Cut your dog’s nails before bath time to help your dog have a more steady footing on the slippery surface. You can place a towel on the bottom of the tub if you don’t have a rubber mat.
Don’t let your dog jump out of the tub and run away. You can use a leash to help keep your dog in place if it keeps trying to run away.
You can start out with short sessions of 3-5 minutes in the tub with no water to get your dog used to being in the tub. Keep practicing this until the dog has no problem being in the tub. [4] X Research source Have a friend or helper distract the dog with treats or peanut butter while you bathe your dog so it stays more calm.
You can do this in multiple short sessions of 3-5 minutes, gradually increasing the amount of time your dog is in the tub and how much water you pour on it. Hold your dog’s chin and nose up as you pour water over the back of its neck and head to prevent water from getting in the dog’s eyes or nose. [6] X Research source
Once your dog is comfortable with you pouring water over it to give it a bath, you can try using a pet spray attachment for your shower. These attachments reduce the pressure of the water and let you gently spray water over your dog so you don’t have to keep filling up a container.
Avoid rubbing your dog’s face or eyes with wipes as this can irritate them.
These types of products are good for a quick clean that doesn’t require any water to rinse the dog clean. Waterless shampoos generally work best for smaller dogs with less fur.
Vinegar also helps treat dogs with itchy skin. Spray the mixture onto any spots that you see your dog is scratching a lot. The vinegar will even help repel fleas! You can use this mixture to clean your dog’s ears as well. Use a dropper to squeeze a drop or two of the mixture into your dog’s ears, then let the dog shake its head. You can also soak cotton balls in the mixture to wipe out the ears. You can also use apple cider vinegar to make a natural dog shampoo.
This homemade dry shampoo will absorb grease and dirt from your dog’s fur and eliminate odors. You can add 2-3 drops of essential oil, like lemon or lavender, to make your dog smell even fresher. Use 1/2 cup (60 g) of baking soda and 1/2 cup (60 g) of cornstarch for smaller dogs.
Take your dog near the water for 5-minute sessions, then come back another day and repeat the process until they get comfortable being around water and getting wet. Try throwing a toy your dog loves into the water close to the shore to encourage them to wade in and retrieve it. Avoid rivers because the moving water can scare your dog.
Dry the dog off as soon as playtime is over and you go inside so they associate being wet with having fun.
Use a leash or hold your dog by the collar to keep it from running away. Give your dog a treat if it remains calm while you pour water over its feet.
Treat training is really effective for teaching dogs any kind of behavior that you want them to learn.
