Dogs will be dogs. No matter how young, old, or active—sometimes your furry companion is going to get dirty. Whether it’s from chasing a small critter through a mud puddle, or simply deciding that rolling in the backyard will be completely fine with shaggy hair—dogs can and will need to be cleaned after a jaunt outside sometimes.
Here are a few tips for when it’s time to bathe that adventuresome pooch of yours at our self-serve dog wash stations.
Don’t skimp on brushing
We know brushing can be a tedious task even on some of the short-haired breeds, but a good brush beforehand will remove loose hairs and possible matting, which in turn will make the bathing portion of this endeavor a much easier process for both you and your dog. Look, you’re already bathing a dog—you already know that running a brush over them is going to be the easiest part by a mile, and, since it’s essentially like getting a full-body scratch session, most dogs actually like a good brushing.
Bathing—the good, the bad, and the really, really wet
Letting your dog sniff and walk around in the bathing area, even if it’s not huge, is never a bad idea. It might not help them immediately settle in for what’s to come but letting them see there’s no imminent danger on the horizon is always preferred. Even if they’ve gotten regular baths at home before, that already-anxious experience could be harder to endure in a new setting.
Lukewarm water, gentle shampoo, low water pressure. All good things. See? We’re all having a good time! Be sure to rinse more than you scrub, as reducing the time the shampoo stays on them will keep some breeds calmer—while also keeping your eyes from receiving a barrage of soap anytime they decide they need to have a quick shake. For larger breeds, just know that every second they spend not leaping from the area, shaking, and darting away soaking wet is a testament to how much they love and trust you.
Don’t let that trust go to waste, because—Even the most adventurous pups may not love bath time—but with patience and care, you can make it a little less ruff for them.
Most dogs aren’t big fans of bathing
If your dog dives headfirst into a pile of leaves that happened to be sitting on top of damp, muddy dirt, then track it back in your house—they can tolerate a few minutes of a bath, right?
But the keyword is tolerate.
Even the breeds who seem to love swimming or having viral videos made of them diving in a pool after a chew toy that’s shared by millions of people sometimes don’t like the ordeal of bathing. It can be a stressful time for dogs. They might be moved in a direction they didn’t like so you can reach a spot (it’s always the back leg facing away from you, I swear), the water might not be the temperature they prefer, and many other factors can make bathtime an upsetting experience.
Drying—every dog’s favorite time
Towels are good for getting a lot of the initial water off, and targeting the areas that tend to hold more moisture will help before using a blow-dryer.
There are all kinds of blow-dryers. Some are high-powered, like at most self-servicing dog wash stations, some designed to run lower and sacrifice shorter times in case your pet isn’t a fan of having a loud noise shooting warm air at them close to their sensitive ears, and sometimes just whatever you have in the bathroom drawer. But like every other aspect of a bath, if a blow-dryer is used, dogs don’t tend to like it.
But, like every step before this one, positive reinforcement is your friend. Pet them during, speak calmly, let them know just how good they are for not barreling over you and fleeing from the accursed noise (because they totally could if they wanted to) and don’t be stingy with those ear scritches.
Post-bathing
Always remember that your furry friend isn’t out to displease or harm you, and that getting dirty every now and then is just part of being a dog. Since they’re quite literally some of the best, most loyal, and devoted judgement-free friends any of us will ever have—maybe a few muddy pawprints and baths isn’t that big of a deal.
Because death and taxes are more likely to go away before we figure out how to keep a dog from belly-flopping in that patch of wet dirt in the backyard you’ve been meaning to re-sod since April.