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When traveling with your dogs, there will come a time your dog will need a bath. You may already know how to bathe your dog; hopefully, some of these tips will make it easier for both of you.
There was a time that frequent bathing was frowned upon, but the rules are changing, and now many veterinary dermatologists say weekly bathing is okay. There are benefits to weekly bathing for some dogs, including allergy reduction (for you and your dog) helping to treat skin infections, and reducing itching and scratching.
Shampoo - get a shampoo made for dogs. People shampoo has a different pH and doesn't work as well for your dog. If your dog is having skin issues, ask your veterinarian to recommend a therapeutic shampoo for the specific condition. Add a rubbery Kong Zoom Groom into your routine too. The Zoom Groom will loosen up ready to shed hair, help shampoo and conditioner get worked in more deeply and as an added bonus, it will give your dog a gentle massage.
Towels - use at least three towels for each dog bath. If you don't have a non-slip surface to put on the floor, use the first towel on the bottom of the tub or shower to help your dog be comfortable. Towel two is the anti-shake towel that you'll drape over your wet dog between washes or rinses to keep him from shaking and soaking the entire room. Towel three is the drying towel, and depending on the size of the towels and dogs, you may need more than one to dry your dog off.
Block the drain - use a piece of steel wool in the drain to catch hair and prevent it from clogging your drain. A hair catcher or strainer would work too, and there are many options available at your local grocery, hardware, or online.
Non-Slip Surface - use a non-skid rubber mat or one of your three towels in the bottom of the tub or shower. Your dog will enjoy the bath more if he's able to stand without slipping and help reduce anxiety about bath time.
Use Warm Water - think of Goldilocks on temperature, not too hot and not too cold, just right. You want your dog to be comfortable during the bath, and warm water (like you would use on a baby) is suitable for your dog too.
Dry Your Dog - Once you've completed bathing and thoroughly rinsing off your dog, throw a towel over his body like a horse blanket and then use another towel to dry his face, then his ears and lastly his feet. Once those are done, start drying his body. You can speed up the process by using a blow-dryer like the ones from The Electric Cleaner, which are made specifically for animals. Dryers make drying your dog go more quickly by blowing the water out of the coat, so your dog dries off more quickly.
