Giving Your Puppy His First Bath

Before giving your puppy a bath, your puppy should learn how to trust you. You can do this by touching his paws, his ears and opening his mouth a few times throughout the day. When your puppy gives you a positive response, praise him. You can also reinforce the behavior with small treats.

Set the dog comb or dog brush and clippers out for your dog to smell. When your dog gets less scared of the items, give him praise.

Also, make sure your dog gets used to the sound of running water. Keep him calm by using a calm voice to reassure him when you praise him. You may even want to give your dog a small treat.

If you will be using a dryer make sure you let your dog get used to the noise. It is recommended to use a pet dryer versus a human blow dryer.

If you have an adult dog, for your dog’s first bath you may want to have someone help you especially if your dog is a large dog. Make sure your dog has a nice experience when he has his first bath. When your dog has a good experience with his first bath, he will not freak out when it’s bath time every time.

Before you give your dog a bath, brush him to remove any tangles and mats. Otherwise, you will have to cut out the mats once the dog hair is wet. If you need to cut the mats out before or after you give your dog a bath make sure that you are careful with the scissors. You do not want to nick your dog’s skin which is easy to do.

Find an old shirt to wear when giving your dog a bath as you will get wet! Make sure the water is warm for your dog. Turn up the heat and keep your dog away from drafts during bath time. If you are giving your dog a bath in your bathtub, you may want to set towels down on the floor. When you take your dog out of the bathtub, you do not want him to slip. Plus, you can take the towels and simply wipe up the floor when you are done.

The main purpose of Doggie-Corral.com is to provide dog owners with an entire line of dog supplies needed to care for their beloved pets. We ship to the entire United States and provide a one stop shopping experience. We offer dog-training aids, dog insurance, health care essentials, dog apparel (e.g. dog shirts, Dog Pro sports apparel, dog boots, dog coats, dog College Sports apparel, dog blankets, dog sweaters, dog pajamas),dog beds, plastic and wood doghouses, dog crates and kennels, dog toys, dog chews, dog treats, dog and puppy foods, dog grooming products and more. Feel free to check us out at Doggie-Corral.com.

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Quick Tips for Bathing your Dog

The earlier you get your dog acquainted with bathing, the better, especially if you are going to be bathing your dog in your tub. If you have ever bathed a dog before, you know you get just as wet as your dog, if not wetter, and the first thing your dog wants to do when the bath is over is to shake off and run around crazy like they have just been renewed. Some unfortunately, if left to run outdoors, find the first dirt spot they can roll in and you are back at it again. Sounds so much like kids! Here are a few tips that might make the bathing experience for both you and your dog a little more pleasant.

Brush your dog thoroughly and remove any mats before washing.

Use vet-prescribed ophthalmic mineral oil or a drop of eye ointment to protect his eyes, and cotton balls to gently plug his ears.

Be prepared for the occasional shake off during the bath, and the occasional attempt to escape the tub.

Have old towels on your bathroom floor. It will save in clean up and slippery wet floors.

Dress to get soaked!

If it is warm out, consider doing an outside tubby!

Before attempting to bath your pet, have the tub filled with warm water no deeper then an inch or so above his hocks.

Use a sponge or your hands and lather your dog using only dog shampoo. I have noticed dogs feel safer if you use your hands, as they are more comfortable and familiar with your touch.

If your dog has a specific problem, such as an extra oily coat, you may need to use a medicated shampoo.

Work the shampoo into his fur from head to tail, paying special attention to known flea hangout spots such as the neck and in between the toes.

Your dog will more than likely try to drink the bath water however, keep the soapy water away from his mouth.

If you know how, bath time is the perfect time for empting the anal sacs.

Rinse your dog after first shampoo and repeat. After second time around, make sure you rinse out all shampoo residue to prevent drying of the skin.

Have a great time towel drying your baby. Make sure to have plenty towels available to do so. He/se will be soaked and you will be surprised by how much water their hair holds.

Don’t bathe your dog too frequently. Once or twice a month is ample, possibly less depending on your dog’s coat. Too often can lead to a dry, brittle coat and scaly, flaky skin.

If your dog runs into a skunk, there is odor-removal products available intended to get rid of the strong odor, but you may still be left with the lingering scent for a few weeks. Best bet is to do as you would any person sprayed by a skunk – bathe your dog in tomato juice first and then follow with a canine friendly odor-removal product.


The main purpose of Doggie-Corral.com is to provide dog owners with an entire line of dog supplies needed to care for their beloved pets. We ship to the entire United States and provide a one stop shopping experience. We offer dog-training aids, dog insurance, health care essentials, dog apparel (e.g. dog shirts, Dog Pro sports apparel, dog boots, dog coats, dog College Sports apparel, dog blankets, dog sweaters, dog pajamas),dog beds, plastic and wood doghouses, dog crates and kennels, dog toys, dog chews, dog treats, dog and puppy foods, dog grooming products and more. Feel free to check us out at Doggie-Corral.com.

We would also love to have you connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
Doggie-Corral on Facebook
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