How to Give a Big Hairy Dog A Bath

Giving a large dog a bath will not always be an easy task but in the end you will have a much cleaner dog that will be a joy to have in your household!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• grooming table or picnic table if possible
• a big dog
• harness for the dog
• hose with water that is mixed warm and cold
• spray nozzle on hose
• ice cream bucket for the water if you don't have a hose
• dog shampoo
• bucket for mixing up shampoo
• dog conditioner
• eye wash or plain saline eye drops
• scissors
• steel-toothed comb
• wire pin brush
• baby wipes
• paper towel
• wooly large terry cloth towel
• one or two assistants
• dog treats
• dog crate or enclosed space
• blanket
• fan

1. put the harness on the dog first
2. get the dog up onto the grooming table. Have the assistant there to hold the dog and give it an occasional treat.
3. turn on the water and check to see that it is "tepid" (the same temperature as your own skin)
4. turn the spray nozzle to mist setting
5. place the nozzle directly onto the dog's coat, starting at the top of the head and completely wet the dog down from head to tail
6. pour the shampoo into a bucket and add water so that it is sudsy
7. starting at the dog's head, suds the dog all over, using your hands and pouring the suds out of the bucket when needed
8. once the dog is all suds, then rinse the suds out of the coat
9. pour the dog hair conditioner into your hand and massage into the dog's coat thoroughly
10. rinse the dog again all over
11. dry the dog all over with the wooly towel and then the dog dryer if you have one
12. put the blanket into the crate or enclosed space
13. put the dog into the crate or enclosed space
14. turn on the fan on medium so that it blows on the dog

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have warm water in your hose (mixed) then use a bucket with the water in it to pour over the dog.
• Massage the suds into the coat well and leave set the required amount of time if it is a flea shampoo
• Using the conditioner will help to keep cockleburrs and sticks and things from sticking in your dog's coat
• Using the harness makes it easy for your assistant to hold onto the dog
• It is perfectly ok to use the soap and water in the dog's ears, it will help to flush out grime and hardened wax
• Absolutely do NOT use cold water straight from the tap! It is too cold for the dog and can make him sick!
• Rinse the dog very thoroughly, leaving soap "scum" in the coat will cause hot spots and dermatitis
• Be careful not to get shampoo in the dog's eyes, use the eye drops immediately if this occurs and wipe them out with a paper towel
• Dry the dog well with the woolly towel and do not leave the dog outside, it will get muddy again!