How to Wash Your Dog

Place a medium-sized bucket, three large towels and a hair dryer in a warm bathroom.

1 Make certain a shower mat is securely in place to keep the dog from slipping in the tub. 2Isolate the dog in the bathroom before running the water. 3Make certain the water is comfortably warm, and fill the tub with about 3 inches of water. Put the dog in the tub. 4Protect your dog’s eyes from the shampoo by using a lubricating eye ointment, which your veterinarian can provide. A drop of olive or baby oil will also do. 5Use the bucket to wet the dog from the head down toward the tail, including the undersides, being careful not to get water in his eyes. 6Apply a small amount of dog shampoo’available at pet stores’to the top of the head. (Do not use dish soap, as it can dry and irritate a dog’s skin.) Be extremely careful to keep it away from the eyes. Lather down to the tail, including the neck and underside fur. If using a flea shampoo, leave the lather on for the recommended time. 7Keep a hand on your dog, because he will want to shake the lather off. Be ready to turn your head away. 8Pull the tub drain and run the water again; adjust the temperature. 9Use the bucket to carefully and completely rinse the head first, avoiding the eyes and inner ears. Work the water toward the dog’s back and undersides. Use your hands to work the water through the suds. 10Turn off the water. While your dog is still in the tub, let him shake excess water off his fur. 11Drain the water from the tub and dry the dog with towels from head to toe. Concentrate on the areas of thickest fur and between his toes. 12Remove your dog from the tub. Turn on the hair dryer to a medium setting, testing the heat with your fingers. Aim first for the thickest hair, running your fingers or a comb through it until it is just slightly damp. Keep the hair dryer approximately 6 inches from the skin to prevent burning and overdrying.