Grooming Tips for Dogs

 

 

Bathing a puppy can be a real challenge, especially when your pup uses every resource to thwart your attempts to get them clean.

 

Who wants to sit, all wet, in a slippery bathtub when there are lizards to chase, and trash men to harass?

 

But don’t give up on this important bath ritual.

 

The way you bathe your puppy matters because you are teaching them, here and now, exactly what bath time will be like for the rest of his days.

 

If you want a well-behaved adult dog that enjoys his bath, follow these steps.

 

First thing; before you even run the bathwater, is to collect all the supplies you will need.

 

You’ll need a lot of these the first few times.

 

Nylon collar and leash Coat-conditioning spray (for long-haired dogs) Natural-bristle brush Slicker brush during times of heavy shedding.

 

Large towel for your dog.

 

Now that your supplies are in order, put them all within reach of the tub where you will bathe your puppy.

 

The bathtub works fine for some people, but small dogs fit perfectly in the kitchen sink, and this can be easier on your back if you’re no longer a spring chicken.

 

You may prefer to bathe big using the garden hose on the porch or driveway.

 

Next, put on clothes you don’t care about getting soaked.

 

Get a few of those treats ready, along with the nylon collar and leash.

 

The entire affair will work better if your puppy is hungry, so do not feed him 6 hours before the bath.

 

Call your puppy to you and offer a treat, remove his regular collar, put on the nylon collar and leash, a give him a few more treats.

 

Say to him, We’re going to have a bath!

 

Won’t this be fun?

 

Take your puppy into the bathroom and show him a favorite toy, and play in the bathroom a bit.

 

Remember, you want this to be fun.

 

Now it’s time for a thorough brush-and-comb.

 

Any knots or tangles in your puppy’s coat will tighten and become worse when wet, so you want to comb out all tangles before turning on the faucet.

 

Spray long coats with conditioner and brush thoroughly, then comb through, making sure you get all the way down to the skin.