How To Help Prevent Stress At Bathing Time.

This information is for abused or non-abused dogs.

Do you wonder why your dog gets edgy when you go to bath him/her? Particularly, when you turn on the shower hose and start to wet them down. The sound of the water coming from the shower hose is actually deafening to them. To alleviate this stress, hold the shower head flush with the dogs body. This stops the roaring sound, and it floods the coat for better saturation. Always start with your dogs head and work back toward the tail.

To make sure you have the proper water temperature, test it on your forearm. If the water is uncomfortable, it will be way too hot on your dog. If the water feels comfortable, it will feel nice to your dog. NEVER use cold water. I do not recommend bathing your dog outside. If you have too, heat the water first. Cold water will make your dog sick, believe it or not!

If you have a dog that has cropped ears or prick or semi-prick ears (ears that stand up), put cotton balls in the ears to prevent water entering the ear canal. If you have a dog with fall ears or drop ears, you can hold the ear closed by taking your hand and placing it completely over the ear or use the cotton ball. I prefer to hold the head at a downward slope, instead of holding it up, to keep from getting water up the nose and down into the lungs.

After lathering the coat, depending on the directions of your shampoo, rinse you pet, using the same method as described above. If the coat feels squeaky, it is rinsed properly. If it feels slick, rinse, rinse, rinse. Proper rinsing will keep your dog from having skin problems. (problems not related to food or genetics) Remember to rinse the privates very well, as soap gets in there and irritates.

If you are not comfortable around your dog's face, use a wash cloth. Rinse the cloth and wipe the face very well to get all the shampoo off. If you happen to get soap in the eyes, rinse the eyes with water for about 5 min. and if your dog shows signs of irritation, such as rubbing the eyes with the side of their paw, call your vet immediately. Remember, your vet is important, and will do whatever is necessary to help you. Also, your dog will close his/her eyes as the water runs over them. They react like humans in that aspect.

Remember, DO NOT force the cotton ball down into the ear canal, as this could cause damage. And, don't forget the cotton ball after the bath is complete. I do not recommend using a human hair dryer on a dog. A dog's skin is very thin and not like a humans scalp. Even on low, a hair dryer can burn the dog. Towel drying is the best method for a dog that does not go to a groomer. Also, you can go online and purchase a hand held dryer that is made for dogs. I hope this information helps to get your pet more comfortable when getting their bath.