How to Bathe a Dog at Home

You might think it's a simple task, but bathing a dog at home can be more complicated than it seems, especially if we want to do it safely for them. But don't worry, in this SoyUnPerro article we'll explain everything you need to know so their bath is pleasant and safe.

Where should you bathe the dog?

Where Can I Bathe My Dog?

We all know there are vet clinics that also offer a pet washing service. But if we want to bathe our dog at home, we can do it in:

• The bathtub
• The shower tray
• The garden
• The sink

It all obviously depends on our dog's size — bathing a dog the size of a Saint Bernard isn't the same as bathing a small dog the size of a Chihuahua.

The usual approach is to use the bathtub or shower tray, where they can stand or sit while we carefully wash them.

What Do I Need to Bathe My Dog?

Many people make the mistake of using the same shower gel made for humans. But dogs have a different pH than humans and need a specific dog shampoo (sold at vet clinics and pet specialty stores). It's also ideal for our dog's shampoo to be completely unscented.

Yes, we know a dog that smells like peach is ideal... but their sense of smell is very well developed, and for them, a scented shampoo is quite unpleasant — think about it from their perspective. So what we need to bathe our dog is:

• An unscented dog-specific shampoo
• Several towels to dry it very well
• An adjustable hair dryer

Anyone who has a dog usually keeps old towels for this purpose, so when they get out of the shower, we can dry them as best we can before giving them a final dry with the hair dryer.

If we use the hair dryer, remember to set it to a temperature that doesn't burn and avoid pointing the air at its muzzle, nose, eyes, and ears.

If the weather is nice, it's ideal to dry it a little with towels and then go out for a walk so it dries naturally.

How to Bathe a Dog Correctly

It's best to brush before bathing to remove as much dead hair as possible. The day after the bath, brush it again.

Through play and cuddles, invite it to step into the shower tray or help it into the bathtub (or wherever you're going to bathe it). It's best for it to go in on its own, so it doesn't become afraid of bath time.

Set the water to a temperature that doesn't burn (pour some water on your wrist — it shouldn't burn or be cold). Wet its body thoroughly, remembering it has several layers of coat.

Avoid getting its eyes, nose, and ears wet. So if you have to wash its head, do it very carefully. Once it's wet, apply the special shampoo along its back and spread it carefully, rubbing its coat well so it penetrates the undercoat.

Just like with the water, you must be very careful and avoid the shampoo getting into its ears, eyes, or nose. Also don't let it lick the foam (something far more common than we might suspect.....).

Finally, rinse it thoroughly and dry it well with the towels. Use the hair dryer to finish, or go for a walk if the weather is nice to let it dry completely.

Remember to clean its ears separately from bath time, with the help of some gauze.