All dog owners will know how stressful it can sometimes be to wash your dog following a muddy walk, or even using prescribed shampoos to treat skin conditions. Below is the link to a video to show helpful techniques of how to shampoo your dog. For those who would rather read about it than watch a video, we have also got the written directions below.

How To Shampoo Your Dog Video

• Thoroughly wet the coat and skin surface with clean water. If using a sponge, make sure the water reaches the surface of the skin.

• Apply the shampoo at several points down the neck and back of the dog.

• Gently and progressively massage it into the coat and skin all over the dog, using enough shampoo to create a good lather (using more water where necessary). Take care around the eyes, nose and mouth. Work in around the head/neck and underneath, followed by the front and back of the legs.

• Shampoo the feet, using a sponge or cotton wool to get between the toes. Also use a sponge or cotton wool for under the tail and the ear flaps.

• Work well into the skin, and take care to ensure the shampoo does not get in the dogs ears. If using a medicated shampoo for a skin condition, make sure you pay particular attention to the worst affected areas.

• Some shampoos will specify to leave the shampoo on for a certain amount of time. Once you have done this, rinse thoroughly with clean water. Use large amounts of clean, lukewarm water.

• Allow the dog to shake itself, then dry with a hand towel. Do not leave your dog in the cold when it is wet. Comb through long-haired dogs (taking care around affected areas if treating a skin condition). Do not use a hair-dryer

 

Top Tips:

1. Wear old or waterproof clothes. You may also wish to wear gloves.

2. Having another person with you to hold the dog should make the job easier.

3. Use of a shower head will help removal of surface debris and dirt, as well as thoroughly wetting the coat and skin.
   A sponge may also be useful for harder-to-reach areas (such as between the toes).

4. If using a bath, do not leave the plug in, as this may lead to dilution of the shampoo when your dog is standing
   in the water.

5. If you have a large dog, it may be more convenient to bathe it outside. 2-3 buckets of water will be necessary
   to wet, shampoo and then rinse the dog.

6. Ensure that the water is lukewarm. If the water is too cold, your dog may be uncomfortable and reluctant to
   bathe in future. If the water is too hot, it can increase the dog’s desire to scratch.

7. If using a shampoo that has to be left on the skin, timing should start as soon as the dog has been lathered. If shampoo gets into the eyes, bathe them with large amounts of clean, lukewarm water.

8. After rinsing, hand dry with a towel. Do not use a hairdryer, as heating of the skin surface may lead to
   itching and can damage the hair and upper skin layers.

9. Do not allow the animal to lick itself during the shampooing and rinsing, or before the dog is
   dried. Take care to avoid the animal inhaling the product or getting it into the nose, mouth or eyes
   during shampooing.