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Most owners want their dog to look "neat". But is regular bathing really necessary for your dog?

Did you know that giving your dog a bath is only necessary when he is really dirty?
However, sometimes a simple rinse with the garden hose is not enough when your four-legged friend has been rolling around outside in something nasty and then stinks terribly. So only in emergencies is a bath necessary, because bathing too often can damage the sensitive protective layer of the dog's skin and coat.

Shampoo?
Do not use shampoos for humans or babies because a dog's skin has a different pH than human skin. So you need a special dog shampoo.

'Dry swimming'
It takes some training to let your dog stand in the shower or sit in the tub. Above all, make sure the surface is slip-resistant; for example, put a wet towel in the bathtub that he can stand or sit on. Reward him for each step in the right direction. If you notice that he starts to find the situation scary, then he may also get out again.

Don't make it a foam party
And now get to work!
Before the real bath with water, lay out the shampoo and towels. Use lukewarm water that is pleasant in temperature.
-Rinse gently and slowly over the paws first. Do this gently so that you convey your mood to the dog. Speak to him kindly and reward him if he undergoes this calmly.
-then move the spray upward from the paws.
-then flush from the neck to the tip of the tail.
-avoid the head so no water gets into the eyes, ears or nose. Wet the dog's head with your hands; this feels more comfortable than a hard jet of water.
-Now the soaping begins; gently knead the coat.
-Make sure nothing gets into the eyes, nose or ears.
-Then you rinse the shampoo thoroughly from top to bottom. Do this quickly so your dog doesn't get cold. Wipe the water off the top coat with both hands in the direction of the coat.
-Dry the coat with a towel by pressing on it with the towel (do not rub). Move the towel gently over the body in the direction of coat growth to remove excess water.

Bathrobes for dogs also exist today. These can be useful to prevent the wet dog from catching a cold.
The dog's skin will remain moist for some time. If the weather is good, you can solve this by taking the dog for a walk. Body heat and air movement from walking will help the drying process.

(SR for Tagtik/Source: Hart voor dieren/Photo by Anthony Duran on Unsplash)