How to Bathe a Small Dog

Many people acquire small dogs because they look cute, have funny personalities and are not too large to have in the house. However, having a small dog does take some work and responsibility, as with any pet. For example, you will have to bathe your dog at least once a week; here's how.

Things You'll Need

  • Sink or tub big enough for your dog to stand in
  • Dog soap, preferably anti-flea soap
  • Towel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Get your dog ready for a bath. Pick it up and bring it to where you plan on giving it a bath. A sink with a sprayer with a hose works great to rinse your dog. Make sure the sink or tub is large enough to hold your dog. Take off your dog's collar and any other doggie clothing it may have on. Place it into the sink or tub, and gently and lovingly pet it and talk to it to reassure it. Have a towel and doggie soap ready beside you.

    • 2

      Run water over your dog and rinse it off. This works especially well if you have a sink sprayer with a hose. If you don't, or are using a bathtub, simply move your dog around so it is thoroughly wet. Watch out for its eyes, but still make sure to get everywhere wet from its snout to its tail.

    • 3

      Pour some doggie soap into your hand and begin soaping the dog's fur from the snout back. Rub the soap into the snout hair, the ears, forehead, neck, front paw, back, belly, back feet and tail. Working in this motion will be more effective in combating fleas. Make sure to watch out to not get soap in your dog's eyes.

    • 4

      Rinse the soap off of your dog. Using a sink sprayer with hose will make this job easy. Otherwise, again you will have to move your dog around under the water. Work from the snout to the tail when rinsing. Make sure all the soap is out of your dog's fur. Make sure to watch out to not get soap in your dog's eyes again.

    • 5

      Take the towel and pick up your soaking wet dog from the sink by wrapping it in the towel. Bring your dog to a place where you don't mind it shaking the water off. Use the towel to dry off its fur. Then let it run around and shake the water off of itself after you have gotten as much water out as you can with the towel.