Make the bath as easy and comfortable for the dog as possible. Avoid surprising or scaring the dog by any sudden movements or hostility, and be sure the dog relieves itself before you start. It might be helpful to have someone hold the dog steady while you wash.
Your dog will become more relaxed and compliant the more you bathe him.
- Allow a few inches of tepid water to accumulate in the tub.
- Place the dog in the tub, and keep him steady.
- Place cotton in the dog's ears, and lightly smooth Vaseline around the eye area, not in the eyes. Over the eyelid is all right. Vaseline will keep the shampoo out of the dog's eyes, and will clean the eyes nicely when you gently wipe it off with a clean damp cloth.
- Wet the dog completely, starting at the tail and working up to the head.
- Shampoo the dog with your hands from tail to head. Massage the shampoo into the dog's skin, but don't rub to hard.
- Wash the dog's underside and legs. These may be the dog's dirtiest areas, and require washing with a sponge or cloth.
- Wash the dogs face lightly with a soft cloth or sponge, taking care not to get shampoo in his eyes. Clean its ears with a cloth but do not go to deep.
- Rinse the dog thoroughly. It's important that no shampoo is left on the dog. Dried shampoo can irritate the skin, so rinse more than once.
- Remove the cotton from the dog's ears, and gently wipe its eyes with a clean damp cloth.
- Allow the dog to shake itself dry. Dogs have a natural way of drying themselves, and should be allowed to shake before you towel dry. Keep the dog in the tub and stand clear or you will get wet. Hold up the towel to keep the room from getting wet.
- Take the dog out of the tub and rub its hair thoroughly with towels to get it dry as possible. The dog is susceptible to getting a cold, so be sure to rub it thoroughly dry.
- Keep the dog in a warm area for a few hours until it is completely dry. You may want to use a hair dryer set on warm.
- Once the dog is dry, brush it thoroughly to untangle hairs and groom the coat.
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