How to Give a Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier a Bath
Soft-coated wheaten terriers are medium-sized dogs with thick, soft hair. This hair will inevitably get very dirty and greasy over time as it collects dirt from playing outside, mud, slobber and a variety of other types of grime. You should bathe your wheaten about once a month to keep him clean and to also help keep fleas away during the summer months. Bathing your terrier may or may not be demanding, depending on your specific dog's temperament, but if it's well-behaved then it should be a breeze.
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Things You'll Need
- Dog leash
- Tearless soft hair dog shampoo
- Flea shampoo (optional)
- Towel
- Hair dryer
- Dog hair comb
Instructions
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Start running lukewarm water in your bathtub. Take out any kids toys or any of your shampoos or soaps so your terrier doesn't grab a hold of them during the bath.
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Place your terrier gently in the tub. It may or may not resist, depending on how much it likes baths. You may require a partner to help restrain the dog. Attach one end of its leash to its collar and tie the other end around the bath faucet. This will keep your dog from jumping out and making a run for it.
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Cup water with your hands and run it over its hair until it is nice and moist. Water should be dripping from its body.
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Squeeze some tearless dog shampoo formulated for dogs with soft hair into your hand and run it over the dog's hair. Rub it into a lather over the hair but try to avoid the eyes. Even though it is tearless, your dog may still not like having it in its eyes.
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Cup water into your hands and rub it over your terrier to rinse out the soap. Repeat this process until all the soap's foam has fallen off your dog. You may repeat the process with flea shampoo if you notice any of them rummaging around its hair.
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Turn off the bathwater and wrap your wheaten in a towel. Sit down with it and dry it off with a hair dryer. Comb its hair to get rid of any potential knots.
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Tips & Warnings
You may think it's easier to give your dog a bath outside with the hose. This is fine during the summer, but never try it in the winter when it's cold. Dogs are very sensitive to colds.
Dry the hair thoroughly, especially with puppies. Damp hair will get cold very quickly, and this could lead to sniffles or runny noses.
Don't give your wheaten, or any dog for that matter, more than one bath a month unless it is absolutely necessary. Giving your dog too many paths could result in severe dry skin.
References
Resources
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