By: Keyana Chapman
• Dog Shampoo
• Dog Conditioner
• 5 to 6 towels for dying and putting
on the floor
• Rubber bat mat inside the tub
• Cotton balls
• A brush (a pinhead is best for
longer wiry hair; use thicker
bristles for short-hair breeds)
• Ask your vet how often your
dog should be bathed (it
depends on activity level and
breed) and if your pooch
requires special shampoo. In
general, we like the shampoos
and conditioners from Cloud
Star, Pet Head, and Earthbath
(all available at Petco); they
smell terrific and contain
expert-recommended
ingredients. Oatmeal shampoo
tends to be the most gentle on
coat and skin. If your dog has
sensitive skin, test shampoo
on a patch of her leg a day
before giving her a bath, and
monitor for signs of irritation.
• Brush your dog with long,
gentle strokes to remove
debris and knots. Treat
any matted sections
carefully: Brush the area
around a mat as much as
possible, then gently clip
mat out with scissors,
being careful not to nick
the skin. If your dog has
any particularly sticky
spots on her coat—like
tree sap—dab them with
baby oil to help break up
the residue.
• Plug the drain and add about 6
inches of lukewarm water. If
your gets nervous around
water, ease her into the
routine: Bring her into the
bathroom as the tub is filling
and give her treats and
encouragement. When the
bath is ready, coax the dog
into the tub. Gently point her
nose down (so water won’t
flow in) and, beginning at her
muzzle, use a handheld
shower nozzle or a plastic cup
to saturate her coat.
• Using a quarter-size amount at a
time (the overall amount you’ll use
depends on the size of your dog
and how dirty she is), work
shampoo into a lather in your
hands, then gently massage it into
the dog’s hair. “Don’t automatically
turn to your own shampoo,” says
Joey Villani, a judge on Animal
Planet’s Groomer Has It. “Pets’
skin has a different pH balance
than we do, so your favorite
shampoo may be drying.” Work
from head to tail; pests like fleas
and ticks will naturally try to
escape water, so working toward
the tail helps ensure that any
unwelcome critters will washed
completely off your pet.
• Conditioner is optional, but
it will make brushing out
your dog afterward easier,
especially if she is a long-
haired dog. Smooth a thin
layer onto her coat; leave
for two to three minutes.
While the conditioner sits,
use you finger—or a damp
cotton ball—to gently
break up and remove any
crusty residue around her
eye area. Then rinse her
thoroughly.
• While the dog is standing in
the tub, wrap her in a towel
and gently squeeze and pat
dry. Avoid rubbing—it’ll only
tangle her coat. Here’s where
you need your extra towels:
Your dog will shake off when
she gets out the tub, so cover
the floor and help her out.
Comb through her coat while
it’s still slightly damp, focusing
on the ears and the tail to
avoid matting. Hot air tends to
dry out a dog’s skin, so skip
the hair dryer and let your dog
dry naturally.