Bathing a puppy can be a real challenge, especially when your pup uses every resource to thwart your attempts to get them clean. But don’t give up on this important bath ritual, as it is an essential part of any dog health care routine. Remember that the way you bathe your puppy teaches your dog a lot about how he has to be kept clean. Cleaning your dog can be a fun pet health process though, and if you’re planning on bathing your puppy, read on…

Before turning the bathwater on, make sure you have everything you need conveniently positioned next to you. A brush and a dog conditioner are just some of the essentials you need. Also get a generously-sized towel to wrap your pooch in later. There will be lots of water splashing around shortly, so put some old clothes on. It is advisable to bathe the puppy when he is hungry, as he will be more attentive then. Call your puppy to you and offer a treat, remove his collar and give him a few more treats. Remember, you want this to be fun. Next up is the comb – brush the puppy’s fur for a while. Any knots or tangles in your puppy’s coat will tighten and become worse when wet, so you want to comb out all tangles before turning on the tap. Get some conditioner on the fur and brush this through all the way to the ends.

Get some water round the back of the puppy’s ears and gently scrub clean. Remember to praise throughout this process and stay happy, keeping the treats flowing. Show him his toy and let him play with it a little in the tub before you turn on the water. Use something gentle on a puppy’s head, like a baby shampoo. Don’t let the water touch the dog until you are sure it is the right temperature. Once checked, gently soak the puppy’s coat with luke warm water. Apply some shampoo to your dog’s coat by massaging in circles for short coats, or massaging in long strokes with the growth of hair in long coats, to prevent tangling. Using the scrub brush, work the shampoo in. After completing this once, make sure you do it again to make sure your puppy is extra clean. Keep rinsing the shampoo out to give your puppy a clean finish. Finish with a conditioner for dogs and wrap your puppy in a large towel.