Most of us think about bathing dogs in one of two ways. Either we believe that dogs nearly never need bathing, or we fall in with the people who feel a dog should be bathed once a month or even more often. The truth is somewhere between the two.

Bathing is good for dogs, but it can cause problems if you do it too often.

This is because dogs have natural skin and fur oils, the same way that people do. If you bathe your dogs too frequently, their skin will become dry and itchy. This creates a risk of scratching and breaking skin. Remember that the natural oils really are beneficial, and that they protect your dog from many things.

With care, you can make bathing entertaining for you and your pet. Just watch for a few things.

1. It’s important to provide protection for your dog’s ears. Soap and water, if they get into the ear canal, can cause significant infections. This is often temporary, but infections can cause real damage, up to and including deafness. If you think your dog may have an ear infection, look for frequent head shaking and discharge from the ears to be sure.

To make sure that this doesn’t occur, all you need to do is use cotton balls to stop your dog’s ears. Never force these into the ear canal – just place them securely at the entrance of the ear, keeping water out. Once the bath is over, dry the ears to keep moisture out – a finger wrapped in a cloth works well. If you decide to use a cotton swab, make sure you don’t put it too deeply into the ear canal, since it could damage the ear drum.

2. Remember to use a shampoo that’s been made for dogs, since they’re formulated to protect the fur and skin of your pet. Soaps made for humans are often harsh or irritating, plus dogs may be allergic to the scents used in them.

3. How frequently you’ll need to bathe your dog will depend on breed. Dogs that have longer hair need to be washed more often than dogs with short hair. Spaniels and other hairy dogs may need to be washed as often as every two months. Some other breeds can go as long as eight months. Outdoor dogs get dirty more quickly and will need more frequent bathing.

Start your dog off the right way when it comes to bathing – patience and compassion are extremely important. Scaring your dog will make the entire process more difficult. Dogs enjoy being wet, and may enjoy running into lakes and rivers or having water sprinkled on them.

If you can, set up your bath outside. Encourage your pet to run through or sit in it. Use toys to distract your dog from the water. Once he’s calmed down a little, start the bath. Some people put their pets on leashes to keep them from running away.

Collect everything you’ll need for the bath well in advance, including soap, towels, and a bowl for pouring water. Hoses usually are full of water that’s too cold – use water from the bath instead.

If you teach your dog that bathing is to be enjoyed, you and your pet will enjoy the next session.

It’s also important to look into the right dog training tools to ensure that your dog behaves like you want him or her to. Click Here for a top-notch dog training program that is easy to use to improve your relationship with your pet!

categories: bathing a dog,how to bathe a dog,dog training,how to train your dog,dog training tools,dog agility training,best dog training,dog training program,dogs,pets

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