What is the easiest way to wash a dog in the bathtub?

Question

He is a 15 lbs. shih tzu and I have never given him a bath. I have always taken him to the dog groomer, but I want to learn to do this myself.

Answer 1

15 pounds! Wow! I see a diet in the future for him. haha Sorry, used to be a vet tech so I know how hard it is to have a chubby one. Washing is very easy in the tub. The best accessory for doing so is having a sprayer attachment that will become detached from the wall so that you can spray your little one easier. If you don't have this sort of sprayer, you will need a large cup to get water over the big guy. Something things to remember while cleaning a dog inside:
1. Only use luke warm water. Never use hot because it will burn your dogs skin - very sensitive
2. Only use dog shampoo - never use human shampoo and conditioners because they will make the poor guy itch and the hair will be stipped of the natural shine.
3. Place cotton balls in the outside of his ears. He will shake his head like crazy and you will end up taking a bath with him if you don't. They don't like to have water in the ears.
4. Wait at least two weeks before washing again. This is needed because if you do it too much, he will again become too itchy and the hair will lose shine.
5. Make sure that you dry him off after you are finished with him. I use a hair dryer and my dog doesn't mind. Since he has been going to the doggy salon - I'm sure this won't be a problem. Just don't do it in the ears and around the nose. They don't like it and you don't want to make him deaf.
6. Always talk to him when you are doing it - telling him he is a good boy. Then he knows that you aren't trying to hurt him.

Our dog is very good about taking baths. The first few she looked up at his like - "are you crazy?" however now she doesn't mind them. It may take a few times for you to get him to be really good in the bathtub - he has to get used to it just like you do too.

Good Luck! I'm sure things will go good!

Answer 2

The best way for a dog this size is to buy a small leash and wrap it around the faucet of the bath tub. If the dog is afraid of running water, fill it up enough so the water comes up to it's "knees". Use a cup to saturate the dog and then shampoo twice with special dog shampoo.(rinse between washings) NEVER use human shampoo on animals. Their skin is much more sensitive than ours and they could easily develop a rash or worse. ALWAYS wash twice, making sure to get behind the ears (not in) and in the arm and leg pits, butt, and between the toes. These are the areas that harbor the most odor. Use tepid water (test on the inside of your wrist) and make sure the dog is rinsed very thoroughly before taking it out. Make sure you don't get soap in the dog's eyes. There are tearless formulas -for puppies-you can get until you get the hang of it. Clean it's ears after getting him out. That is the easiest time to do it, and alot of people tend to overlook that part of grooming. Also, trimming the nails is good to do then, too, because they are softer. Make sure you hang on to your dog at all times. It can get quite slippery in there. Good luck to you and your little pal!

Answer 3

It is extremely important to use a pet shampoo, not a product made for people. While there are some products made for people that are very mild (such as baby shampoos), there is still a difference in the "pH" of the products (this is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the products. The pH of dog shampoo is two points different than people shampoo, which is a huge difference. Using products made for people can really dry out a dog's coat.

Bathe at least every other week. The short muzzle of a Shih Tzu causes them to place their face very close to things in order to smell them causing their face to frequently get dirty. The short muzzle can also cause more tearing than in the long muzzle breeds. Their face will need cleaning at least twice a week. Use a soft toothbrush to wash under the eye area and rinse well. If your Shih Tzu gets their feet dirty outside everyday, just wash the feet. Bathing too often will remove the natural oils necessary for a shiny, healthy coat.

Brush them before AND after you bathe them. Brushing before makes the brushing afterward part much easier. Place some cotton balls in their ears before the bath. Water in the ears is one of the most common causes of ear infections. Please remember to remove these once you are done with the bath!

Express the anal gland during bathing. This is a small sac right inside the anus that fills with a brownish fluid. Consult your vet or groomer if you need help.

Keep the shampoo out of their eyes. You can use a bland eye ointment that can be purchased in most pet shops prior to the bath. If you do get soap in the eyes, simply wash with warm water or saline such as you would use if you wear contact lenses.

Rinse thoroughly. It is easy to leave some shampoo residue, especially between their toes. This will cause them to lick and irritate their skin.

Be sure to blow dry thoroughly. Dogs love to run and roll after a bath. If they are still wet, they will pick up all kinds of things from the ground and ruin all the work you have just completed. Invest in a table doggy drier to free both your hands. Hold a brush in one hand and the other on your dog where the hot air is blowing on them. This way you will always know the temperature of the air. It can sometimes get too hot very quickly. Dry a puppy's chest first to prevent them catching a chill. Be careful blowing hot air into their face. They have a very short muzzle so the air they breath doesn't have much time to cool before it reaches their lungs. Do not directly blow hot air in the face of a puppy under 4 months of age.

If you choose not to bathe them yourself, try to find a groomer that will groom by individual appointment so that your puppy does not have to spend the entire day in a crate, that can be very stressful on a dog at any age. Make sure you find a reputable groomer. Holding down a wiggling puppy can be very stressful for them. Too much pressure and your puppy could develop health problems. You should bathe them yourself the first 4 months or so. That will help them get used to the bath and blow drier. They will not be as frightened during their first trip to the groomer.

Answer 4

i have a shih tzu too. he doesnt like baths. anyway, just make sure you use warm water because they get cold easily. get some shampoo thats safe for the eyes cause you have to clean the junk out of there too. its ok to scrub the face. at first i felt a little bad but thats the only way youre gonna clean it. just wash all the important parts and do it somewhat fast cause like i said, i dont think they like the whole bath thing. make sure that theres nothing important around cause mine loves to shake the water off at least 5 times and it gets everything pretty yet. afterwards blow dry your shih tzu with a hair dryer and make sure the ears are completely dry so they dont stink! he/she might also be a little crazy after the bath, mine always runs around before i can actually make him stay still to blow dry him. after everything is done mine is usually knocked out and tired! good luck!

Answer 5

Hi, I understand that you are looking for some advice or resources to help fully train your dog or fix behavior problems. If a professional dog trainer is not an option at this time, or if you want to trt training your dog on your own (a great way to bond), I'd suggest you https://biturl.im/aU7dJ

A friend recommened it to me a few years ago, and I was amazed how quickly it worked, which is why I recommend it to others. The dog training academy also has as an excellent home training course.

Answer 6

I always put a little water in the tub and you absolutely need a shower massage head with the hose so you can get under the dogs belly and just use dog shampoo and rinse the dog, you need to dry the dog well and avoid getting water in the dogs ears.

My dog loves to get a bath I just tell her and she jumps in.

Answer 7

I would just fill the tub with only a small amount of water, and use a pet shampoo to wash. Then use a small pail and rinse them off. We have trained my two dogs to shake the water off on command, so we shut the shower curtain and let them dry off themselves. But we towel dry after anyway. I would advise taking the drain out, since it clogs with hair. Be ready to clean the tub afterwards.

Answer 8

I wash my dogs in the shower with me. I wash my hair, I wash their hair. We both rinse off. I dry off first and then get out so I can catch the dog with a towel before it starts to shake. They hate it, but it is so much easier than kneeling on the floor, bent over a tub.

Answer 9

well its not hard . use a sprayer don't fill the tub with water. warm water and don't get water in or on the ears . they hate that .
i put a bunch of towels on the floor and afterward let my dog make one big mess in there until he is kind of dry.
when i let him out he goes crazy and runs around all over the place

Answer 10

FIll the tub with about 3 inches of water. Plop him in, and be quick. Try to keep the water of its face.

Be prepared to get soaked yourself!