Giving Scruffy a bath might seem pretty straight forward. Put Scruffy in tub, wet Scruffy down, soap Scruffy up, rinse, towel off…Well, if you want to keep your pooch as comfortable as possible during the process and make it simpler on yourself, here’s some useful tips to make bath time a smoothly flowing process.
Gather supplies
- Dog Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Spray-on detangler
- Dog brush
- Wash cloth
- 8 Towels (approximately, the number you need will depend on the size of your pup and the space you are using for bathing)
- Doggie treats
- Cotton balls
- Plastic cup or bottle
Get the bathroom ready
- Line your shower or tub with a towel; this will help your pup avoid slipping. If you have a rubber bath mat, this will work just as well!
- Place towels on the floor. This will help your pooch avoid slipping when outside of the tub and will also keep your floor dry. Note: use as many as you wish (Or as many as you have!!)
- Place shampoo, conditioner, towels and treats within arm’s length.
Get your pooch ready
- Let Scruffy have a bathroom break.
- Love Scruffy up. Lots of pets and his favorite treat or toy will show him how much you love him.
- Gently brush through any tangles or knots that may be in your dog’s fur. This is where the spray-on detangler will come in handy.
- Give Scruffy another treat.
- Gently place 1 cotton ball in each of Scruffy’s ears; this will help keep them dry inside.
Bath time!
Step 1: If able, let your pup get in the tub by himself. It is safer than holding a nervous and or wet dog. Some puppy parents use a little stool for Scruffy.
Step 2: Turn on the water. Make sure the temperature is comfortable.
Step 3: Use a water sprayer or fill a cup with water and get your pup’s fur, down to his skin, nice and wet.
Step 4: Using your favorite doggie shampoo, work the soap into Scruffy’s fur from the neck down until you have a nice lather. Make sure to get all of Scruffy (except the head).
Step 5: Using a wash cloth, wash Scruffy’s head. Make sure to avoid his mouth, eyes and inner ears.
Step 6: Thoroughly rinse your pup. Use your hands to get all the soap out of Scruffy’s fur. It may take a few minutes. Be absolutely sure. You do not want your dog ingesting any soap residue or lingering shampoo.
Step 7: Follow the same steps as above if you choose to apply a conditioner.
Step 8: Place a towel, sized accordingly, over your pup and gently squeeze out the excess water. Chances are your pooch is going to want to shake off; this is where the towels on the floor and the extra towels come in handy.
Step 9: Help your dog out of the tub or better yet, let him get out by himself. Feel free to hover just in case.
Step 10: Take the cotton balls out of Scruffy’s ears.
Step 11: Give Scruffy his favorite treat. Treats help reward Scruffy for a bath well done and give him pleasant associations with tub time.
Step 12: Once Scruffy is damp or even dry, gently brush him. You may need to use the spray-on detangler for any knots.
Helpful Hints
- When bathing Scruffy check his skin and body for anything that seems out of the ordinary, like lumps, bumps or skin changes.
- Let your pup’s fur dry naturally. Using a hair dryer can dry out your dog’s fur and skin and cause itching. Make sure to keep your pup away from drafts during this time. You can always continue to pat him dry.
