Although it’s winter time, you shouldn’t take a break from your dog owner responsibilities and neglect their grooming routine. Snow, salt, and other dirty, grimy substances can all stick to your dog’s coat and transform it, making it look dull and lifeless. Nobody should want that for their canine companion, so if that sounds like your dog – you need to take action! Here’s how to bathe your dog in winter:
Get The Temperature Right
You need the temperature of your home to be just right as you bathe your dog, so that there’s absolutely no risk of him getting hypothermia or becoming too chilled. Turn up your thermostat so it’s nice and warm, but if your bathroom is colder than other rooms you might need to get a portable heater.
Use a Heavy Bath Mat
A heavy rubber bath mat will stop your dog from slipping and sliding all over the place, and make both of your lives much easier. Make sure you line the bath properly, and then fill it with a couple of inches of very warm water. You still don’t want it to be too hot; dogs can burn like the rest of us. Test the water yourself to make sure your dog will be warm and comfortable.
Brush Your Dog
You need to give your dog a good brush before placing them in the tub, as the loose hair could potentially block your drains. It also stops their fur from becoming matted, so don’t miss this step for the best results. Before placing your dog in the water, you might also want to protect their ears by gently popping in some cotton wool, although you do need to be extremely careful with this. If not, make sure you don’t get any water in your dogs ears.
Wash Your Dog
Now it’s time to get your dog in the bath. Gently but thoroughly use warm water to wet their coat, and then squirt on some shampoo and massage in with your hands. There are many different kinds of dog shampoo you can use depending on your dog’s needs, for example; dog shampoo for mange.
Rinse Your Dog
Rinse the shampoo of your dog thoroughly but gently, from the head to the neck. You can then repeat if needed. Conditioner will help your dog to feel much softer and smell nicer, so apply a good handful of that too. It’s best if you use conditioner that complements the shampoo you’ve used. Leave the conditioner to do it’s thing for a few minutes.
Rinse Your Dog Again
Once the conditioner had had enough time, thoroughly rinse your dog with more warm water. When you’re sure he’s totally clean, you can remove the cotton balls from his ears (if used) and throw them in the bin.
Dry Your Dog
You’ll need a couple of clean towels to dry your dog thoroughly. Take your dog out of the bath, and then wrap him in a large, dry, clean, towel and rub vigorously and continuously all over. When the first towel seems to be getting a little saturated, use another to speed the process. You could even use a hairdryer on their fur, just make sure you keep it far away to prevent burns. Never let your dog outside while they’re still wet – they’ll get chills!
Your dog’s skin and fur really benefit from taking a bath, so don’t forget about it in winter. There’s nothing worse than a smelly, dirty dog; make sure you treat yours to a bath every so often!