Just like humans, dogs also need a nice bath. This is actually one essential way that you can show your pet how much you value him. But sometimes, bath time can be dreadful to both the dog and the dog owner because of lack of preparedness and knowledge on the proper ways to do it. 

Here are some helpful tips on how you can give your dog a nice bath without any hassles on your part:

1. Prepare and gather all your dog’s bath supplies. This would include a brush or a comb, dog shampoo and conditioner, cotton balls, large basin or tub and towel.

2. Brush your dog’s hair first before you pour or spray water on him. Always brush your dog before giving him a bath to remove loose hair, tangles, and mats because bathing will only make them worse.

3. Let your dog go inside the basin or a tub before you put water on him. Put a cotton ball in each of his ears. Just make sure that you don’t press them down too far into the ear canal. This is to protect his ears from water and shampoo that may go inside it. Sometimes, it can cause ear infection on dogs.

4. Use lukewarm water to wet your dog from front to back and underneath. Try not to get his head wet yet. A dog with a dry head has less of a tendency to shake since the best shakes always start from the front and move back. You can also keep a firm hold of the hair on his neck or his muzzle during the bath to prevent shaking. After that you can put shampoo on his coat, rinse it then pour some conditioner.

5. Rinse out the shampoo and conditioner completely. Run your hands over your dog and check for any slimy or slippery spot because you will need to re-rinse these spots. Shampoo or conditioner that may be left on your dog after you give him a bath can cause skin irritation so be thorough when rinsing.

6. Wet your dog’s head carefully and use your fingers or a wash cloth to clean up his head, muzzle, and ears. Keep shampoo or soap away from his eyes. Then rinse everything again from front to back to make sure that his head and body is well rinsed.

7.  Remove the cotton balls from your dog’s ears. Then hold up a towel and stand back to let your dog shake himself dry. If he just stands in place, you can blow in his ear to trigger a good shake. Use the towels to dry your dog as much as possible. If he has long hair, pat him dry to avoid tangles.