Unless they get quite grubby, have a close encounter with a skunk, or are dog show prospects that need frequent grooming , most puppies shouldn't need a bath more than one to four times a year.
Puppies shouldn't be bathed until they are at least four weeks old—six or eight weeks is better. The little guys have trouble regulating their body temperature at that age and can become chilled. Puppies who get sick with diarrhea may need a dunking, but the stress of a bath can make the illness worse. They could even end up with pneumonia. Poodle-type coats require the most bath time. Plan on bathing your curly coated pups at the same time they get the coat trimmed, trim about every two months.
Silky and wiry coats do well with four baths a year. Dog Name Finder Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration. Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid. Additional Resources AKC. Clubs Offering: Training Classes. Nov 14, 3 Minutes. Find Your Perfect Home. Tips for Responsible Dog Owners This e-book is a great resource for anyone who's considering dog ownership or already owns a dog.
Download for tips on how to be the best dog owner you can be. AKC Privacy Policy. There are two types of shampoos you can use on your puppy, one that can be used mainly for dogs and the other being made specifically for pups.
Although the latter is often the best choice, most dog shampoos work fine for puppies and will not have any negative effects on them. Personally I love this one I recommended earlier — buy on Amazon.
However, if given the choice, it is usually better to pick shampoos aimed at puppies as these are softer. When shopping for a shampoo you should make sure to check what ingredients are in the bottle. Instead, you should look out for shampoos with natural ingredients, such as lavender, citrus, and chamomile.
Knowing when you can give a puppy a bath for the first time is an important part of pet ownership. And believe me, once they hit that age they will need a bath from time to time!
Puppies are full of personality, boisterous, and very mischievous. Because of these traits, puppies, similar to children, have a tendency to get themselves dirty extremely quickly. This can at times be frustrating for owners, especially when this happens multiple times in the same day.
Most owners find that their puppies are like magnets when it comes to dirt, and because of this, they give up a little on maintaining their clean homes. They begin to accept the fact that there will be regular muddy paw prints on their kitchen floors, as well as a permanent odor of wet and smelly dog wafting through the house.
No matter what you do, they will find a way to roll in that mucky puddle or cover themselves in that mountain of dirt. Thankfully, there is one way to clean them up when this does happen — giving your puppy a bath for the first time. I write about the things I've learned about owning a dog, the adventures we have, and any advice and tips I've picked up along the way. Have you seen your dog do Skip to content. Continue Reading. So have a pot of these to hand too. It is also a really great idea to have a helper with you the first time you bath him.
Controlling a wet wriggling puppy is not the easiest of tasks, so a second person can help! This can make it easier to work in the shampoo. You can test the heat on the inside of your wrist to avoid burning your puppy.
Lukewarm water will make the whole process the most comfortable for your puppy. Wet the puppy with this warm water a little before you apply shampoo. Most puppies have quite water repellent coats. Then with very wet hands start to work it into his coat. Do each leg in turn and then his tummy and bottom.
And keep the shampoo away from his eyes. Keep adding a little more water to spread it around and overcome the water resistance of the coat. Rinse thoroughly with your plastic cup or shower spray. And change the water before repeating. The second shampoo will be much more successful and you should be able to work up a nice lather.
It is very difficult to thoroughly wet most dogs. Give the puppy a little treat at frequent intervals. You may need to use a whole meal up this way the first time, to keep him happy. Leaving any shampoo residue on your puppy can cause skin problems. Some people like to use dog conditioner as well as shampoo when they are bathing their dog.
Especially if their dog has longer fur, as it can help to prevent knots and tangles. However, this is not essential. You do not need to use conditioner when bathing your puppy, shampoo will be enough.
But if you do decide to use one, make sure it is specifically made for dogs. When your puppy has been thoroughly rinsed off, lay a towel over your lap and scoop him up in the other. He may shake off the water before you are able to do this, so prepare to get a little wet! Pop your pup into your lap and give him a good rub down.
Most puppies will find this fun and exciting. So be prepared for playful nipping and grabbing at the towel. If you have someone helping you, it can be easier for one person to gently hold onto the puppy whilst the other dries him off.
He will shake when you put him down. This will happen no matter how well you dry him! You can leave him to air-dry in a warm room. Give him a towel to scoot around on if he wants. As this will speed up his drying and keep the damp away from some of the rest of your house. If he seems happy then put it on a low, warm setting and focus the stream of air from the dryer through your hand with your fingers spread out.
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