Dog Washing Procedure

Using a hose and sprayer method for dog washing
Prepare your bathtub or sink by placing a non skid mat or towel on the bottom to keep your dog from slipping.

Prepare some shampoo ahead of time. Using an empty squeeze bottle (an empty dish soap bottle works great), pour the amount of shampoo you would use once for the entire dog, and dilute with water. Mix ratio is usually about 8 to 1. Check your bottle’s instructions to see if the mix ratio is listed. You can then distribute shampoo evenly over your dog’s entire body including the feet, tail, chin, and other frequently missed spots.

Mixing Ratios
32:1 --- ½ cup per gallon
24:1 --- ¾ cup per gallon
16:1 --- 1 cup per gallon
12:1 --- 1 ½ cup per gallon
8:1 --- 2 cup per gallon
6:1 --- 3 cup per gallon

Now let's start dog washing.

1. Test your water. Spray water on your hand or arm to make sure it is not too hot or too cold.
2. Starting at the head, wet the entire dog. With your squeeze bottle apply the shampoo.
3. Massage the shampoo into the dog’s fur all the way to the skin. This is a good time to sing to the dog or recite nursery rhymes. Your voice will comfort your dog and improve your baby’s dog washing experience.
4. Rinse thoroughly. Shampoo left on the skin will irritate the skin and cause itching. Start at the nose and rinse to the tail. Rinse the sides real good. Rinse the underside thoroughly and the legs. Make sure everything squeaks after rinsing.
5. Squeeze the excess water from the dogs coat with your hands then thoroughly towel dry.

Commonly missed rinsing places include:

• Under the chin
• Arm pits
• Belly and between back legs
• Middle to the tip of the tail
• Paws from where they stand in the runoff

If you don’t have a hose and sprayer in your tub or sink, just make sure all the soap is thoroughly rinsed by pouring fresh clean water on your dog using a cup. Don’t dip water from the tub. You’ll just keep adding the soapy mixture back onto the dog.

Towel dry as much as possible. This will cut down on blow dryer time. Allow the dog to ((((SHAKE)))) afterwards. Your dog can shake out more water than your towel can absorb, so allow him to shake after his bath. Just hold your towel up to shield yourself.

Return to Dog Bathing Procedures

1. Brushing, Pre Cut, and De-Matting
2. Dog Washing
3. Dog Dryer
4. Shedding, Undercoat Removal, and More Brushing

For questions or comments, you can contact me @Animal Ark Grooming or in my NEW Facebook comment section below.