog's trust in you. Also practice having your dog stand still--be sure to offer lots of praise for obedience.

    Washing and Rinsing

    • When both you and your dog are ready, turn on the water. Ensure that the temperature is lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--before turning the water on your dog.

      Keep a hand on the dog and encourage it to stay still. Rinse all of the fur except for that on the dog's face, head and ears. Be sure to include the paws and tail.

      Start by shampooing the tail and hind legs. Next, lather the body, front legs, underside and chest. Wet the face, ears and head last. Then, wash these areas, being careful not to get shampoo in your dog's eyes.

      Start the rinse in reverse order. Rinse the face first, then the body and then the back legs and tail. Make sure you get the shampoo off the dog's underside. You may have to lift up its front legs to reach this area. Rinse thoroughly. This process may take several minutes, but it's important to get all the shampoo off. Leftover shampoo residue could irritate your dog's skin.

    Drying Off

    • When your dog is fully rinsed, be ready to put the towel over its body. A wet dog's natural reaction is to shake off the water. The towel will absorb the extra water from the fur and keep you (and your house) dry. Dry the dog in the same order you rinsed--from head to tail.

      You can also blow dry your dog if you wish. Keep the blow dryer at a low temperature and about 1 foot away from the dog's fur.

      If your dog's fur is long or thick, you may want to brush it gently before it dries.