How often you bathe your dog depends on breed and age. Here are some professional dog grooming tips to keep your pup looking and feeling great.

Key takeaways:

• Find out how often your dog needs a bath.

• Use positive reinforcement and be patient as you get your pup used to baths.

• Always use dog-friendly products and the appropriate brushes and combs.

• Washing your dog’s head requires special care.

Part of being a dog parent is keeping your pup clean and healthy with routine care, including baths. Baths do a lot more than just keep your dog smelling great; they help remove dead skin cells, loose fur, dirt, bugs, and other harmful things.

How often you bathe your dog depends on breed and age, but the general rule of thumb is monthly. However, you may need a more frequent bath schedule if your pup has long hair or is prone to matting. Check with your veterinarian or professional dog care specialist for timing and breed-specific needs.

This article will give you grooming tips for bathing your dog like a professional, including how to keep your pup comfortable and ways to make bath time a pleasant experience.

Use playtime to create a positive bathing experience

Some dog parents try to rush the bath. They feel that getting it over as fast as possible does their dog a favor, but this is not true. A better tactic is to block off a big part of your day – especially the first few times – and give your pup plenty of time to process everything.

Start by exercising your dog outside with some fun playtime. Burning off excess energy is a great way to make the bath easier on everyone. After the bath, play again. Putting bath time between two fun activities creates positive associations.

Have everything you need close by

Gather the shampoos, combs, brushes, towels, and other tools you’ll need and keep them near the bathing area. If you forget something and try to dash off to get it, your pup will likely follow you. That will be a mess for everyone – including your home.

Use the right brush or comb to give your dog a good brushing before turning on the water. The brushing will remove loose dirt, dead fur, and light tangles. This keeps your pup more comfortable during the bath and helps reduce matting later. Having another person with you throughout the bathing process can help in many ways, from steadying a wiggly dog to keeping them distracted with a supply of treats.

Keep your dog safe and comfortable

Bathtubs have slick, slippery floors and dogs get nervous if their feet skid. Be sure to have no-skid mats or stickers on the floor in your pup’s bathing area. Consider purchasing dog-friendly stairs to make getting in and out of the tub easier, too. Then, carefully monitor the water temperature. You want it tepid, about the same as for a human infant. If it’s too hot or cold for you, your dog won’t enjoy it either. Also, be sure to read our tips on winter baths to keep your dog safe during the colder months.

Reward your dog for cooperating

Some breeds, such as golden retrievers, like baths more than others. Many dogs don’t enjoy the process and couldn’t care less if they ever get one, though. Use positive reinforcement and patience to your advantage. The trick is to get your dog ready before a bath is needed. Start by coaxing them into the bathroom and give praise and treats to create positive associations. This will help them get comfortable.

Acclimate to the bathing area and tools

A hesitant pup is a nervous pup, so you may need to try different tactics to get them into the actual tub. This could involve simply coaxing them into the tub or ground-level bath container, or scooping small dogs up and placing them in a kitchen sink. Be sure to tell your dog what a great job they are doing and offer treats and praise as they explore the space.

Introduce bathing and grooming tools in the same way. Start by taking each brush or comb out and letting your dog sniff it. Follow with plenty of praise and treats. Does your dog have a favorite toy? Bring it to the tub for playtime! Turn everything associated with a bath into something enjoyable.

Use only dog-safe products

Never use shampoos or conditioners designed for people on your pup. The pH of your dog’s skin is very different from yours, so using people products could lead to dry, itchy skin, rashes, or worse. Instead, use shampoos and conditioners formulated for dogs and the gentler products created for puppies. You’ll also need a selection of comfortable brushes and combs for your dog. A veterinarian or grooming expert can help you determine which are right for your breed.

Tips for bath time success

Start by rinsing your dog thoroughly with your shower spray set on a gentle setting. Work the water into your dog’s fur so every part is wet. Apply dog-safe shampoo and work it into a lather with your fingers. Many dogs like massages and scratches, so spend extra time on this part. Use cotton balls to wash ears and to remove eye goop. Use a washcloth to gently wash your dog’s face. If shampoo gets in your dog’s eyes, wipe them with a damp washcloth.

Use the shower sprayers again to rinse the shampoo out of your pup’s fur. Once done, towel dry your dog to remove as much moisture as possible. If you choose to use a blow dryer, have it set on a very low setting and avoid blowing it in your dog’s face because they hate that.

Let the experts do the job for you

Professional dog care specialists have the training and expertise to keep your pup looking and smelling great. At Scenthound, baths are part of our basic hygiene package, as well as teeth brushing, ear cleaning, and a nail clip. All dogs need routine care and we make it easy and affordable with our Monthly Clean Club.

Use our store locator to find the Scenthound facility closest to you.