How to Make the Most of Doggy Bath Time

For your pets to enjoy continued health, you will want to make sure you keep them clean and tidy. Their hygiene should be right up there at the top as your primary responsibilities as a dog owner. Clean and well-groomed dogs are healthy dogs. And you always want your dog to be neat, clean, and healthy as well, don’t you?

Dogs are never sticklers for good grooming. In fact, you will find that they pretty much do not have good hygienic instincts. When have you heard of dogs racing each other back home for a bath? Chances are you will find them scampering away from you whenever you give them a hint of your dark intentions of giving them a bath.

Dogs, however, can be trained to like bathing and grooming. It is up to you, the owner, to make this clear to your ward. And, being the good owner that you are, you will need the right equipment when giving your dogs a bath.

How Frequent Should You Bathe Your Dog
This figure depends on the breed of your dog. The rule here is to make sure you give your dog a bath when you find him dirty or smelling of – you know – dirty dogs. Make sure you do not wash them up too often. This is because dogs have a natural coating of oil on their skin that keeps their skin healthy. If you wash them too often, their skin will dry out and start to become scaly and itchy. You will find your dog scratching a lot because of this.

To avoid this, use special dog shampoo that contains moisturizers. You can then follow this up with pet coat conditioners that cater to dry skin types.

What Equipment Will You Need
Most dog owners just use a garden hose and proceeds to scrub their dogs outdoors. This is fine, especially if the weather is warm and comfortable enough to allow this. During prohibitive weather, you may opt to wash your dog in the bathroom or some similar wet room facility.

You could also opt to purchase a raised dog bath. Raised dog baths are handy for those that have back problems as it is designed so that the user does not hurt his or her back while bathing the dog. Most of these baths have temperature mixers to help you get the right temperature for any bath.

Make sure you have a good supply of dog shampoo, coat conditioners and other dog grooming products to apply on your pooch. Having a bevy of anti-flea powders or leave-ons also help. Just make sure you do not overuse them.

Prepare an assortment of dog brushes and towers. They will come in handy after the dog is bathed for some grooming. The brushes you choose should not be harsh on fur and should not ruin its sheen.

You would also do well to purchase drain screens so that you get to filter fur going down the drain. Dogs shed a lot and can clog most things they clump up in. If your dog keeps on slipping on its footing while you are giving it a bath, you will want to consider purchasing rubber footing mats to help them keep their balance.

You might be tempted to use your own shampoo on your dogs. As a general rule, this is discouraged. Dogs and humans have different ph tolerance when it comes to chemicals that come in contact to their skin. Choose instead a shampoo especially formulated for dogs.