How to Wash an Unruly Dog

If your the proud owner of a dog who hates water, then you know exactly how difficult giving your pooch a bath can be. Having an unruly dog, who refuses to take a bath is not only frustrating, but it can also be costly. Due to the expenses that come with having a dog professionally washed, many dog owners wait as long as possible between baths. Doing so can cause not only your pet to smell, but also your home, car, and anything else the dog comes in contact with, including you. It is also poor for a dogs health to go un-groomed for long periods of time.

Your dog needs to have a bath at least once every two weeks. You do not want to bath them more then once every 14 days because excessive bathing can cause the dogs skin to dry out, and become itchy. If their skin becomes to itchy, they will begin to compulsively scratch which could eventually lead to hair loss, and sores. The only time you should bathe your dog between the 14 days is if it is absolutely necessary. Situations such as the dog getting feces in it's fur, possible contact with any type of poison, or they managed to get extremely muddy, are all good reasons to wash your dog, between the normal scheduled baths.

Before you begin to bathe your dog, you will need a few supplies. First off, if at all possible wash your dog outside on a solid surface (not the grass), but only during the warm months. During the cooler months, you will have no choice but to use the bath tub inside. You will need Dog Shampoo, do not use human shampoo if you can avoid it. If you are washing the pooch outside, make sure the garden hose will reach, and that you have a spray nozzle attached to the hose. If you must wash the dog inside, make sure that you have an old large cup or pan, that you can use to dip water with. Whether you choose to bathe your dog indoors or out, make sure that you have an old towel handy to dry the dog with once the bath is over.