How to Wash a Dog without Dog Shampoo

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Medium
10 - 30 Minutes
2 Weeks

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Introduction

You might have an incredibly dirty dog, or you might have an incredibly stinky dog. Either way, he needs to be washed. But what happens if you happen to be away from home or completely out of dog shampoo? Just how do you get your fuzzy friend clean and smelling good without shampoo? 

There are a few different ways you can cleanse your dog without shampoo and even without water, especially for those dogs who have recently had surgery and cannot get wet. There might be many reasons why you need to wash your dog without shampoo but no matter the reason, know that you can still have a fresh-smelling, clean pup with a little bit of effort.

Dog's Perspective

If your dog got into something stinky or filthy, he might already be a little embarrassed or even a bit nervous about his choices. If your dog doesn't like baths he might be anxious about being cleaned with something else as well. No matter the reason for the bath, try to keep your voice calm because he will sense your energy. Also, give him treats for good behavior and to keep him focused.

The Baking Soda Rub Method

Effective
0 Votes
Slicker Brush
Pin Brush
Towel
Step
1
Prepare
You can give your dog a refreshing baking soda rub down to get him clean and smell sweeter. You will need enough baking soda to cover your entire dog, a brush, and a towel or cloth. You may want to do this outside where the baking soda can fall to the ground without leaving your house a mess.
Step
2
Baking soda
Sprinkle baking soda all over your dog. The amount you will need will depend on the size of your dog. Do not put any baking soda on his face or allow it to get in his ears or his eyes. This is a powder so be careful how you sprinkle it so he's not inhaling it. Sprinkle it all over his body and let it sit in his fur for a few minutes.
Step
3
Massage
Once the baking soda has had enough time to sit on his fur, use your fingers to gently massage it down to the roots of his hair and his skin. Getting the baking soda to the roots of his fur and onto his skin will help absorb any excess oils, lift dirt, and eliminate odor. It's important that the baking soda has time to sit on his fur but then is also massaged all the way down. This is especially important if your dog has a thick undercoat.
Step
4
Brush through
Once you have the massaged the baking soda onto his skin and to the roots of his fur, use a pin brush or a slicker brush to brush it through from the root to the tip of his fur. It shouldn't take much more time than brushing your dog normally takes. You will be moving the baking soda across his body and through his fur, eliminating odors as it moves around.
Step
5
Shake or towel
Once you are done brushing, your dog may naturally want to shake. If he does this any excess baking soda left that hasn't fallen off during brushing may shake off. It might be a good idea to have your pup outside when he does this. If he doesn't decide to shake to remove excess baking soda, you can use a towel to rub the baking soda deeper into the fur where it will be absorbed or to rub some of it off altogether.

The Wet Bath Method

Effective
0 Votes
Slicker Brush
Pin Brush
Towel
Step
1
Prepare bath
Wherever you decide to bathe your dog, whether it's a bathtub, outdoors with the hose, the kitchen sink, or even inside your or shower, prepare the area first with the supplies you have on hand including towels, cups for rinsing, and materials you need to get your dog clean.
Step
2
Cleaning materials
If shampoo is not available or if you are choosing not to use shampoo for your dog, you can make your own cleansing solution at home with water, apple cider vinegar or white vinegarand lemon juice or your favorite smelling essential oil such as lavender, which is also great to deter insects and parasites from your dog’s coat. You will want a 2:1 water to vinegar ratio and then add lemon juice or oils to your liking to improve your puppy’s sweet smell.
Step
3
Give bath
Bathe your dog as you would normally do, only use the solution you have made at home with vinegar and water to wash your dog. This solution does not have glycerin or any soap ingredients in it so do not expect it to lather into suds. Pour this mixture over your dog and gently massage it into his fur and onto his skin. Be cautious of his eyes and face and consider using a wet washcloth to wipe and clean his face.
Step
4
Rinse
Be sure to give your dog a warm water rinse to remove the vinegar and water mixture. You should still be able to smell the fresh scent of the lemon juice or essential oil you added to the wash but you don't want vinegar to sit on his skin for long beyond cleansing.
Step
5
Towel dry
Use a towel to dry your dog once you have finished bathing him with the water and vinegar solution and he’s been rinsed with clean water. Keep your little guy warm in a fluffy towel as he dries.
Step
6
Brush
Brush your dog's fur once he has been towel-dried. Once your little guy is clean and smelling fresh, give him tasty treat as a reward.

Caution & Considerations

  • Your dog might be filthy, but if he cannot get wet such as times after surgery, remember you can spot clean him or at least keep him smelling fresh while his surgical wound heals. There will be plenty of time for bathing with water after healing.
  • You can make your own dog washes at home and keep harmful cosmetic chemicals off your dog.
  • Baking soda works great for times when your dog needs to smell fresh but you don’t have time for a shampoo bath.
  • Dry washes can be performed with baking soda and cornstarch or even a dry shampoo from your local pet store. These dry ingredients grab onto dirt and oils in the fur and continue to work as your brush them out of your dog’s fur.
  • Washing your dog in a wet bath using shampoo too often can cause dry skin, so dry baths are something helpful to get your dog clean with a sweet puppy scent.
  • Dry baths or wet wipe cleanings are great for dogs who get dirty but hate bath time.
  • If your dog doesn’t mind a wet bath but you do not have or want to use dog shampoo, water, vinegar, and a small amount of coconut oil can soothe your dog's itchy or dry skin.
  • Adding essentials oils to brushing sessions will freshen up your dog’s scent. Lavender has been known to calm an anxious dog and keep away bugs on top of leaving a pleasant scent behind.

Conclusion

Give your pup a fun and fur-tastic scent without dog shampoo. You can bathe him wet or dry and get him clean and smelling fresh. Many owners dislike harsh chemical ingredients in dog shampoos or would like to save money and make their own solutions from home. Help your best friend stay top dog with a sweet puppy scent and a beautiful coat by keeping him clean.

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