How to Bathe a Puppy - Puppy Parent Guide from Waggel

As a new dog parent, something that you must start confronting is how to make your puppy take a bath.

There must be countless questions popping into your mind like how to bathe a puppy, when to bathe a puppy, or how often should I bathe my puppy?

Well, worry no more because this article will answer all your doubts and queries regarding a puppy’s bath time.

Like human babies, puppies also require a lot of special care and attention, especially when it comes to introducing them to water.

So, without wasting any more time, let’s get to it!

Bathing a puppy is no doubt a task of great responsibility. It can be quite a challenging experience for both you as a pet owner and your little pup when bathing is done for the first time.

For your puppy’s first bath, it is advisable that you don’t jump into impromptu decisions and rather follow a few easy steps. These steps can help you stay at ease and also keep your puppy comfortable.

1. Gently brush your puppy's hair

First, brush the fur coat on your puppy’s body very gently with a comb or brush. You must ensure their fur is free from any external dirt, tangles or knots. Regular brushing should always be a top priority for most dog breeds.

2. Arrange a warm bath

The next step is to arrange a bath for your puppy and to make sure that the water is warm. you should always use fresh, clean water which should not be too hot and be at a controlled temperature that feels comfortable on the body.

Make sure to test-touch the water to see if the temperature is right. Lukewarm water is best advised here.

Puppies have more delicate skin just like a baby's human skin is more sensitive. Slowly place your puppy in the warm bath and allow them to embrace the comfort in it.

You must not change the water temperature during the bathing process as the puppy will not take too kindly to this, and it could leave them feeling nervous about bath time in the future.

Remember, we want bath time to be an enjoyable experience that your pup will want to return to regularly.

3. Gently soak and rinse your puppy

The third step is to soak your puppy’s body in the warm water you have just prepared for its bath.

Make sure that the water level does not cross the level of your pup’s legs. Their eyes and ears should also be at a safe level that cannot reach the water.

Then, slowly rinse your puppy gently, if necessary, with some puppy shampoos and not any human shampoos, as they can cause irritation and allow bacteria to thrive.

A baby shampoo can work well on puppies. However, this can depend on the dog's coat type.

It's important to slowly introduce your puppy to bath water while giving them lots of praise so they become comfortable with water and begin to love their ‘puppy bath time’.

4. Give a light massage

It is good to give your pup a light massage while rinsing them. It makes them relaxed, and they will associate this with a positive experience and learn to enjoy the process of bathing.

If you think your puppy is not cooperating with you, distract them with something that can help you through the bath time experience by using some of their favourite tasty treats as well as showering them with plenty of praise.

Again, these positive associations help to "train" the pup to expect a fun bath time and get excited when you mention the word and will definitely be up for regular baths.

5. Dry with a soft towel

Lastly, dry them up in a soft and calm manner after the bath is over. Keep dry towels handy, and use a rubber mat or a bath mat to place your puppy on for drying time.

Take a light, soft towel and pat dry them gently to remove excess water and any shampoo residue.

Make sure you are not too hard on their body, as they are very fragile! Do this a couple of times before checking to see if they are dry enough to the touch.

Bathing your puppy is inevitable one day, no matter how much you try to delay it. Since dogs are playful creatures, your pup is bound to run to you covered in some sort of mess at some point.

You should remember to be as gentle with your puppy as you would be with a human baby. As puppies are young and delicate, they should be bathed with proper care at the proper time.

Unlike human babies, puppies do not require to be bathed when they are young. Usually, a puppy should not be bathed before eight weeks of age.

This is because eight weeks is the time when puppies generally grow a satisfactory fur coat that can help them self-regulate body temperatures.

Other than the age, you should also remember to bathe them with warm water and apply pet shampoo or baby shampoo only.

They should be offered the utmost care while their bath is prepared. You should follow all bathing steps intricately to ensure your puppy is not uncomfortable.

A first bath can leave a very significant imprint on your puppy, and their experience with it will decide their relationship with water for the rest of their lives. So, make sure you introduce your puppy to water slowly with a lot of patience, affection, and care.

If you do, they will be happy to take frequent baths and reduce the chance of skin irritation.

Unlike human babies, puppies do not require an everyday bath or even an every-week shower. They mostly clean themselves whenever they feel dirty and save you from the trouble of cleaning them up.

Puppies can do well with a monthly bath. Although it might be a struggle for some pups to overcome their bathing day, it is necessary to keep a clean coat to keep them In good health.

Make sure to dry them with a soft towel after each shower and place them in a nice, warm environment to prevent them from getting cold.

It also truly depends on the fur coats of your puppy's breed; this should help you decide how many times they must be bathed.

For adult dogs, bathing times differ as they are given more baths than the younger ones. They should also be offered skincare and haircare products specially curated for them.

Being a parent to your pup is not easy at all, and this article is here to help you all at your new 'job'. This detailed guide on how and when you should bathe your puppy is one of great knowledge that can definitely help you improve your dynamic with your new friend.

After all, communication is what they need, and you, as your puppy’s parent, are the only person who can understand them the most. Go with the information and not just gut instinct to help take good care of your dog during bath time.