Bathing your Dog

A Show Dog's Life

It is advised to comb out your dog before bath remove any excess shedded hair caught in the coat.

A small tan puppy is standing in a blue tub basin filled with water and a person is pouring water on top of the puppy using a plastic yellow cup.

Small dogs can be bathed in your laundry tub...

A small wet, longhaired brown with black puppy is standing in a white utility sink and there is water pouring on its back from the silver spout above it. There are bottles of soap on the edge of the sink.

…or in the utility sink.

A wide white with brown Bulldog is standing in a white bath tub and it is looking over the edge.

Large dogs can be bathed in the bathtub.

A large tan with white and black dog is sitting in a bathtub, it is looking to the left, its mouth is open and it looks like it is smiling.

A huge tan with black mastiff dog is standing outside on a sidewalk and two children are washing its side with a garden hose.

Large and extra-large dogs you can bathe outdoors. You can purchase an attachment for your indoor sink, connect your garden hose and take hot water outside.

Same process as washing your car: soak with water, shampoo and rinse. It is a wise idea to drain anal glands monthly, and this is the easiest time to do it.

A large wet tan with black dog is standing outside on a concrete porch and it is looking to the left. There is a child washing the sides of the dog.

A large wet tan with black dog is standing on a concrete porch and it is being washed by two girls.

Two girls are washing a wet soapy large breed black with white dog outside in grass.

Never give your dog a bath outside in cold weather.

A black with white dog is standing in grass and to the right of it a person is pouring water out of a hose on top of it.

Close up - A wet brown with tan puppy is standing in a blue tub of water and it is getting the back of its neck rubbed.

Pinch the ears when first wetting down, so no soiled water enters them.

The right side of a wet brown with tan puppy that is standing up against the side of a blue tub of water. A person is rubbing under its neck.

Shampoo the entire dog. For light dogs with feet and facial staining, add stronger product made for this to these areas only; these products can dry out the coat and are not meant for the entire coat. Be careful not to get soap in your dog’s eyes.

A large, wet, white with brown and black Bulldog is standing in a bath tub filled with water. There is a gallon plastic jug and a bottle of soap on the side of the tub.

Spike the Bulldog being a good boy in the bathtub.

Four little wet black with white Havanese puppies are jumped up against the side of a sink looking out.

10-week-old Havanese pups getting a group bath.

Close up - The right side of a puppy is getting water poured on its head and it is looking to the right.

If you do get soap in the eyes, rinse well with fresh running water, being careful not to get water up the nose. Rinse your dog well, apply conditioner and rinse again.

A white with brown and black Bulldog is getting a jug of water poured on his head. A person is touching under the dogs chin holding it up in the air so the dog does not get water up his nose.

Using a plastic jug to wet and rinse a large dog comes in handy.

For white dogs, whitening shampoo can be used on stained areas, like face and feet. There are many whitening products, as well as a leave-in whitening gel.

Close up - The label of a bottle that reads - super whitening gel Stain Remover.

Close up - The label of a bottle that reads - pure white lightening Shampoo.

Groom leave-in whitening gel and whitening shampoo

Top down view of a person that is sitting in a tub and they are washing a puppy that is standing on a stand and it is looking to the right.

Some owners (especially kids) like to take their dog in the tub with them.

A little wet tan puppy is standing against the side of a sink and it has an orange towel over its head.

Drying your dog: towels are fine. Sponge cloths like in picture greatly reduce the drying time of your dog, and pull most of the water from the coat.

The front of a long haired wet, small breed tan dog that is standing on a washing machine and it is looking down.

A white bulldog is getting dried off with a towel by a blonde haired lady.

Be sure to thoroughly towel off your large dog before you set him loose in the house or he will shake water all over your walls.

Close up - A white bottle is upside down in a dog's ear.

If fresh water got in the ears, use a drying agent. If ears are dirty, use the same product and massage it into the ears.

Close up - A black with white puppy is laying on top of a person who has a red blowdryer in there hand. They are pointing it at the puppy.

Longhaired breeds should be blow-dried to prevent them from catching a cold.

Close up - Fingers are holding a little white tube on the back of a tan dog that has its hair parted.

Some flea medicines that go on externally need to be re-applied after swimming and bathing; check the label to see what your flea medicine suggests. Some flea control medicine is oral; both work well and are easy. Talk about flea and tick control with your vet.

(If you use a product such as FRONTLINE flea control, it is advised to wait at least 48 hours before re-applying after a bath, as it mixes with the coat oils and is not as effective without these oils.)