How to Bathe a Black Lab Puppy
Labrador Retrievers are a notoriously water-loving breed. For your puppy's first bath, however, it's important to take precautions. A good bathing experience the first time will set your dog up for many pleasant bath times to come. Remember that you should not bathe puppies under 8 weeks of age, as infection or illness may ensue.
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Things You'll Need
- Bathing tether
- Plastic cup
- Dish tub or sink
- Non-slip mat
- Dog shampoo
- Cotton balls
- Mineral oil
- Towels
- Dog brush
Instructions
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Place the non-slip mat down in the dish tub or sink. Fill the sink 1/4 full with warm (not hot) water and attach the bathing tether to the sink with the included suction cup. Labs will often struggle or try to swim in the tub, and a bathing tether allows you to keep your hands free.
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2
Brush any mats or tangles out of your puppy's coat. Moisten two small cotton balls with mineral oil and put them in his ears (do not push them into the ear canal) to keep water out. Rub a little mineral oil around his eyes. The ears and eyes of Labs are especially sensitive to water.
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3
Place your puppy gently in the sink. Clip the bathing tether to his collar. Praise him and speak softly to him as you do this. Hold him as gently as possible, even if he struggles.
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4
Dip up a little water in the plastic cup and wet your puppy with it. Avoid wetting his head for now, as Lab puppies will shake their body if their head gets wet. Squeeze some dog shampoo into your hand and lather the puppy, working in a direction opposite to the way his fur grows.
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Let the shampoo sit as you drain the sink and fill it 1/4 full with fresh warm water. Rinse the shampoo out of the puppy's coat and wrap him in a towel. Use a corner of the towel dipped in soapy water to wash the puppy's face and ears, and a clean corner dipped in clear water to wipe the soap away.
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Allow your puppy to dry himself in a warm, draft-free area. If you must use a hair dryer, turn it to its lowest setting and hold it well away from your puppy, as the hot air can easily burn him. Turn off the hair dryer when your puppy is just barely damp, and let him air-dry the rest of the way.
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Tips & Warnings
Treat your puppy with a lot of love and offer effusive verbal encouragement. This will teach your puppy to form good associations with bath time, and reduce his fear of it as he grows.
Do not bathe a puppy until he is at least 8 weeks of age. Bathing him sooner increases the risk of infection and damage to his developing eyes and ears.
It is very easy to burn a puppy by using water or hair dryers that are too hot. Prepare the puppy's bath the way you would for a human infant.
Never use human shampoo on a dog. A dog's pH balance is very different from a human's, and human shampoo will damage their skin and fur.
References
- Photo Credit black lab stare image by Scott Slattery from Fotolia.com
