Bathing a puppy...

Bathing a puppy isn`t always going to be an optional activity because puppies can get dirty, sticky and smelly at the drop of a hat!

Their endless curiosity will get them into all sorts of `stuff` on a regular basis, and sooner or later a bath is going to be essential.

If you`re a little nervous about bathing that tiny, wriggly bundle of fur, don`t worry you`re not alone.

Most puppy owners feel a little worried and ask themselves....

• How will I get the water temperature right?
• What type of puppy shampoo is best?
• How will I stop him from swallowing water?
  
• What if he DROWNS??

These are all normal puppy-parent worries, but giving your puppy a bath is really very simple.

This page is packed full of practical guidelines and tried-and-tested tips that will help you have your little one clean, dry and totally cuddle-worthy in no time.

When To Bathe Your Puppy

Very young puppies don`t generally get very dirty, and it`s best not to bathe them before they`re 7 - 8 weeks old if possible.

For the first month or so, puppies can`t regulate their own bodytemperature, and they (especially toy and tiny breeds) can get chilledpretty quickly... so a puppy bath is not a good idea during that time,and a quick `sponge bath` is much better, and safer.

How often you find yourself bathing a puppy will depend on lotsof things, such as how long he spends outside and whether it`s wet, muddywinter or warm, dry summer.

Then there`s the occasional crisis - perhaps she`s been happilyrolling in dead Armadillo (I can personally vouch for the immediate andcritical need for a bath, no several, baths in that case), or he`s has had a full glass of Coke spilled on his head - don`t ask!).

Bottom line - if your pup is dirty, smelly, sticky ...or all ofthe above then puppy bath time is definitely in order.

Even a pup whodoesn`t seem to get really dirty needs a bath every now and then(perhaps every other month).

When it comes to bathing a puppy it`s better to under-bathe than over-bathe,but little Fido does need to get familiar with the feeling of the water,being shampooed and dried etc. so that he won`t be scared of the wholeprocess later on.

It`s one thing trying to give a nervous puppy a bath... but quite another to try the same thing with a 75lb adult dog!

A question that I get asked fairly often, is`Can I give my puppy a bath after he`s been neutered (or spayed)?`

The answer to this is`Yes, but not right away`.

It`s natural to want to clean your puppy up after she`s had surgery, there might be some blood or general stickiness around her incision, her fur might be matted or in general disarray from her stay at the veterinary clinic, and she might smell a little like a hospital.

BUT, you don`t want to get any new incision wet or it could cause a problem, such as an infection.

Veterinarians usually advise waiting 10 - 14 days after a spay/neuter surgery (and until the stitches have dissolved or been removed) before bathing your puppy.

Bathing A Puppy - Preparation

Depending on the size of your puppy, you can use the bathtub or the kitchen or laundry room sink for puppy`s first bath/s.

Now that you`re ready to get that first puppy bath-time underway you`ll need to gather up all the necessary dog bathing and grooming supplies:

Video: Labrador / Golden retriever puppy first bath

• A gentle shampoo
  Puppies have delicate skin which can get irritated and overly dry quiteeasily. When you`re bathing a puppy, choose a shampoo that isspecifically designed for sensitive skin and that`s free from heavy scents and most definitely contains NO flea/tick medication.

  If you have a long-haired puppy, a conditioner is also a great way to keep tangles to a minimum.

• Coat Conditioner/De-tangler
  If your puppy`s coat is long, fine or silky it probably has a tendencyto tangle and using a conditioner can help keep it shiny and easy tobrush.The natural ingredients in Earthbath Creme Rinse & Conditioner makes it gentle enough for puppies over 6 weeks old and rinses out easily. Or try a leave-in product such as Best Dog Detangler & Leave-in Conditioning Spray.

• Towel/s
  Depending on how big your puppy is you may need 1 or even 2 towels, anddon`t forget one for her to stand on when bath time is over.

  Regular `people` towels are fine, but can be a bit bulky and awkward when you have a little guy in your arms.Special microfiber dog towels are not just lighter and easier to manage, they`re actually more absorbent too. This cute Bone Dry Microfiber Dog Bath Towel (with embroidered paw print) works well.

• Non-slip rubber mat
  When you`re bathing a puppy it`s important they feel secure, so find anon-slip mat that fits the bottom of the tub or sink. This will preventyour puppy`s feet from slipping all over the place and make her lesslikely to wriggle (which translates into a lot less splashing too). 

• Jug or hand-held shower head - to wet down and rinse her with.

• Old clothes - for you, not your puppy! This isessential when you`re bathing a puppy, and an apron is a good idea aswell. You`ll be surprised at how much water even a little dog`s coat canhold. If you don`t protect yourself you`ll most likely end up as wet ashe does.

Puppy Bath Time - Your `How To` Guide

Before you start your puppy`s bath, bring her into the room with you and CLOSE THE DOOR.

This is important, because if she gets away from you while wet (it is a possibility!) at least she`ll only soak the bathroom or kitchen, and not the entire house!

When you`re bathing a puppy you only need a few inches of warm waterin the tub or sink.

How deep exactly will depend on the size of yourpuppy- 4 inches may barely cover your Great Dane`s paws but could drownthe neighbors chihuahua.

Unless you think your pup is going to wriggle wildly at bath time(and you could be surprised) remove her collar.

If you decide to keep iton, don`t forget to take it off once all the fun is over, both her neckand her collar will need to air dry properly.

Place your puppy gently in the water, talking soothingly whileyou do it.

Use a hand-held shower head or jug, gently wet down hercoat.

When you`re bathing your puppy it`s important to make sure that the watersoaks the coat, and gets all the way through to the skin, so wet herthoroughly.

Some dogs coats are very water-resistant (depending on theamount of oils in the coat and the breed of dog).

Rather than put shampoo directly onto your puppy`s coat, mix alittle with some warm water in the jug and pour it over her.

Lather wellbut avoid the eyes and ears. Use a warm, soapy washcloth to clean herface instead.

This next part of bathing a puppy is pretty important -rinse thoroughly! Take your time over this part and make sure that youget all the soap out of her fur.

Any residue left there will irritateher skin and cause scratching and discomfort long after bath time isover.

Drain the water from the tub or sink and gently squeeze as muchmoisture as possible from your puppy`s coat. Remove the cotton ballsfrom her ears (if they`re still there that is!).

Towel dry your puppy gently,if she has long or thick hair try squeezing rather than rubbing.

If yourub too hard it can easily tangle her coat.

Puppy Bath Time - Finishing Up

Now, it`s time to lift your puppy out of the tub, put her on the towel on the floor and .... DUCK!.

She`s going to shake, and shake again.

There`s an old trick thatwe use to minimize this shaking (with a 100lb rottweiler sending watereverywhere, anything`s worth a try).

A dog`s `shake` starts at the tip of the nose and works it`s wayall the way down to the tip of the tail.

When your puppy looks as ifshe`s going to shake wildly, gently hold her muzzle still and you`llhead off, or at least minimize the severity, of her shaking.

Let Fifi air dry inside if it`s cold out, or outside if it`s awarm, or hot day (not in the direct sun though if it`s hot you don`twant to overheat her).

If your puppy has long or thick hair and you want to be able to use a doggie hair dryer,get her used to it early on. Make sure it`s set to low heat so as notto burn her delicate skin.

After bathing a puppy don`t forget to removetheir collar - it will need to dry out properly before it can be wornagain.

Okay, that`s it. See, bathing a puppy wasn`t that hard was it? You may feel as if you need a bath after all that hard work, but your little one is gorgeous!

Now that she`s all nice and squeaky clean, check out my great selection of dog grooming tools/aids to finish up the job!

Puppy Bath Time - Touch Ups & Time Savers

If you`re in a hurry to get your little one all clean and sweet-smellingand don`t have enough time for the full `bathing a puppy` routine.....you`re in luck!

There are now a whole range of productsthat make it a lot easier to keep your puppy presentable with minimumtime and effort.

Here are a few of the best for you to check out............

`Bathless` Dog Shampoo - Natural Formula

Video: Cute Puppy Shower: Rescued Pup Enjoys Bath Time

Natural Hypo-Allergenic Grooming Wipes

Video: Maltese Puppy Bath Time! Step By Step Tutorial & Favorite Products

Natural Formula Tear Stain Remover

Angels` Eyes Gentle Stain Wipes

HealthyyPets Ora-Clens Dental Wipes

All Natural Specialty Ear Wipes

If your puppy suffers from tear stains and discoloration around hereyes, it can be really difficult to keep his face looking clean andkissable!

But, there is a product that can help. Angels` Eyes Tear-Stain Eliminator for Dogs works `from the inside out` to eliminate those unsightly stains.

Simply sprinkle some of this dietary supplement on your puppy`sfood daily and soon her little face will be clean and her eyes bright.We use it on our Olde English Bulldogge and it works like a charm!

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