Spa Day

(Just look at that lovely whiteness!)

Recently, Lucy and I had a spa day.  We are both small enough so that Mama can bathe us at home in the shower or bath tub without too much trouble (she won't try that with Sadie or Claude...they either go to the Dog Wash or to the groomers.)  So, Mama and Daddy got the bathroom all set up for us, putting out the dog shampoo, pitcher for pouring water, hair dryer and lots of towels.

Then Mama did the washing and Daddy did the drying and soon, Lucy and I were clean and shiny and smelling fresh!  Later, Mama also trimmed our nails.  We felt very special and beautiful after our day of pampering.

All dogs need the occasional spa day.  Some dogs resist the idea, but in reality, we all get a bit stinky and dirty from time to time.  However, our humans can make the whole bathing process a joy or a disaster, so here are a few hints about bath time for all my canine friends out there.

1.  Make bath time something to look forward to...Teach your dog that once the bath is done, something wonderful happens.  Maybe a nice treat, a special play time, or a visit to the park.  

2.  Check yourself...Do you treat bath time as stressful and rushed?  If so, your dog will pick up on that.  When you yell or become impatient, your dog will learn that baths are scary and unpleasant.  Be sure you speak softly to your dog while preparing for and during the bath.  If you must physically restrain your dog during the bath, be as gentle as possible and never hit your dog or yank his/her collar or leash.

3.  Do your prep work...Buy a nice shampoo appropriate to your dog; you might ask your vet for a recommendation about the shampoo.  If your dog has dry skin, itchiness, or a particular skin condition, you may need a special medicated shampoo.  Never use human shampoo on your dog; we dogs are quite delicate and your human shampoo can be too harsh for our skin.  Before going to the tub, give your dog a nice brushing to get rid of mats, tangles, and loose hair.  Get your supplies all laid out before you start the bath; you certainly don't want to get half way through a bath and have to leave for something!  

4.  The bath...Place a towel on the bottom of the tub or shower so your dog doesn't slip (and to keep nails from damaging your tub or shower.)  The water should be lukewarm, neither too hot or too cold for your little Goldilocks!  Avoid spraying or pouring any water into your dogs' ears...my sister Lucy the beagle mix has a lot of problems if she gets her ears wet inside.  Make sure to rinse very thoroughly because soap left on our coats can cause skin irritation.  Use towels and/or a blow dryer to dry your dog--be careful that the blow dryer is set to a comfortable setting so your doggie doesn't get burned!  My sister Sadie LOVES to be toweled; Lucy likes the hair dryer; I'm not fond of either to be quite honest...different strokes for different dogs, I always say!

5.  Afterward...Yep, the minute you turn us loose, we WILL go roll.  The carpet, the yard, something stinky...whatever we can find, we will roll in it.  Try to get your canine as dry as possible before you release him/her and just get over it.  You may want to do nail clipping right after the bath if your doggie is calm; if he/she is already stirred up, you might want to do the trimming another time--we'll talk more about nails another time.  Don't forget that special treat, toy, game or trip after the bath is done!

If bathing at home is too much of a hassle for you or if it upsets your dog too much, you might try going to a do-it-yourself dog wash.  These places, often housed alongside a car wash, provide tubs or sprays and a place to securely tie your dog so they cannot be harmed during the process.  Many of these places also furnish the shampoo, but be warned this will not be specific to your dog's needs.  If you just feel you can't deal with the dog washing on your own, you may just need to go to a groomer.  Pet parents should do your homework and find a reputable professional groomer at a price you can live with.  Make sure any potential groomer is clean, appears to love dogs, and agrees NEVER to use any type of sedation.  Many vet clinics and boarding kennels offer grooming services as do many Petco and PetSmart locations.

In warm weather, you might try bathing your doggie outside with a hose or in a little pool.  My brother Claude, the grouchy husky mix, likes the garden hose method.  And lastly, don't over-wash your dog.  Yes, dogs can be too clean!  If you wash your dog too often, their natural skin oils will be stripped away, possibly causing skin dryness and excessive itching.  Ask your vet about the frequency of baths for your particular dog.  (Mama washes us whenever we get stinky, usually every couple of months unless someone goes out and gets in something nasty!)

Bath time can be rough on your dog, or can be an enjoyable time of interaction with our humans.  Your planning, actions, and attitude can do a lot to make a fun time be had by all involved!

Until next time!

Love ya,

Lily the Corgi

(Here's Claude, rolling after a bath.  Note that his fur has been SHAVED...not something you want to do to your dog unless you have to.  In this case, a shave was necessary due to a hideous skunk incident.  If you face a skunk situation, mix hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and a squirt of Dawn dish detergent and use this to wash your dog...it may take several applications, but it will get rid of the skunk stink.)