Bonding Through Bathing

If your dog hides the minute he sees you're running the bathwater for him or he fights you every step of the way on getting into the bath. Try these simple tips and see if it doesn't make bathing your pooch a lot easier.

First of all, have the bath water ready when you bring him in. The sound of running water spooks many dogs. If bathing stresses your dog out, don't make it worse by upsetting him with the sound of running water. You can let the water fill up the basin you're going to bathe him in while you brush out his fur.

Use a good shampoo made for dogs on your canine. "People" shampoos are too harsh for most dog's skin and don't use dishwashing soap. It can leave a nasty rash on your pooch. Two good choices in dog shampoo are Comfy Dog Oatmeal Conditioning Shampoo and Brighten and Shine Conditioning Dog Shampoo.

To bathe your dog, wet him thoroughly from the neck to the tail. You'll be doing his head last. Shampoo starting at his rear haunches and move forward. After you shampoo his body, rinse him well and run your hands over his body until you don't feel any shampoo. Then carefully wash his face, neck and ears. Use a washcloth and you can get him clean without the shampoo running in his eyes and ears. Talk to him soothingly and tell him what a good dog he is for standing there. Dogs love praise and when he realizes he is pleasing you immensely by putting up with a bath, it will become less of a power struggle.

Rinse his facial area well and make sure his tummy isn't covered in suds. Leaving shampoo on your dog can cause itching, flaking and other skin irritations. When you're done, wrap your dog in an absorbent towel and dry him off. Some owners give their dogs a treat for being good during a bath. Instinct will tell him to shake off the water, be prepared to get wet yourself! If your dog isn't frightened by the hairdryer, you can use the to blow-dry his fur and get him dried off a lot quicker so he isn't chilled.

Giving a bath doesn't have to be a stressful situation for you or your dog. Use these steps to make bathing your dog a delight.
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