The simplest way to prevent your dog from smelling bad is to brush and bathe it regularly. It isn't difficult --- bathing a dog regularly is much easier than bathing a dog infrequently. The dog who is bathed twice a year with the freezing garden hose fears and hates being bathed, and will fight it mightily. The dog who is bathed regularly and frequently with warm water, a nice towel, and lots of praise will accept bathing as part of life.
Things You'll Need
- Unscented shampoo or Castile soap
- Bathtub
- Bucket or Hose
- Dog treats
- Towel
- Bathmat or floor towel
Instructions
Brush your dog thoroughly. This should be done before bath time and every day if you have a long-haired dog. Brushing is as important as bathing in terms of keeping the dog clean. If your dog has mats that won't come out, cut them out before bath time.
Prepare the bathroom. If you have a hand-held nozzle or small hose in your bathtub, run the water until it's warm; then turn it off. If you only have a regular shower head, fill a bucket with warm, not hot, water. Use the same water temperature as you would for a small child. Have shampoo handy. You can use dog shampoo or diluted, unscented Castile soap. Don't use perfumed shampoo, which can irritate your dog. Have a towel on hand and a mat or towel on the floor.
Grasp your dog by the collar and gently but firmly lead it to the bathtub. Don't use the "Come" command because you don't want your dog to have any negative associations with it. Close the bathroom door to prevent escapes. Hold a treat in your other hand and give it to the dog when it's in the tub. You may have to lift or help the dog in.
Wet the dog thoroughly with the bucket of water or the hand-held shower head. Keep checking to make sure the temperature is correct. If you are using a bucket, empty it very slowly over your dog, avoiding the face.
Pour shampoo directly onto the dog's back and thoroughly lather every part of the dog except the face and ears. Think of this as dog massage time. Keep praising the dog. If it tries to jump out of the bathtub, push it back firmly. If you are using a bucket, start filling it with warm water.
Rinse the dog clean with the nozzle or a bucketful of water. Rinse again if necessary until all shampoo is out. Step back, allowing your dog to shake off and jump out of the tub.
Towel dry your dog. You can use a hair dryer on the lowest setting if your dog's fur mats easily and it's cold in the house. Otherwise, a towel dry alone is fine. Give your dog another treat or two and praise it effusively.