by Toni McKilligan

Created on: August 16, 2008

So, Scruffy needs a bath. His hair is dirty and smelly and you can barely stand to be around him. If only you had a magic wand that you could wave over him instead. Unfortunately, you are going to have to do it yourself!

Bathing a dog is not like bathing a person. While some dogs don't mind the process, others see it as torture and will fight you tooth and nail all the way. The thing to keep in mind is that it is a process. You cannot just drop Scruffy in a tub filled with water and douse him in shampoo. There is a little more to it.

Before you even consider turning on the water, you need to make sure that you and your dog are prepared for the event. Get the bathroom ready! Have towels (several of them) on hand. You will also need dog shampoo (people shampoo is not appropriate for dog coats and skin). If your dog does not like having a bath, you will want to have a way of securing him in the tub so he cannot jump out mid-bath. You can buy short leads with suction cups for this purpose, or you can loop a leash around a hand rail instead. Have a hair catcher ready and placed over the drain. These are rubber disks with a sieve in the centre to trap the hair and let the water drain at the same time.

Once your bathroom is ready, you have to get Scruffy ready. Before you bath him, brush him thoroughly. This is important for two reasons. First, it will get rid of much of the undercoat that is being shed. Brushing out the undercoat before bathing will prevent extra hair in the tub. It will also reduce the amount of wet hair Scruffy will inevitably shake out all over your bathroom walls during and after his bath. Second, it will remove mats and tangles from his coat. Washing a matted coat will only make the mats worse. Pay particular attention to the groin, armpits and behind the ears when brushing. These are hot-spots for mats on dogs. If you cannot brush them out easily, take a metal pet comb and split the mat by inserting the end tine of the comb into the mat close to the skin and then pulling it through the mat. Breaking up the tangle will make it easier to brush out. Don't pick at it. It's better to get it out quickly and have done with it, than to submit your dog to endless pulling and tugging that can be painful for him.

When Scruffy is tangle free, it is time to get him into the tub. First, though, you will need to get the water to the right temperature. Your dog will not appreciate a hot bath. Keep the water luke warm. Too cold or too hot and Scruffy will not be

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>