What you should consider when bathing your puppy
Your puppy has finally moved in, life is exciting, and there is much to learn. Just a moment of inattention and your little whirlwind is rolling in the mud and is completely dirty. We will explain to you when you can bathe your puppy for the first time and what else you need to consider.
When can I bathe my puppy?
The skin of our dogs has, just like human skin, a natural protective layer. This so-called lipid layer protects the skin from external environmental influences and drying out. Puppy skin is particularly sensitive. Therefore, you should not bathe your puppy directly →after moving in, but only when he is 3 to 4 months old.
How often should I bathe my puppy?
When bathing dogs, the general rule is: As often as necessary and as seldom as possible. Too frequent bathing can lead to the loss of the natural protective layer of the skin and thus to skin irritations and itching.
To avoid destroying the protective layer of the skin, you should bathe your puppy (just like your adult dog) a maximum of twice a month.
How do I properly bathe my puppy?
Not all dogs love water, and bathing your furry friend can quickly become a stressful challenge for both human and animal. To ensure that bathing is a positive experience from the start for your puppy, we have some tips for the first bath day:
Getting to know the bathing area
If you grab your puppy and simply put him in the bathtub, he will likely →react with fear and feel uncomfortable.
The better way is to slowly acclimate your little furry friend to the bathroom and the bathtub. Reward your puppy in the bathroom, for example with our →Junior Poultry Pâté in a tube, so he has a positive association with this room. Do a few dry exercises with your puppy by placing him in the bath or shower and rewarding him there - initially without water. If he tolerates that well, you can gently turn on the faucet and gradually get your four-legged friend used to the bathtub.
If you don't have a bathtub or suitable shower, you can also wash your puppy in a baby tub or another larger container.
Avoid slipping
You may have noticed it yourself in the shower or bathtub: The wet floor can be quite slippery, and our dogs feel the same way. So get a non-slip bath mat so that your puppy doesn't slip and can stand securely.
Brush fur beforehand
Especially if your puppy has long, shaggy fur, it is advisable to thoroughly brush the fur before washing. This way, you can more easily untangle mats and make the subsequent bathing more pleasant for both of you.
The right water temperature
Please never wash your puppy with cold water. Young furry friends cool down quickly, and let's be honest - everyone prefers a pleasantly warm bath to an ice bath, right?
The water temperature should be lukewarm, not too hot and not too cold. Test the water on your own wrist before you start bathing your puppy.
The right washing technique
Avoid a too strong water jet, as this can be uncomfortable for your puppy and scare him. So choose a gentle water jet and carefully start wetting your puppy's entire body. You can also fill the bathtub with a few centimeters of warm water and then gently pour the water over your puppy with a cup. And don't forget: Always reward your puppy during the bathing process.
As a special distraction, you can spread →liver pâté on a small lick mat for dogs and attach it to the bathtub. This provides endless fun while bathing.
The right shampoo
Do you think baby shampoo is definitely the right choice for puppies? The answer is: No. Please do not use human shampoos, but rather special dog or puppy shampoos. These are free of fragrances and perfectly tailored to the pH value of dog and puppy skin.
Lather your puppy thoroughly all over and massage the dirt out of the fur. Make sure that no shampoo or water gets into your puppy's eyes. Then rinse out all the shampoo thoroughly so that no residues remain in the fur.
Our dog shampoos from our Care-Line are not only ideal for the needs of dogs but also pure natural cosmetics.
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Thoroughly dry off
The bathing was successful, and now it's time to: Dry thoroughly. Take a soft towel and dry your furry friend off properly everywhere. Your puppy will likely shake and want to roll on the carpet or something similar to dry himself even more.
If it's time for sleep or cuddling after the bath, wrap your four-legged friend warmly so he doesn't get too cold. If it's summer and you have a garden, your furry friend can also lie outside in the sun to dry.
Can I use a hairdryer on my puppy?
Despite all your efforts, the first bath day may be a bit stressful for your puppy. Using a hairdryer means even more stress for your dog, and it is advisable to start using the hairdryer later, if at all.
When using a hairdryer, the same principle applies as with bathing: Get used to it slowly. First, turn on the hairdryer next to your puppy, and if he tolerates that well, you can carefully start drying the fur. Very important: Not too hot and not too close, otherwise your four-legged friend's skin can quickly become irritated or even suffer small burns, and we definitely want to avoid that!
So make sure to set the hairdryer to a low heat setting and keep it at a distance from the puppy's fur. Again, use your hand to test how the air from the hairdryer feels on your wrist. If the air feels hot to you, it is too hot for your puppy.
There is a lot to consider when bathing puppies, but we hope that the first bath day will be a piece of cake with these tips.
