At What Age Can Puppies Take a Bath

Your Puppy's First Bath

It's true what they say about children and puppies. Neither can stay clean for very long. Put them in their Sunday best and a minute later they are dirty. And the more smears on their faces the happier they look!

But there is a big difference between the two. You can pop your child in the tub any time you want. But you must be careful bathing your puppy. They will always need a bath but you must wait!

What Age Do You Bathe Your Puppy?

Puppies at any age like to get dirty. But it is not smart to bathe your puppy when it is too young. You should only bathe puppies that are older than 12 weeks. Until they are old enough you might have to settle cleaning your puppy with a sponge bath. Before your dog is 12 weeks old the less water the better. Just spot clean your puppy with a damp cloth. Use a mild dog shampoo on the puppies sensitive skin and hair. Dry your puppy off right away.

How To Bathe Your Puppy

Once your puppy is older than 12 weeks, you can give the dog a bath. Depending on the size of your puppy the sink or large bowl might be the easiest way to bathe. For larger pups use the bathtub.

• Before the bath starts brush your puppy well. This will remove excess dirt and hair. Brushing helps rid the dog of shedding hair. This will also prevent tangles or matted hair after the bath.

• Get the water ready!

• Make sure the temperature of the water is lukewarm. You do not want your puppy to be burned or to be too cold in the bath. Make sure the bath is comfortable for the dog.

• If you are using the bathtub or sink put a mat down to make it less slippery. A rubber bath mat under the dogs feet will make them comfortable. Sometimes the dogs can slip and hurt themselves during bath time.

• Next is the shampoo. You must select the correct shampoo for your dog. Use only puppy shampoo on your dog. These shampoos and conditioners are designed for your pup. Human shampoo and dish soap can be too strong for your delicate puppy.

• Use caution when lathering up your puppy and avoid getting soap in their mouth, nose and ears.

• Use warm water to rinse off your puppy. If you can use a hose or handheld sprayer, this will make the rinsing process easier. But make sure the flow of water is not too much for the little guy. Use a gentle spray or mist, but make sure they are well rinsed and no soap is left.

• After your puppy is rinsed clean, take them out of the bath.

• Use a soft towel to dry your pup off.

• If it is cold outside make sure the puppy is dried off completely before going out in cold weather.

Bathing your dog is not hard. It is much easier when you make it enjoyable for you and your dog. This may be the first time your dog gets a bath but certainly not the last. Make sure the bath is a calm pleasant experience. They may not love taking a bath but the easier you make it on the dog they may not mind bathing as much. Maybe they will even enjoy taking a bath!

(Credits: Article written by Jerry Sheppard, and photos by Isabela Kronemberger and Matthew Henry on Unsplash)

At What Age Can Puppies Take a Bath

Source: https://www.juliespetportraits.com/articles/first_puppy_bath.html

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