Dog Bath - Giving One Without Getting One

Those of you who have ever attempted to give your dog a bath know what I mean by the title of this article "Dog Bath Dunk".  If you have never had the joy of experiencing giving a dog a bath, well then let me start off by saying it usually ends up more like the dog giving you one!  By the time you are done, you feel like you have been dunked in the dunk tank at the local fair.  Dogs LOVE to shake all that water that you are working so hard to soak them with and they shake it all over you.  There are ways to help yourself during dog baths that will keep you dry and your dog clean and smelling pretty.  Let's examine your options for dog grooming supplies.

There are several options when it comes to having your own dog bath tub at home. They will range in prices and material. A very popular dog bath is one called the "Booster Bath" because it is inexpensive (around $170), lightweight (I can carry mine up the basement stairs!) and it has a weight capacity of up to 175lbs. Now that is a big dog!

The Booster Bath is very practical for those of us on tight budgets, but also for its portability. As far as dog bath tubs go, this is by far the lightest. In the winter I carry it downstairs to our basement to give our dogs their baths down there and I keep the mess out of our bathroom, very important. In the summer I take the bath outside and bathe them there, keeping the mess out of my house completely! Now this is not an advertisement for the Booster Bath, it just happens to be the one I have and has worked for me quite well, but there is one drawback that I wish I could change, you get completely soaked with this bath and so does the surrounding area because there is no water shield for it. This is something you need to compromise for the price and portability of this bath.  However, it does come with some handy accessories that might make it the perfect dog bath for you.

I should say not the king of "home baths" because this next bath is really what the professional dog groomers use, but you can still purchase one for your home if you are so inclined.  They are well worth the money, especially if you have more than one dog at home.  A multiple dog home becomes quite expensive if you have to take them to the groomers often.  The type of dog bath I am referring to is the big metal (usually stainless steel or a very thick resin) that have guards on three of the four sides that prevent water from getting all over.

I know many of you might be thinking that you would prefer using your own bath tub to bathe your dog, but it really is a big relief to not have that mess in your bathroom, the one you use to relax in!  These larger, more expensive dog baths range in price from $350 (for a mini dog bath) to around $2500, with the average being around $1000.  These professional dog grooming baths keep the hair and water inside the tub and not all over you and the floor, making clean up a breeze.  I would highly recommend this type if you plan on having multiple dogs.  Take it from someone who already purchased a Booster Bath and wishes she would have spent the extra money for the better doggy bath!

As you might already know, without regular grooming your dog's coat and their health can be greatly diminished.  It is important to practice regular bathing and brushing of your buddy and here are some tips to help make it a more pleasant experience for the both of you.

• Dogs do not need to be bathed frequently, usually only when they are dirty or stinky (but it is a good idea to get your dog accustomed to bathing when they are young, so you might do it more frequently as they are a puppy then you can taper it off)
• Be prepared...have everything you need within easy reach before you draw the water.  A good list of items is a brush, shampoo, cotton balls and towels. 
  
• Make sure you place a rubber mat down for you dog if your bath does not already have one.  This prevents injury from slipping.
• Fill bath with warm water (not hot!)
• Add dog
• Brush dog thoroughly before adding water to the coat.  Remove all loose hair and tangles, because they only get worse when they are wet!
• Place cotton balls in your dog's ears to keep water and soap out, but not too deeply!
• Place your dog in the water, holding them firmly, but gently!  Wet the dog from head to toe making sure you keep the water out of their eyes
• Apply specially formulated dog shampoo.  Never use human shampoo!
• Lather down to skin avoiding eyes.
• Make sure you talk to your dog in a reassuring voice, reminding them of what a good dog they are!
• Rinse thoroughly!  This is by far the longest part of this process, just when you think they are suds free, make sure you rinse again!
• Remove dog from tub and towel dry!
  

Another option is purchasing a commercial dryer, which is another thing I would highly recommend!  If you have three hairy beasts like I do, then this is the way to go.  If you do not wish to get a commercial dryer, then use a hair dryer on low heat and low setting to blow dry the dog.  Never on HOT or HIGH!