How to Clean a 5 Week Old Puppy
Easy
5 - 15 Minutes
4 Weeks
Need regular grooming services?
Introduction
Cleaning your 5-week old puppy is not much different than cleaning him just a week ago. Until your puppy is about 2 months old, he should not need a deep cleaning bath. However, your puppy is regulating his body temperature much better than he has so far. So you can get him wet and you can submerge him in a bath if you need to. You will still need to make sure he is nice and warm and dry once his bath time is over. If you don't need to submerge him in a bath, it is still a good idea to simply wipe him down from head to toe with a warm, wet washcloth rather than submerging him in a tub or sink full of water.
Dog's Perspective
Your 5-week-old puppy might be a little nervous about the sound of running water. If you get your puppy wet, he may shiver and be extremely cold even though his body is doing a better job of regulating his temperature. Try to make cleaning quick and easy and get him dry and warm again as quickly as you can.
The On a Towel Method
Most Recommended
4 Votes
Slicker Brush
Shampoo
Towel
Step
1
Set up
Place your 5-week old puppy on a warm fluffy towel or blanket. This will keep him from slipping and sliding around as well as keep him warm.
Step
2
Wet cloth
Wet a cloth with warm water and squeeze out the excess, leaving you with a warm, damp cloth.
Step
3
Wipe down
Use the wet cloth to wipe down your 5-week old puppy, starting with his face and moving across his body to his feet and tail.
Step
4
Potty area
Your puppy's potty area is the place that will probably be the dirtiest and the least sanitary place to clean. Leave this for last to be sure you are not spreading bacteria from his potty area to other parts of his body.
Step
5
Rinse
Once your puppy has had a good wipe down you can rinse him with another clean cloth and clean water or you can spritz him with a spray bottle to rinse.
Step
6
Dry
Use a warm dry towel to dry off every wet spot on your puppy's body. Do not let him go back to his bedding area or to any playtime, especially outdoors, with wet fur. Even though a 5-week old puppy is doing a great job of regulating his body temperature, he still needs to stay warm all the time.
Step
7
Brush
Get your puppy used to brushing and brush his coat once he is dry and warm.
Step
8
Treat
Once your puppy is nice and clean, give him a treat.
The Wash Method
Effective
2 Votes
Slicker Brush
Shampoo
Towel
Step
1
Warm room
Prepare a warm room to bathe your 5-week-old puppy in. The easiest room to get warm quickly is your bathroom. To heat the room using water, run a faucet or a shower on high with hot water for several minutes with the door closed. Once the room is nice and toasty warm, turn the water off and be prepared to bring your puppy in.
Step
2
Prep bath
Prepare a space for your puppy to take a bath. This space could be in your bathtub or in a sink if your puppy still fits. It's best to always put a non-slip surface at the bottom of the tub or the sink to keep your puppy from falling for slipping in the tub.
Step
3
Water
Prepare the sink or the tub with warm water. The water does not need to be too deep. Only deep enough to cover to your dog's tummy while standing.
Step
4
Wash
Use a small amount of puppy shampoo to wash your 5-week old puppy. Start with his face with a washcloth and no shampoo and move down to his body with a washcloth and puppy shampoo.
Step
5
Circular motion
Use small circles to wash your puppy. You do not need a whole lot of puppy shampoo, if any. Remember the suds are there to lift any dirt off of the coat and skin
Step
6
Clean rinse
Rinse out your washcloth with clean water and use it to run clean water over your puppy for a good warm rinse. Do not leave any soap or shampoo, as it will become dry and could potentially cause your puppy to itch.
Step
7
Dry
Use a dry fluffy towel to warm your puppy after his bath. You will want to dry him thoroughly before setting him free to play or placing him back in his bedding. Remember your little guy is still learning to stay warm on his own. That is more difficult to do when he is wet.
Step
8
Brush
Brush your little guy out and give him a treat once you are done.
Caution & Considerations
- At 5 weeks old, a warm washcloth is still the best way to spot clean your puppy.
- Be sure you are wiping down your puppy's face first and then moving on to the rest of his body ending with his potty area.
- Your 5-week-old puppy may only have a couple of areas that are often dirty, such as his potty area.
- If your puppy is still with his mother she will keep him as clean as he needs to be. However, accidents do happen, so sometimes your puppy needs to be taken from Mama and given a bath or at least a warm wipe down.
- Avoid bathing your 5-week old puppy too often. Too many baths can dry out his skin causing itching, redness, and dryness.
- You can consider a dry brushing of your 5-week old puppy's coat to help move out anything stuck in the coat that may cause an odor.
- Once you are finished giving your puppy a bath, whether it is a warm washcloth wipe down or a bath in a tub or sink, be sure to dry him and his coat fully before wrapping him in his dry towel or blanket.
- Do not use any flea or tick shampoos on your 5-week old puppy.
- If you must use a dog shampoo on your young puppy, be sure it is a puppy shampoo. An oatmeal shampoo will also be gentle on your puppy's skin.
Conclusion
Your five-week-old puppy probably isn't hounding you for a bath. But he might be dirty enough to warrant one. Stay out of the dog house and keep your pooch warm while pampering him. Keep your puppy looking furtasic with a simple cleaning and a good brushing.
