How to Groom a Dog - Bathing Your Dog

1. Gather your supplies. You don't want to be running around looking for cleaning products with a wet dog in the tub, so have everything in one place before you start. You should also make sure that you're properly dressed in clothes you don't mind getting messy, because you will get wet.[6] At the very least, you will need: [7]
- Dog shampoo
- Treats
- Several towels
- Place one towel on the edge of the tub to keep water from splashing over the tub. The rest are for drying.

2. Place a non-slip surface on the bottom of the tub. You know from experience that the tub can get slippery once it gets soapy. To prevent your dog from slipping, place a towel or non-slip bath mat in the tub.

3. Pre-fill the tub with luke-warm water. Hot water can harm your dog's skin, especially if your dog is short haired. Avoid running water into the tub while the dog is in it, as it may cause unnecessary stress. You may have to spend some time desensitizing your dog to the sound or running water with the help of his favorite treats. Always go slowly to avoid overwhelming your pet and making things worse for both of you.

4. You can also fill a 5 gallon bucket with luke-warm water and mix a decent amount of shampoo in with it. Doing this will save you a step.

5. Secure the dog in the bathtub. Some dogs like to make a run for it during bath-time. If this describes your dog, buy a dog bath lead from the pet supply store. It's a leash that attaches to the shower's wall with a suction cup and keeps your dog in place during the bath.
- Replace the dog's regular collar with one that will not stain the coat or suffer water damage.

6. Soak your dog thoroughly. Make sure your dog's coat is completely wet before you start applying shampoo to it. If your dog isn't afraid, you can buy and use a hose and water pressurizer attachment for the faucet. This is especially helpful if you have a large dog or one with a double-coat. But, if your dog is afraid of the running water, use a glass or bucket to pour water from the tub over the dog instead. AVOID getting water in your dog's ears. Water in the ears can cause an infection. Please be sure to only spray water/rinse water up to the dog's neck. The head can be cleaned separately (see below for instructions)

7. Shampoo the dog. Begin at the neck and move downward toward the rear and legs, using your fingers to spread the shampoo and work it in down to the skin. Save the head for last, and don't use soap around the ears and eyes(unless you have tearless shampoo meant for dogs). Instead, use a wet towel or washcloth to clean the head. Once the shampoo is applied, running a rake through your double coated dogs coat will help to loosen it and better distribute the shampoo- just be careful not to rake one spot for too long. Again a good practice is to try it on yourself first to see how it feels.
- Shampoos may be easier to apply and rinse off if diluted.

8. Rinse your dog thoroughly. As long as you see dirt or soap bubbles in the water coming off of an area, keep rinsing. You can use the same method you used to soak the dog's coat before shampooing. Remember not to use running water if your dog's afraid of the sound. Simply pour water over him with a cup to rinse the shampoo from his coat.

9. Dry your dog. Use a squeegee or use your hand as a squeegee to force water Orr of the coat and body. Towel dry him as best as you can while he's still in the tub, so you don't make a mess. Place the towel over your dog’s back, or hold it next to him and give permission to shake the water off their body. Many dogs will learn the “bath rules” and wait to shake until you have placed the towel over them to contain the water droplets. If your dog is a shorthaired or you prefer to let your dog's coat dry naturally, you're done.
- If you have a double coated or long-haired dog, you may need to blow the coat dry.

10. Blow dry the dog if necessary. If towel drying won't cut it, blow-drying can dry the coat without overheating or over-drying your dog. If you have a dog with especially long hair, you may need to dry the coat while brushing it.
- Make sure that the blow dryer is on the cool setting! It may take longer than usual, but it's worth the time because there will be less of a chance your dog's hair and skin will dry out.
- If your dog is afraid of the sound or sensation of the blow dryer, don't push him. Towel-dry him as best as possible and let him air dry somewhere he can't make a mess, like a laundry room.