Bathing A PuppyIf the phrase 'bathing a puppy' strikes dread into your heart, don't worry - we're here to help. Follow these guidelines and you'll be a pro in no time.
Many times, the puppies first bath takes place at their breeders home, and if you're lucky little Fifi will be clean and sweet smelling when you first get her - but don't necessarily expect her to stay that way! Puppies get into all kinds of things and sooner or later she's going to need a puppy bath. Very young puppies don't generally get very dirty, and it's best not to bathe them before they're 7 - 8 weeks old if possible. They don't regulate their body temperature very well, and they (especially toy and tiny breeds) can get chilled pretty quickly. If you have a very young puppy who needs a bath, try sponging him/her clean if possible, but if it's absolutely necessary to be bathing a puppy like this - make it quick! How often you find yourself bathing a puppy will depend on a lot of things - like how long she spends outside and whether it's a wet, muddy winter or warm dry summer. Then there's the occasional crisis - perhaps she's been happily rolling in dead Armadillo (I can personally vouch for the immediate and critical need for a bath, no several, baths in that case), or has had a full glass of Coke spilled on her head (don't ask!). Bottom line - if she's dirty, smelly, sticky ...or all of the above then a puppy bath time is definitely in order, and these gorgeous products are exactly what you need!.....  Be preparedDepending on the size of your puppy, you can use the bathtub or the kitchen or laundry room sink for puppies first bath/s. When bathing a puppy, I've even known people who trained their little one to walk into the shower stall - definitely a good idea if Fifi is destined to weigh 120lbs when she grows up.First gather up all the things you'll need -
If your puppy's ears fold over (like a Labrador's) then you can put cotton wool balls in them to keep the water out. Protect her eyes by putting a little vaseline or mineral oil inside the lower lid (but be warned, she Puppy Bath Time Fun!Before you start your puppy's bath, bring Fifi into the room with you and CLOSE THE DOOR. This is important, because if she gets away from you while wet (it is a possibility) at least she'll only soak the bathroom or kitchen and not the entire house.Put a few inches of warm water in the tub or sink. How deep exactly will depend on the size of your puppy; 4 inches may barely cover your Great Dane's paws but could drown the neighbors chihuahua. Unless you think Fifi is going to wriggle wildly at bath time (and you could be surprised) remove her collar. If you decide to keep it on, don't forget to take it off once all the fun is over, both her neck and her collar will need to air dry properly. Place your puppy gently in the water, talking soothingly as you do so. Using a hand-held shower head or jug, gently wet down her coat. When bathing a puppy it's important to make sure that the water soaks the coat, and gets all the way through to the skin, so wet her thoroughly. Some dogs coats are very water-resistant (depending on the amount of oils in the coat and the breed of dog). Rather than put shampoo directly onto Fifi's coat, mix a little with some warm water in the jug and pour it over her. Lather well but avoid the eyes and ears. Use a warm, soapy washcloth to clean her face instead.
This next part of bathing a puppy is pretty important - rinse thoroughly! Take your time over this part and make sure that you get all the soap out of her fur. Any residue left there will irritate her skin and cause scratching and discomfort long after bath time is over. Drain the water from the tub or sink and gently squeeze as much moisture as possible from your puppy's coat. Remove the cotton balls from her ears (if they're still there that is!). Towel dry Fifi gently, if she has long or thick hair try squeezing rather than rubbing. If you rub too hard it can easily tangle her coat.
Almost doneNow, lift Fifi out of the tub, put her on the towel on the floor and ...DUCK!.She's going to shake, and shake again. There's an old trick that we use to minimize this shaking (with a 100lb rottweiler sending water everywhere, anything's worth a try). A dog's 'shake' starts at the tip of the nose and works it's way all the way down to the tip of the tail. When your puppy looks as if she's going to shake wildly, gently hold her muzzle still and you'll head off, or at least minimize the severity, of her shaking. Let Fifi air dry inside if it's cold out, or outside if it's a warm, or hot day (not in the direct sun though if it's hot, you don't want to overheat her).
Okay, that's it. See, bathing a puppy wasn't that hard was it? You may feel as if you need a bath, but Fifi is gorgeous! What If You're Short On Time?If you're in a hurry to get little Fifi all clean and sweet-smelling and don't have enough time for the full 'bathing a puppy' routine..... you're in luck!There are now a whole range of products that make it a lot easier to keep your puppy presentable with minimum time and effort. Here are a few of the best for you to check out.
Puppy Bathing ProductsWhen you're bathing a puppy you need gentle products you can trust. Here are a few more that we recommend, there's something for eyes, ears, teeth and, of course, the shampoo! PNP Healthy Coat Gentle Shampoo for Dogs - 16 oz Bottle - $ 4.19 From: Pet Nutrition Products, Inc. A premium natural gentle shampoo and conditioner designed specifically for the pH of your dogs skin. gentle and tearless shampoo and conditioner for dogs is designed for dogs with sensitive skin and puppies and will leave your dogs coat healthy, soft, smooth and shiny.  PNP Healthy Coat Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs - 16 oz Bottle - $ 4.19 From: Pet Nutrition Products, Inc. Natural oatmeal and baking soda shampoo and conditioner designed specifically for the pH of your dogs skin. Designed as an all purpose canine shampoo that will leave your dogs coat healthy, soft, smooth and shiny.  PNP Healthy Eyes Eye Wash for Dogs - 8 oz Bottle - $ 6.33 From: Pet Nutrition Products, Inc. Healthy Eyes Eye Wash™ is a veterinarian formulated sterile ophthalmic eye washing solution that gently and effectively washes and cleanses the eyes. Relieves irritation and discomfort caused by debris and other irritants including pollen, specially formulated for sensitive eyes. A great product to have on hand for emergencies and general maintenance!  PNP Healthy Ears Ear Cleanser for Dogs - 8 oz Bottle - $ 5.59 From: Pet Nutrition Products, Inc. Healthy Ears Ear Cleanser™ contains a combination of gentle ingredients that aid in the removal of dirt, wax and other 'stuff' from your dogs ears.Also contains Aloe Vera to help prevent canine ear infections. Healthy Ears Ear Cleanser™ is formulated to be effective and fast acting and comes in a bottle with an easy to use nozzle. Useful to have on hand and can be applied after swimming.  PNP Healthy Teeth Dental Care for Dogs - 8 oz Bottle - $ 5.59 From: Pet Nutrition Products, Inc. Healthy Teeth Dental Care™ is a canine oral care and breath freshening product that is simply added to your dogs drinking water every day. Safe and effective product is veterinarian formulated using a special blend of all natural ingredients and does not effect the taste of the water. Promotes fresh breath, clean teeth and healthy gums by reducing odor causing compounds in your dog's mouth and protecting the natural oral environment.  Top Performance SafeEye Eye Protectant for Dogs and Cats - 4 oz A gentle liquid that contains purified mineral oil and Vitamin E and is especially formulated to soothe, lubricate, and protect your puppys' eyes from being irritated by shampoo or soap. Just a couple of drops in each eye before your puppies bathtime will make the whole experience a lot easier on both of you!  ClearQuest Toothbrush Set for Pets - 2.5 oz Vanilla This handy kit has a Vanilla-flavored tartar control pet toothpaste and a two-sided toothbrush (with both large and small head making it suitable for all puppy sizes), and makes keeping Fidos' pearly-whites clean and shiny a breeze.  Uncle Normans 1 Step Pet Bath Sponge - Large Size Everything you need to wash your dog is already IN this amazing sponge! There's shampoo, conditioner and even an odor inhibitor. The special 'massage bumps' help increase the effectiveness of the bath and provides a relaxing canine massage at the same time. A great product! Dog Grooming Page
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