Most dogs, in the early stages of their life, are afraid of the water or taking a bath. But no matter how hard it is to bathe your puppy, you should still do this to make him clean, healthy and free from pet infestations.During the first few bathing sessions, you’ll definitely find yourself impatient when bathing your puppy. Like training your dog to obey you, bathing your pup also requires a lot of patience and persistence.
It takes time before your little dog gets used to bathing time. You need to establish a good relationship with him before anything else. One of the most effective ways to make your puppy’s bathing session easier and faster is by establishing a playtime zone which is a specific location where your puppy will become familiar to bathing. This is a good strategy for your pup to associate bathing with playing.
During the first week before giving him his very first pet bath, choose an area where you want to wash your dog. It can be anywhere inside or outside your house, in the bathroom or even the backyard. Bear in mind that you need to make a notion to your puppy that that specific zone is his playtime area. Play with him for a few minutes everyday in that area until he gets comfortable in it.
As much as possible, don’t bathe your puppy if he doesn’t want to cooperate. Don’t rush things. Allow your dog to become accustomed with the playtime zone you created for him. Make sure that you put dog toys or treats within the pet bath tub before introducing water to him.
Bathing your puppy should also not take too long. To make the bathing time even faster, brush your puppy’s fur first. Tangled fur holds water which can result to skin irritation. Remember not to bathe your puppy if he is younger than 8 weeks old. Alternatively, dogs that are under 8 weeks can be cleaned using water and puppy wipes.
If your puppy seems too uncooperative, you can do a dry pet bath for him instead. This type of bathing method involves wiping him with a damp cloth and rubbing him with am towel. Waterless bath sprays can also do wonders for your puppy. By doing this, you’ll surely be amazed how clean your puppy will be!
