How to Wash a Short Haired Dog

Home
Grooming
How to Wash a Short Haired Dog

Easy

30 - 60 Minutes

2 Months

Need regular grooming services?

Browse Wellness Plan Options Browse Wellness Plan Options

Introduction

If Josie is like most dogs, she probably doesn't care much for being bathed. Yet, regular grooming and bathing are a very important part of keeping her clean and healthy. Having short hair generally means your pup won't get quite as dirty as quickly and may even need fewer baths each year. Bear in mind that short coats are far easier to care for and will take less time to bathe, which is a plus. The hardest part is convincing Josie to get in the bath for the first few times, but time, patience, and a healthy supply of treats will ensure that she will soon learn to enjoy a good bath.

Dog's Perspective

Josie would probably like to do be doing anything but being stuck in a tub to be soaked down and scrubbed. She is firmly of the opinion that she does a perfectly good job of bathing herself. But not doing so can lead to dry, irritated skin that can become a source of major infections and other issues. A bath is sometimes necessary!

The Brush Me First Method

Effective

0 Votes

Slicker Brush

Shampoo

Towel

Step

The slicker brush

Start by using a slicker brush to go over Josie's coat. Yes, even short-haired dogs shed, and the last thing you want is a ton of hair clogging up the drain in your tub.

Step

Prepare your pup's bath

Place a rubber safety mat in the bottom of the tub and then fill it with tepid water up to where it will be at knee level for Josie. Do not use hot water as this can burn Josie's skin.

Step

Wet Josie down

Using a detachable shower head or a pitcher, soak Josie down without getting any on her face or in her eyes, ears, and mouth. Squirt a small amount of vet-approved shampoo onto one hand and then rub your hands together to create a nice lather. Scrub Josie down starting with her neck, shoulders, back, and sides. Move on to her stomach, legs, paws, and tail.

Step

Rinse and wash

Using the detachable shower head or a pitcher, thoroughly rinse every trace of the shampoo out of Josie's coat. Use one hand to help rub her coat and get out the last traces of shampoo. Place a small amount of shampoo on a wet washcloth and use it to gently wash her face, head, outer ears, and muzzle. Rinse thoroughly.

Step

Out of the tub

Get Josie straight into a nice soft towel. Rub her dry and then use a slicker brush to go over her coat one last time to make sure she looks her best. Be sure to praise Josie and give her a treat once the bath is over and done with.

The Dry Tub Method

Effective

0 Votes

Slicker Brush

Shampoo

Towel

Step

Start with her brush

Start out using a slicker or bristle brush to go over Josie's coat. This will remove loose hair, anything stuck in her coat, and give you time to look for fleas, ticks, or any signs of injury.

Step

Plug the ears

The reason you are putting cotton balls in her ears is to keep water from getting in while you are bathing her. Make sure not to shove the cotton in too deep, as this can cause it to get lodged and make it difficult to remove later.

Step

No need to fill the tub

While many methods recommend you fill the tub with water, if you have a detachable shower head or a pitcher, you don’t need to. This might also make it easier to get Josie in the tub. Once she is in the tub, go ahead and soak her down with tepid water.

Step

Wash time

Using a vet-approved dog shampoo, lather Josie's entire body, paying close attention to her face. If she doesn't like this, use a washcloth to wash the area around her face and muzzle. If necessary, this is a good time to express her anal glands.

Step

Towel off

Time to use a nice soft towel to dry Josie off and leave her in a warm room until she is completely dry. Then go over her coat with the slicker or bristle brush one more time before you give her a tasty treat to finish the process.

Caution & Considerations

Always use a slicker or bristle brush, as a pin brush may injure Josie's skin. If necessary, you may want to also look into specialized combs or other types of brushes that can be used on Josie's particular fur type.
Never use shampoos or any other product made for use by humans. They may contain ingredients that have been found to be toxic to dogs.
Keep the shampoo out of her eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth. Getting shampoo into these areas may be irritating and cause her to dislike baths in the future.
If necessary, use more than one towel and keep her warm until she is completely dry. If you don't, she may become chilled, which can lead to illness. Some dogs with short hair prefer to have their hair dried with a blowdryer, but this can depend on Josie's preference.
Use this time to check the condition of her skin, look for injuries, ticks, and fleas. If anything is found, be sure to check with a veterinarian for appropriate treatment.

Conclusion

Bathing a short-haired dog is a relatively easy task as long as your pup doesn't fight you. If she starts to struggle, consider taking her for a long walk to tire her out first. This may help to make bath time a bit more enjoyable for both of you. Take your time, be patient, and make it fun for both of you in order to ensure that future bath times are a breeze.

How to Wash a Short Haired Dog

Introduction

Dog's Perspective

The Brush Me First Method

The Dry Tub Method

Caution & Considerations

Conclusion

Success Stories and Grooming Questions

More Dog Grooming Guides