How Should I Give My Dog a Bath?

How should I give my dog a bath? This is probably a question that might have crossed your mind, especially if your canine friend seems to have a knack for walking into puddles or getting into all sorts of mess....literally.

But everyone knows how to bathe their dog, right? Well, not exactly. It’s not the most complicated procedure since dogs don’t hate water as much as cats, but it also depends on every pet in part.

This short guide will tell you what you should and shouldn’t do when bathing your dog.

How often should I bathe my dog? 

It used to be that vets recommended baths only once a month. Giving your pooch frequent baths can disrupt their skin pH, which can lead to a number of conditions as time goes by, including dermatitis.  

These days, vets and groomers recommend giving your dog a bath once every two weeks. But the frequency of the baths also depends on your dog’s coat and specific health.  

Dogs whose coats are oily, such as the Basset Hound, for example, will have to be bathed once a week or once a fortnight. Short-haired breeds, on the other hand, can do well with just one bath a month.

Some dogs are equipped with water-resistant coats, such as the Golden Retriever, so they should be given baths even less frequently so as not to rid them of their natural coat oils -- once every two months works best for these breeds.

Malamutes and other thick and double-coated dog breeds do well with plenty of brushing and almost no baths at all.

If you’re the pet parent of such a dog breed, you might get along with our Water Free Wash, which is a dry grooming product that cleans dirt and oils and also neutralises coat odours. It's also great if you're the perpetually busy type and don't have a lot of free time to give your dog the typical bath. Use our Pet Grooming Glove to remove any loose hair and work the product into your dog’s coat.

How should I give my dog a bath? 

If your dog likes baths, you’re in luck. You’re not going to go through a whole lot of effort to convince them to get into the bathtub.  

The process itself is rather straightforward. You have to get the coat as wet as possible, preferably to the skin. Start by shampooing your pooch’s neck and then work your way down the rest of their body, including the toes and the tail.  

Some pet parents find that leaving the suds on for a couple of moments allows the shampoo to better penetrate the coat, leaving your dog looking very clean. Once you get to your dog’s nether region, you can also empty out their anal glands.  

For light colored coats, you can use our 2in1 Bright White Wash.

Alternatively, if your dog’s coat is black, the color will be more intense thanks to our 2in1 Back in Black Wash. 

What supplies do I need? 

Here are several examples of products you will need for giving your dog a bath: 

• A rubber mat (can keep your dog stable in the bathtub) 
• A good dog-safe shampoo (such as our own 2in1 Oatmeal Wash)

• Cotton balls (which you might want to superficially place into your dog’s ears so that no water gets in there) 
• A washcloth (can prevent shampoo from getting into your pet’s eyes) 
• Dry towels
• A Detangling Comb (brushing your dog’s coat before the bath can prevent tangles)

• Our Tear Stain Away (stain remover for your dog’s eye and mouth area)

Drying the dog’s coat 

Bathing your dog in the middle of the summer is far easier when it comes to drying their coat. But if you decide to give your pooch a bath in the middle of winter, air drying might not be an option.  

Make sure to towel dry the coat as thoroughly as possible before using the blow dryer. Some pets can be wary about the sound that this appliance makes, so you might have little to no chances of success. 

Another piece of advice that we can give you is to use the lowest and coolest possible setting on your blow dryer. It might take some time for your dog’s coat to dry, but at least you don’t risk causing any burns and you don’t risk damaging their coat quality either.

Say goodbye to tangles 

To make sure that brushing your canine friend’s coat after the bath is less of a chore, you should do your best at detangling it prior to the procedure. Use our 4in1 Detangler & Pamper Spray to remove tangles and give your dog’s coat a shiny look and a nice smell.

In some cases, your dog’s coat can be so tangled that you might have to take them to a grooming salon so that they can get a haircut. Matted areas are extremely challenging to deal with, so a haircut can save everyone a lot of time, effort, and frustration -- including the dog, not just yourself and the groomer.  

Some breeds need to have their coat groomed by experts, such as Poodles, Springers, or Yorkies.  

Do you have any special technique for bathing your dog? We’d love to hear about it in the comments section below!