How to Give Your Dog A Spring Bath

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By Angelgirlpj
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Clean Dog after Spring Bath

It's Spring and finally warm enough to give my dog a bath. She is a white Eskimo Spitz and she was getting not so white.
Worse than that she had a funky dog smell going on. She has needed the bath for a month or so but even though the calendar said it was spring the weather was not reflecting it.
Yesterday, finally was a warm spring day allowing me to give my dog a bath. Let me show you how I get my Eskimo Spitz in the water for her bath.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Dog
Dog Shampoo
Bathtub
Towels
Vacuum sweeper

Step 1

run water

RUN THE WATER:

I let my dog go outside for her potty break and while she is out I run the bath water. I make it slightly warm so by the time I get her in it is just right. With her outside I can get ready and it gives her less time to freak out.
Step 2

Sergeants Dog Shampoo

GET OUT SHAMPOO:

Get your dog shampoo. Put a drop or 2 into the water to make some bubbles.
Step 3

Towels and rinse water

TOWELS AND RINSE WATER:

Run your extra rinse water and get towels out. You'll need at least 2 towels to get your dog dry and ready to romp.
Step 4

Scared Dog

SCARED DOG:

My dog does not like baths although she did quite well. Spitz has been known to be an aggressive breed but the 3 I've had in my life time has been just fine. Anyways your dog no matter what kind it is likely to be frightened. Talk to them as you do everything.
Step 5

Wash backside

GETTING STARTED:

I always start by wetting her down and avoiding the head. Wet their shoulders, back and butt. When I start scrubbing I start with her hip area. The hair is so long and you can tell she actually likes her back legs and hips being scrubbed. I can see her relax a bit.
Since it was her first bath of the spring she is very dirty. I rinsed her a little and added more shampoo to get a real lather going.
Step 6

Wash shoulders

WORK YOUR WAY UP:

I next wash her belly and back area. I do her shoulder & neck area next and I'm still avoiding the head. She doesn't like her ears wet. Again I had to rinse a bit and add more shampoo. Last thing I do is wash her head just a bit. I don't do much shampoo just get it wet and try to wipe her head.
Start rinsing and talk to them to keep them calm. You have one container of clean rinse water but if you are like me that is just a start. Long haired dogs take a little extra shampoo and water.
Step 7

Let them run free

TOWEL DRY:

I start letting the water out as I am rinsing so the tub is empty to dry her off. I dry her head first. Then work my way back to the butt. Just the opposite of washing her.
I put the towel around her and pick her up out of the tub and take the other towel to continue drying her. Once I think I have her about as dry as I can I turn her loose. This is where you let the dog have fun. Let them run around shaking and rubbing there ears.
Step 8

Dirty Tub

CLEAN UP:

While your dog is doing her thing go look at how dirty your tub is and clean it out. With long haired dogs there will be hair to clean out as well as the dirt.
Also be prepared to Vacuum your carpets. With the Spring comes shedding dogs.
Step 9

Brush dog outside

BRUSH DOG:

After your dog dries a bit to where she is OK to go outside let them out and brush them. You definitely want to do this outside as I'm telling you with a long haired white dog you will see it fly. And you want it outside in the wind verses your carpet.
Step 10

Sorry to say but I probably will have to do this again 3 or 4 weeks from now. She's basically an inside dog and if I want her white and smelling good it's a must.