Why Bathe Your Dog?
Most of us have one of two opinions about bathing a dog. Some people believe you don’t need to bathe dogs very often – maybe once a year. Others feel that their dogs should be bathed every month.
Bathing is really good for dogs, but it may cause problems if you do it too much.
That’s because all dogs have oils in their fur and skin, the same way as people do. Wash your dog too often and his skin will dry out. Your dog will itch, and may scratch and create sores. Remember there there are benefits to retaining the natural oils. They protect the skin from its own bacteria, for instance.
With care, you can make bathing entertaining for you and your pet. Just watch for a few things.
1. It’s important to provide protection for your dog’s ears. Soap and water, if they get into the ear canal, can cause significant infections. This is often temporary, but infections can cause real damage, up to and including deafness. If you think your dog may have an ear infection, look for frequent head shaking and discharge from the ears to be sure.
If you want to make sure this doesn’t happen, plug your dog’s ears with cotton. Do this gently – never force the cotton into the ear. Just place it securely at the entrance of the ear to keep water out. Dry the ears gently when the bath is over, too. This can be done using a cloth on your finger. You can also use a cotton swab, but don’t do this too deeply. You could cause damage to the ear drum.
2. Use a shampoo intended for dogs. These are made to protect your pet’s fur and skin. Soaps meant for people can be irritating and harsh. There’s also a chance your dog will be allergic to the perfumes in human products.
3. The frequency with which you bathe your dog will depend on the breed you have. Dogs with long hair need to be washed more often than breeds that have short hair. That means that if you have a hairy breed, such as a spaniel, you may need to bathe as often as once every two months. Other breeds could go as long as eight months, but outdoor dogs will probably need more frequent bathing.
Starting your dog off right with routine bathing is important. Be compassionate and patient, since scaring your dog makes it a lot harder to bathe him. Make bathtime fun if you can, since lots of dogs enjoy swimming or being sprinkled with water.
Set the bath up outside when you can, and encourage your pet to run through it. Distract your pet from the water with a toy or two, and once your pet calms down, you can start the bath. Some people use a leash to keep their dog from running off.
Collect everything you’ll need for the bath well in advance, including soap, towels, and a bowl for pouring water. Hoses usually are full of water that’s too cold – use water from the bath instead.
If you teach your dog that bathing is fun and enjoyable, he’ll be excited about the prospect.
You will also want to look into the right dog training tools to ensure that your pooch behaves like you want him or her to. Click Here for a proven dog training program that you can start using today to improve your relationship with your pet!
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Tags: bathing a dog, best dog training, dog agility training, Dog Training, dog training program, dog training tools, Dogs, how to bathe a dog, how to train your dog, pets
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