How To Give Your Dog A Bath

Skip the dog groomer - save money - do it yourself. When you have multiple dogs, those groomer bills add up quick. I realized I was going to go bankrupt if I kept sending the gang to the groomer. I finally bit the bullet and starting giving the dogs baths myself. I was pleasantly surprised at how well behaved the gang was with the exception of my Wanda. The mere mention of the word bath, or the site of a shampoo bottle sends Wanda running for the other side of the house, whining and crying like a drama queen. I was relieved to find out that she is not much better for the professionals.

So, you have decided to tackle the task of bathing your dog. Before you begin you will need to gather a few things to make the bathing process go as smoothly as possible. You might even find your four-legged friend waiting in the tub and ready to go. (Well we can wish, can’t we?)

It all starts with a brush. Groomers recommend a slicker brush. There are even slicker brushes you can use for the face. Brushing before a bath is very important as it gets rid of extra hair and removes mats. (Be sure to brush gently so that you do not hurt your dog).

The gang's groomer recommends clipping and filing dogs' nails before the bath since many dogs really, really hate this.

Next on the bath list is a high quality dog shampoo (we like herbal shampoo). Sorry but this probably means looking a little further than the local pet store. Using a cheap or harsh shampoo can leave your itching like crazy.

A conditioner? For a dog? You bet your canine's sweet behind. Just like they dog for us, conditioners remove tangles and make brushing and combing easier.

Time to dry. I usually use large beach towels to remove as much water as possible. There are also super-absorbent towels that dry dogs in half the time.