Bathing your dog can be a stressful experience for some pet owners. If your dog has not had a bath before or does not like water, it can be a difficult task.

Dogs have sensitive skin and cleaning or bathing your dog too often can really dry out their coat and irritate the skin. Unless they get dirty or roll in something unpleasant, it’s best to leave the natural oils in their coat do all the work as they can help with self-cleaning.

Unlike people, dogs don’t need a daily bath. How often you should bathe your dog can depend on the type of dog you have.

Long-haired dogs rarely need two or three baths a year, as too much bathing removes the natural oils from their coat. However, if they have rolled in something unpleasant, a bath may very much be needed.

Most short-haired dogs can also go without being bathed for a long time, unless they get particularly dirty or smelly. For most short-haired dog breeds, bathing once a month is often enough.

Follow our top tips for bathing your dog:

Before you start:

Walk your dog

Taking your dog for walk before washing them will help to wear then out and they will be less bouncy at bath time.

Brush them

To ensure that there are now tangles or matted fur, brush your dog before bathing them. Matted hair holds water which can leave your dog with irritated skin.

Get the right shampoo

Make sure you have a shampoo specifically formulated for dogs. Don’t use human shampoo as they may contain ingredients that could irritate your dog’s skin. Nutravet’s Soothe and Shine Shampoo contains a blend of natural ingredients to help protect and nourish the skin.

Test the water

Keep the water at a warm temperature and make sure you test it before washing your dog. Dog’s skin can be sensitive so it shouldn’t be too hot or too cold.

Timing

Allow plenty of time to wash your dog. If it’s the first time you are bathing them, they may be nervous, so try not to rush as this could make your dog anxious.

Ask for help when bathing your dog

If possible, ask someone to help you with washing your dog. Extra hands will be very helpful when bathing your dog and help you to keep everything under control.

Wet your dog’s body

Soak your dog’s body in warm water and ensure their fur is nice and wet, especially underneath.

Add the shampoo

Squeeze out a small amount and rub the shampoo onto the body until it lathers. Do not apply shampoo to your dog’s head or face to prevent getting it into their eyes. Shampoo your dog twice. The first time, the shampoo binds the dirt and helps to get rid of it. The second go, you’re really washing the skin and pulling out all the remaining dirt and oil in the hair. Don’t overlook places like the pads of the feet, armpits, and bellies.

Rinse your dog

It’s important to rinse your dog thoroughly with warm water. Excess soap can irritate your dog’s skin. So, it’s important to be rigorous with the rinsing.

Dry your dog

Use a towel to dry your dog thoroughly after the bath. You can also use a hairdryer to dry your dog, but make sure it is on the coolest setting and hold far away from their skin. Also keep it moving so you don’t focus on one spot for too long.