How to wash and bathe a puppy: Yorkie, Spitz, Chihuahua, Toy, Husky - at what age can you, how often, when can you do it for the first time (before and after vaccinations), from how many months?

How to care for a dog, what conditions will be optimal and how to provide them - these are questions that need to be asked before purchasing a pet. If you have already chosen your baby and are planning to take him home, it makes sense to know when to bathe your puppy for the first time. There are no strict restrictions in this matter, but you should still listen to the recommendations of experienced breeders.

How?

A few rules to follow to bathe your puppy correctly:

When bathing, it is necessary to avoid contact of detergents with the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth.
Avoid getting water into your eyes and ears.
Wash gently and thoroughly
Prepare two towels in advance: with one you can collect the main moisture from the wool, with the second you can wipe and dry
Place a mat on the bottom of the bathtub to prevent paws from slipping and bathing to be less intimidating.
The room should be warm, without drafts.
Start using your blow dryer right away. The puppy will quickly get used to the noise and will not be afraid.
You can give a treat during bath time. This will brighten up the fears that arise, and pleasant memories will remain.
Talk to your baby while bathing. The gentle notes of your voice will give him confidence and calm him down.

For the first time

Prepare a container for bathing. Place a rug on the bottom to prevent your puppy's paws from slipping.
First, wet the wool well. Apply evenly, avoiding dry areas. To prevent water from getting into the eyes and ears, place your palm on the puppy's head and lightly press the ears toward the head with your fingers. Pour water from above.
Lightly lather the shampoo and then apply to the coat. Wash thoroughly and gently.
Rinse off with running water. You heard the creaking of fur - you did it, the puppy is clean.
Dry the puppy with the first towel.
In the second, dry his fur if you do not use a hairdryer.

CAUTION : After vaccination, the animal is weakened.
You can swim no earlier than after 2 weeks. If you need to bathe your puppy, do it in a warm room and stay there until the fur is completely dry.

What to do if your puppy is afraid of water

Often dogs are afraid of water, and bathing becomes a troublesome task for the dog owner.

To accustom your puppy to water and achieve your goal, you need to follow these recommendations:

Let your puppy know that the bathroom is safe. To this end, he should be encouraged in this room with treats, praise and petting.
Get used to the bathroom itself. When the pet gets comfortable in its new room, it is placed in the bathtub, stroking and feeding it already there. When the baby calms down, you can try turning on the water while continuing to pet the animal.
Gently moisten the fur with warm water, and be sure to praise the puppy for its courage by giving another portion of treats.

If all your efforts are in vain, you can try to climb into the puppy’s bathtub yourself, thus showing that there is absolutely nothing wrong with this. When the owner appears nearby, the dog will begin to be interested in everything that is happening, relaxes and calms down.

In rare cases, a pet continues to be afraid of water. The dog breeder makes a lot of efforts to accustom the animal to washing, but to no avail. In this case, dry shampoo comes to the rescue.

It is applied to the wool and rubbed in. Then comb out the debris and dirt with a brush. This cleaning method is considered effective. It is often used for old, sick and show dogs.

When is it possible?

When you can start washing your pet depends on the age at which water procedures are indicated for the new resident of your apartment. Consider the option of placing a pet in an apartment. What matters is the conditions in which man’s best friend spent his first days of life.

You have brought a puppy from a breeder: the puppy is already 3 months old and has received the necessary vaccinations. Can be washed from day one. After a walk, be sure to wash your paws. In dirty weather, wash your paws with paw shampoo.
You found a puppy on the street: you need to wash the puppy, regardless of its age. You may need flea control. With all the possible consequences of untimely washing, it is more useful to be clean.
You are raising a puppy without a mother dog: you already provide water treatments for your pet when you wipe it with a damp cloth every day. Unless absolutely necessary, such a puppy does not need a shower.

So when to start? Guided by common sense, it is necessary to accustom small household members to bathing from an early age. Specialists do this after vaccinations have been administered.

For the first time

Ideally, you can start bathing your baby for the first time only 2 weeks after vaccinations. In general, the puppy should not smell unpleasant. Males begin to smell stronger at the time of puberty, and females before and during estrus.

If your puppy still has a dog smell even after bathing, then you are probably bathing him too often and this is disrupting the functioning of the sebaceous glands ! The smell of a dog is the smell of fat lubricating the fur, so when the dog is washed, it begins to smell stronger because the fat begins to be released more intensely.

There is no need to wash the puppies immediately after birth: the mother dog can handle this perfectly! And in general, while living with their mother, bathing puppies will be unnecessary and even harmful.

If there is no mother and the puppy is very small, then adhere to the following rule: bathing is possible no earlier than the puppy opens his eyes (2-3 weeks after birth) and only if you found him in absolutely terrible conditions and he is really dirty — dirty with dirt, excrement, fleas/larvae, i.e. a condition that cannot be corrected with wet wipes. In addition, the puppy will need to be wrapped tightly in a thick, dry towel to avoid hypothermia and warmed on your chest .

From what age?

1, 1.5 and 2 months

Many people are interested in how many months can a dog be bathed. It is generally not advisable to wash puppies until they are two months old. That is, you cannot bathe a one-month-old puppy! Veterinarians are inclined to believe that puppies need to be taught to bathe from an early age, starting at six months . The minimum age at which months you can wash without indications for this is 3 months . Remember that it is better not to buy a dog before this age!

Ideally, the breeder should always bathe the puppy before handing it over to the buyer and instruct it for the future . Because a bath on the first day in a new home is a huge stress for a dog child, and the buyer most likely does not have any skills in caring for a puppy.

How to choose a puppy: important tips for a future dog owner. Everyone needs to know this!

Before and after the first vaccination

When you can: before - the dog cannot be washed for 2-3 days, after vaccination - 2 weeks, otherwise there may be complications.

General rules

The answer to the question of how often you can bathe a puppy, therefore, depends on the degree of cleanliness of the latter, the time of year, etc. But of course, owners of such pets should know not only about when to introduce them to bathroom and how often to wash it in the future. The dog owner also needs to have an idea of how to properly bathe puppies.

Experienced breeders recommend washing such pets after evening walks. When performing this procedure, it is recommended to follow the following rules:

All your household chores should be put aside for a while. Leaving a small puppy in the bathroom alone is not a good idea.
A rubber mat should be placed on the bottom of the bathtub. Otherwise, your pet's paws will slip.

About half an hour before bathing, the puppy must be fed. The dog should not experience any anxiety while taking water procedures.

Most puppies, unlike kittens, love to wash themselves. But very small dogs, not yet accustomed to bathing, may experience a little stress in the bathroom. If the puppy is afraid, the owner should try to calm him down. While bathing your pet, you need to stroke it and speak to it in a calm, encouraging tone. Of course, the owner of a small puppy should not make any sudden movements when bathing. Also, don't turn on the bathroom taps too much. The noise of the water jet can frighten your pet.

The puppies begin to be washed with shampoo from the back. Then they move onto their sides and then onto their paws. The head and tail are washed last. To prevent water from getting into your pet's ears, you can insert special plugs into them, which can be purchased at a pet store.

Water for bathing puppies should be used exclusively warm - approximately 38 ° C. After taking water treatments, your pet should be wrapped in a thick terry towel, blotted and then kept wrapped for 20 minutes. Babies with long, beautiful hair are sometimes also blow-dried after a bath.

How often?

The issue of frequency of washing a puppy is decided individually by each dog owner. To make a decision, you will have to take into account not only your own capabilities and desires, but also a number of other factors:

conditions for keeping a pet;
the breed of your puppy;
presence of allergies in family members;
pet's skin condition.

Let's start with the fact that most dogs enjoy bathing. Splashing water makes your friend as happy as it does you. The dog plays with streams of water, catches iridescent water balls, moves actively and, inspired by your joy, invents new ways to catch the running water.

So how often should you bathe? Guided by common sense, it is necessary to accustom small household members to bathing from an early age. Specialists do this after vaccinations have been administered.

Until this time, it is recommended to only wash puppies of all breeds, and not bathe them completely. You can wash it once every 3-4 months. Of course, if they are spoiled like piglets while eating delicious food, then it is not forbidden to wash them, but it is important not to use shampoo or soap more than once every 1-2 months ! You can also accustom your dog to daily care - wiping it with a damp cloth (for example, bearded or “folded” dogs: Shih Tzu, Pug, Shar Pei): most importantly, do not forget to wipe it dry after this procedure!

Remember: A clean dog feels happy and makes its owner's life happy.

Depending on the breed

Experts insist that coat care differs for different breeds of dogs.

Breed	Is it possible, how and how often
York	For such a small dog, bathing can be stressful, so don't bathe your Yorkie frequently. Take your time and let the puppy get used to you and the new home. For up to 2 months, try to get by with wet wipes. From 2 months of age, your Yorkie (Yorkshire terrier) can be bathed once every two weeks. Even if the puppy is clean, he will get used to the procedure. Water +38°. No draft. Wash quickly to prevent your puppy from catching a cold. From 5 months, you can bathe once a week; in addition to shampooing, you should add the use of conditioner.
Labrador	From 2 months you can bathe a Labrador puppy, or rather, give him the opportunity to splash around. The peculiarity of the breed is that it is difficult to damage the fur. Thick undercoat and skin covered with fat from the sebaceous glands allow them to stay warm and not get wet when hunting in lakes. Washing with cold water without shampoo slows down hair loss and growth; washing with warm water, on the contrary, speeds up the change. Shampooing is recommended 2-3 times a year. In this case, you should use shampoo specifically for this breed. Shampoos, by the way, are produced for each color of this breed. There are three of them. Pay special attention to rinsing off the shampoo. Don't skimp on water.
Dachshund	Be careful with the water pressure . The best temperature is +35 degrees. When bathing your dachshund, start from the tail. Do not limit your movements, let you look around and get used to the new. Be attentive to the puppy, note his reactions. Do everything with confidence and care.
Shar Pei	It is recommended to wash no more than 2 times a year. Considering that Shar Peis are allergic, you should choose your shampoo very carefully.. Experts recommend products containing sulfur. Yves Saint Bernard, 8 in 1 and Hartz shampoos have proven themselves well. Pay special attention to rinsing off the shampoo . The Shar Pei's skin is very sensitive, and any remaining product can cause itching. The presence of folds obliges the owner to take especially careful care of the skin and fur of their pet.
Chihuahua	The first bath should be scheduled no earlier than the puppy is 3 months old. The best time for swimming is in the evening, after all the walking. If you bathe earlier, you can go outside no earlier than three hours later. The first time, do not immediately put the puppy in a bowl of water, let him look around, get used to it, and only then pour some water with a ladle or shower head. The optimal water temperature is 35-40 degrees. You cannot rub the skin and fur of such a puppy with a towel. Without allowing it to dry completely, the coat should be combed with a suitable brush.
Toy Terrier	Veterinarians and breeders agree that it is optimal to wash a toy terrier once every 5-7 months . The most comfortable temperature for a puppy will be +40 degrees. Frequent bathing strips the coat of its natural protective covering and it becomes brittle. After a walk, just rinse your paws and belly with water without using shampoo. It is recommended to dry the coat with a towel or hairdryer.
Spitz	Use the rain setting on your shower head to bathe your Pomeranian puppy.. Wet the fur carefully from the middle of the body to the head. Pour water over the head after covering it with your palm and pressing the puppy's ears to the head. You can insert cotton swabs into your ears to keep water out. Rinse off the shampoo thoroughly using top-to-bottom movements. After removing excess moisture with a towel, dry the puppy with a hairdryer. It should be noted that a Spitz’s clean coat grows faster than a dirty one, but you should not bathe a Spitz often as it can ruin the coat. After bathing, praise the puppy and give him a treat.
German Shepherd	You should not wash your puppy unless absolutely necessary. The recommended age to start washing is 3 months. Until this moment, it is better to use a damp cloth to wipe the baby. Let your puppy get used to the bathroom first. Prepare water whose temperature is not higher than 36 degrees. Be prepared for the puppy to shake off any remaining water after bathing - wear an apron.
Pug	Pugs get cold easily, so for up to 1.5 months it is better to avoid even bathing with plain water. You should bathe your pug as needed to eliminate unpleasant odors. Remember: your male pug smells stronger the more often you bathe him. Washing is recommended after 2.5 months of life. Washing frequency – once every 3 months. Before the procedures, it is advisable to put oil-based eye drops and put cotton swabs in your ears . After bathing, the ears and folds on the face are very carefully and thoroughly wiped with a cotton swab, ensuring dryness. To care for the coat, experts recommend using a brush and cloth. Pug eyes require the following care: wipe the eyes weekly, first with a cotton swab dipped in warm boiled water, then with a dry cotton swab. Instead of water, you can use a decoction of calendula or chamomile.
Spaniel	To keep such a puppy's coat clean, it is enough to brush him daily. Heavy dirt can be removed with a damp terry cloth and brushed. The coat of these dogs becomes dull from frequent bathing and shampooing. Up to 6 months, it is better to use a self-prepared mixture to wash a puppy: 1 glass of kefir, 1 yolk, ½ glass of warm water.
Husky	If the dog is not a show dog, forget about bathing representatives of this breed . The best bath for a husky is a snowdrift. It is advisable to bathe Huskies during the shedding season in spring and autumn. Before bathing, you should thoroughly comb your dog. After bathing during the molting period, you can leave your pet in a warm robe for an hour - this will help the fur fall out faster. If this is not required, dry with a hairdryer at the lowest power level.

Washing a Yorkshire Terrier

Such puppies should be bathed even more often than poodles. Regular Yorkies are washed twice a month. Exhibition animals are even bathed once a week. The water used to wash these small dogs is warm - about 38 °C. The coat of such puppies is washed with shampoo twice, after which conditioner is applied.

Blow-drying Yorkshire Terriers after a bath is not necessary. Usually, after bathing, such dogs are simply wrapped in a towel.

Owners of such pets, of course, will also be wondering when they can bathe a puppy for the first time. Yorkies, like other dogs, are also usually bathed for the first time at 3 months.

How?

To protect the dog's skin and fur from dirt, nature provides natural lubrication, which is produced by the sebaceous glands.

If you pour water on your dog and do not use detergents, the natural protection is not impaired.

But the use of special detergents disrupts the release of lubricants that protect the skin and coat. When you decide to wash your four-legged friend, choose care products that can compensate for the lost protection.

Washing a dog in 3 stages

Washing your pet at home consists of 3 parts: preparatory, actual bathing and final procedures. Each of them has features and nuances that you need to know.

Preparation

Before bathing, the room and pet must be prepared.

Preliminary:

You can put a muzzle (preferably nylon) and a leash on the dog - the first is especially necessary for biting pets, and the second is tied to prevent escape from the bathroom.

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Process

Large dogs are bathed in a bathtub, and small dogs are bathed in a basin or baby bath. Tiny dogs such as Pomeranians, Chihuahuas or Yorkies may be intimidated by a large container.

Otherwise, the sequence of actions for properly washing a dog is no different:

When bathing, the dog's head is slightly raised to prevent water and foam from getting into the eyes, mouth and ears. It is necessary to encourage your pet, calm him down, and praise him.

Some dogs, especially those not accustomed to bathing procedures, are afraid to wash themselves. The main thing is to act carefully. The affection will help you adapt. Under no circumstances should you shout, even if the pet bit in a fit of fear or tried to get out of the bath.

After the bath

When the last drop of shampoo is washed off, you need to:

It is better to wait until the fur coat dries itself. All this time you need to make sure that the dog does not end up in a draft.

If necessary, you can use a hairdryer. The mode chosen is gentle, with slightly warm air.

After leaving the bathroom, many dogs begin to run around the apartment like crazy, rubbing against furniture and carpets. There is no need to interfere - this way they warm up and stretch their joints.

You cannot take your dog outside immediately after bathing, even if he is already dry. You need to wait a couple more hours, otherwise your pet may catch a cold.

Choosing a Shampoo

Shampoos for dogs are developed by specialists taking into account the characteristics of the skin of our little brothers. We can say with confidence that dog shampoos do not contain dubious fragrances, alkalis, dyes and other “charms” of human life.

Don't let the price of shampoos for dogs and puppies scare you. Usually these are very concentrated products. Economy class options are diluted 1:3, professional ones 1:10. One bottle will last you for a couple of years.

Shampoos and conditioners from manufacturers are considered the most “thoughtful”:

Iv San Bernard (Yves San Bernard),
company 8 in 1
Perfect Coat
Hartz,
Jean-Pierre Negu

Read the instructions carefully and choose a shampoo based on your friend's coat type.

The use of conditioner is necessary for adult dogs. It is better to choose a conditioner from the same manufacturer as the shampoo. In this case the effect will be better.

IMPORTANT: Washing conditions vary for dogs of large and small breeds, short-haired and long-haired dogs.

Fleas on foundlings

Sometimes people take home very young puppies thrown out onto the street. Such dogs can, of course, be infested with fleas. The answer to the question of when you can bathe a puppy for the first time is, as we found out, at the age of 3 months. If a very small foundling is infected with fleas, it is therefore not worth washing it with antiparasitic shampoos.

In this case, you must first remove all debris from the puppy’s fur and wipe it thoroughly with a damp cloth. Next, you should wait until the dog’s fur dries and use flea spray or drops, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. To remove parasites, of course, in this case you need a product designed specifically for small puppies.

Don't neglect water treatments

Bathing is an important procedure for a puppy. The owner must be aware that cleanliness of the coat and skin protects the pet from diseases and parasites. Some of the most common insects found in puppies include ticks and fleas.

There are many benefits of water procedures. The most significant ones include:

cleanliness of fur and absence of fleas;
neat appearance of the puppy;
no unpleasant odor;
reducing the risk of lichen and other skin diseases.

However, frequent water treatments can harm your pet by washing away the protective fatty lubricant. Therefore, you should not wash the puppy after every walk; it is better to carry out this procedure as needed.

The benefits of water procedures

In some cases, if the bathing procedure is performed incorrectly, liquid and detergents get into the puppies' ears and eyes.
This can lead to hearing and vision problems. Therefore, special care must be taken. Important! Each breed of dog may have individual characteristics that are recommended to be observed during bathing.