How to Wash a Dog's Face When He Doesn't Like to Be Washed

Every time Winston sees you with a washcloth in your hand, he makes a run for it. It̵7;s not that washing his face hurts him, he just doesn̵7;t like being restrained and maybe you accidentally got some soap in his eye at one point. Relax, take it slow and boost your pooch̵7;s confidence by letting him know he has absolutely nothing to be afraid of.

  1. Let Him See You

    • Always approach your canine companion from the front and don't sneak up on him from behind. Get down on his level, approach him slowly and let him see -- and sniff -- what you have in your hands. He̵7;s less likely to be fearful if he can get a good sense of exactly what̵7;s coming at him.

    Bribe Him

    • Get everything set up before Winston̵7;s cleansing session. Make sure you have soft smelly treats, a cloth, a sink full of water and anything else you may need before calling your pooch over. As soon as he wanders your way, start tearing off tiny pieces of the treats and pop them in his mouth. Once he̵7;s relaxed and happily wagging his tail, dampen the cloth and use it to wipe away any gunk on his face with one hand, while continuing to toss treats in his mouth with the other hand. He̵7;ll be so focused on the hand with treats he won̵7;t be so stressed about the rag. You should be able to remove any gunk with a few wipes of the cloth -- dogs tend to despise getting water poured on their heads.

    Avoid Soaps

    • No matter how much of a mess Winston makes in the fur on his head, you should avoid using soaps, shampoos and detergents, says Dr. Karen Becker, a veterinarian. Even if the bottle states the product is tear-free or safe around the eyes, pass up putting it on his face. If he̵7;s already fearful of having his face washed, he might be extra squeamish and suds could pour into his eyes, making an already unpleasant situation incredibly painful.

    Other Tips

    • Always turn any kind of bath time -- even if it̵7;s just a quick face cleaning -- into a happy experience. If he starts quivering the split second he sees that white cloth, just put it on the ground and walk away. He needs to learn that towels aren̵7;t scary. Start leaving that cloth around in common areas, making it an everyday part of Winston̵7;s world. After a few days, pick it up and put it in your lap while petting him. As long as he doesn̵7;t seem to mind, see if he̵7;ll let you pet him with it and wipe his face while it̵7;s dry. He̵7;ll start to get so used to seeing that cloth everywhere, it won̵7;t phase him when he sees it during bath time.