How to bathe a puppy – puppies have their own ideas about individual body care – this includes rolling around on the floor or rubbing your head or nose in who knows what.

Every dog sees the bathing time differently. We, humans, know that a bath gives us a clean and refreshed feeling, but not all dogs have the same sensation. Most dogs are not enthusiastic about bath time, but many of them learn to tolerate it.

While bathing keeps the coat clean, healthy and shiny, some breeds need intensive scrubbing more often. This basically depends on how quickly they get dirty.

Too frequent bathing removes healthy fats from the coat and skin, leading to itching, scratching and irritation. Daily, regular brushing helps to shorten the cleaning intervals between baths.

How to Bathe a Puppy: Puppy First Bath Age

Up to one and a half or even two months in a puppy’s life a puppy should under no circumstances be separated from its mother. Her survival depends on her and during this time we have to provide her with peace and comfort in an isolated “nest”.

It is essential not to bathe the new puppy before weaning. If you do this, you may cause the mother to reject her puppy as she may not recognize her smell as familiar.

The puppy’s first bath with you may mean that you will have to take care of all other necessary care such as nutrition and protection.

How to Bathe a Puppy: Bathing a Puppy for the First Time

You should know that bathing is probably one of the most important moments in a puppy’s life, as it is directly related to socialization. Therefore, it is important to make it a pleasant and positive experience for your puppy, then you will also enjoy bathing with your darling.

When bathing puppies, we start by filling the bucket or tub with warm water. It is important that the bucket/tub is not too full so that your dog does not experience stress or suffocation. Then we will make the puppy completely wet. Avoid the head. Take care never to wet your eyes and ears. To make the experience more pleasant and entertaining, it is advisable to play with the puppy in the water or even have a toy ready.

Once the puppy is soaked in water, we can use a special shampoo for puppies. During the bath, we will use the sponge and the rubber comb to reach all corners and edges and apply them properly. When we are finished, we should rinse thoroughly and remove the shampoo completely.

Finally, we use one or two towels to completely wrap the puppy. This point is very important: The first bath of the puppy should be a positive experience. As soon as the towels absorb the water well, use the dryer in a low setting with low heat so that the dog does not get scared or feel uncomfortable. Everything should remain relaxed and comfortable for the puppy.

Follow these tips on how to bathe a puppy and get the following ready and your puppy’s first bath will be a positive experience:

Warm ambient temperature

Positive and relaxed atmosphere

Puppy specific shampoo

Sponge

Rubber dog comb (soft)

A bucket with warm water

Towels and hairdryers

How to Bathe a Puppy: How Often Should You Bathe a Puppy

After a puppy’s first bath, we can start bathing him regularly if he is dirty or smelly. The ideal break between baths should preferably be between 20 and 60 days. The reason for this is that dogs have a fat layer that protects their skin. If we bathe puppies more often, we run the risk of destroying this protective layer.

To prevent this, it is strongly recommended that you buy a moisturizing puppy shampoo that protects the skin from regular contact with water and prevents it from drying out.



Here is a puppy bath schedule that you can use as a guide:

Once a week until your puppy is three months old

Once a month up to the age of six months

Twice a year thereafter or as needed.

When should you take a bath for your dog?

For medical reasons (infections, parasites, allergies)

For the removal of malignant substances from the coat

To reduce the odor

Don’t forget to brush regularly this helps to remove dead hair and dirt and should be one of your most important hygiene routines.

How to Bathe a Puppy: What to Bathe a Puppy With

Owners of small dogs have an advantage – they can simply throw the dog into a sink or a bathtub. But if your dog doesn’t fit in a sink, use the bathtub or take him in the shower and use a removable nozzle. A portable dog bath is also an option. While some tubs are made of heavy plastic, others are collapsible and can easily be used outdoors or in the laundry room or laundry room.

The use of a garden hose is fine if the dog is really dirty or the weather is good, but make it an occasional experience. Dogs don’t like it when it’s cold, any more than we do, and most dogs don’t like it when a hose shoots at them.

How to Bathe a Puppy: Best Way to Bathe a Dog

Some puppies can panic when immersed in a huge white bathtub. This is hardly any surprise when you think about it.

You can help your puppy get used to the big bath by leaving him in it for a few seconds, a few times a day and giving him some treats to eat while he’s in it.

A popular alternative to bathing a puppy is the kitchen sink. But be careful, because wet puppies are slippery and when they wriggle they can fall and hurt themselves.

A safe place is in a plastic dish on the kitchen floor!

When the weather is nice, you can do the whole thing outside with a portable shower.

How to Bathe a Puppy: Can You Use Baby Shampoo on Puppies

Baby shampoo is generally cheaper than most dog shampoos, but is it safe?

You should never use people shampoo for your puppy. If he gets it in the eyes, they burn and your dog will not want another bath, never again.

Baby shampoo can be used in an emergency, but a dog’s skin is less acidic than human skin and it is best to use a special dog shampoo that has been developed for this purpose.

Be sure to always choose a shampoo that is fragrance-free. A baby shampoo without fragrances and preservatives is suitable if you do not bathe your puppy with it too often.

If a dog has healthy skin and coat and is washed every four to eight weeks, the use of baby shampoo may be fine.

If you wash your dog more often, it is best to use no shampoo for people, but a gentle shampoo, which was specially developed for a dog of his age.

Even dogs and puppies, who need special attention because of fleas or skin problems, should not use a human shampoo.

Like a human baby, puppies need special care. This includes giving her the right stuff and cleaning her with products that are suitable for a puppy. Before you lather up with some random household products, it is best to familiarize yourself with what is safe and what is not.

How to Bathe a Puppy: How to Get Your Dog to Love Bathe Time

Use these tips to positively influence your dog’s love for bathing:

Take a nice long walk

Many dogs enjoy the fresh water when they feel hot and exhausted after training. So use these natural instincts to your advantage. In addition, your dog will have less accumulated energy to fight against bathing.

Do not hurry

Take plenty of time to bathe your dog. If you are under pressure, your dog will notice. Stay relaxed and concentrate solely on bathing.

Bring a positive attitude with you

If you’ve experienced repeated resistance from your dog while bathing, your body language, and energy will probably communicate to your dog what an ordeal it will be before your puppy even knows what you’re going to do together! You’ll be surprised how much it can make a difference to take a bath with calm, assertive energy.

Make fun of it

Even if it seems difficult to bathe your dog, you should simply consider the bathing time as a common play time. Look for a toy that your puppy particularly likes and take it with you into the tub. Just play together and bathing will be a pleasure.

Look for another dog

The best teacher is often another dog. If your dog is properly socialized, bathing with another dog who has fun bathing can help your dog relax and enjoy bathing. Make sure that the dogs know each other before the bath so that they get along.

Pay attention to the water temperature

What you think is a good temperature may not be what your dog prefers. Very warm water can indeed be a shocker for your dog, so keep it lukewarm. This will ensure that the temperature is not part of the problem.

Start early

If your puppy can’t relax and doesn’t enjoy bathing, you’ll be able to spot bigger puppies that will challenge you for a long time. Make sure your puppy lets you explore the bathtub when it is dry and therefore less intimidating.

Putting food in the bathtub

Another way to help your dog make more positive associations with the tub (or another bathing area) is to feed him there. You may find that your dog is tough or nervous at first, but over time he will probably relax and enjoy his food.

Start at the bottom

Let your dog become familiar with the sound of running water. Then pour some water into the tub. Start by wetting your puppy’s feet, then your legs. Continue from there. Do the process step by step so that your dog can get used to every step. Do not try to speed up the process by pouring a bucket of water over it or spraying it off. It is okay not to finish the bath the first time. The only goal is for your dog to feel comfortable.

How to Bathe a Puppy: Super-Cute Slow Motion Puppy Bath!

Did you watch the videos of Iso, the dachshund puppy filmed in slow motion? Here’s a nice little video of Iso’s bath time:

Hope the article about how to bathe a puppy is helpful for you. Don’t forget to share your feedback with us in the comments section below.