How to Bathe a Puppy for the First Time

As puppies explore the world around them, they often get dirty on their own. If you want to give your puppy a bath, it’s a good idea to prepare in advance so that they can have a safe and enjoyable experience. You shouldn’t be in such a rush to bathe your puppy that he’ll be afraid of bathing for the rest of his life!

Table of Contents

Preparing to bathe the puppy

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Prepare a comfortable and comfortable bathroom. ^{[1] X Research Resources} Before giving your puppy a first bath, it’s a good idea to spend some time playing with them in the tub or wash basin. Slowly introduce your dog to the bathroom to form a good initial experience. Maybe they haven’t adapted to the water as quickly as you think. During the first 20 exposures, the dog may still not like the bath. However, instead of appearing bored, you should make the puppy think that water is the game, not the enemy. Feed them treats and give them lots of praise so the puppy sees this as a great place to play. Allow them to sniff and explore their surroundings.

Take a few days to get your puppy used to the bathroom. They will then feel really comfortable in this environment before starting to bathe.
If your puppy is small, you should let him touch the kitchen sink so that both you and the pet can feel comfortable.

Introduce the puppy to the water gradually. ^{[2] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to the source} Once your puppy is used to a dry bath or tub, you can move on to introducing him to the water. Turn on the faucet while the dog is still outside so he can get used to the sound of running water. Splash some water on the dog so it doesn’t feel scared. After letting your puppy get used to the water, pour some water into the tub or basin and then put them in and continue playing with the puppy. Give your dog a treat and give him lots of praise. You also shouldn’t push your puppy when he’s still wary or scared.

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Buy a dog bath oil. ^{[3] X Research Source} Dog and human skin are not the same, so you should not use human body wash to bathe puppies. Otherwise, their skin will become dry and vulnerable to bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Instead, you should choose a gentle oat bath oil specifically made for dogs at the pet store.

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Prepare the bathroom. ^{[4] X Research Source} Put a clean, damp towel on the bottom of the pot/tub to prevent the puppy from slipping while in the water. You can also use a non-slip mat. When puppies think they’re about to fall, they get scared and fight back.

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Dress appropriately. ^{[5] X Research Sources} You don’t have to let water, dog hair, and bath oils ruin a nice outfit. Instead, wear clothes that need washing. Be prepared that your clothes will get wet and soiled as the puppy will likely rub the wet coat against you and shake it frequently. Tie your hair up or tie it into a ponytail. Clean makeup so that the dog does not splash water on your face causing cosmetics to fall on the table, even dirty the water, making the dog’s clean coat stained.

Bathrooms also run the risk of getting wet, so you should be prepared for this situation.

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Anticipate and prevent the appearance of annoying factors. You don’t want to be distracted by something that requires your attention while bathing your dog. Make sure children or other pets in the home are watched, not cooking on the stove, and not waiting for calls or important guests.

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Preparing instruments. Before you bathe your puppy, you should have all the essentials ready, including a dog oil bath, a cup or mug to flush the water, and plenty of towels. In addition, you should also prepare snacks to help your dog have a good experience with bathing. A dryer is also necessary for drying if the puppy has a thick coat. ^{[6] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}

Brush the puppy’s coat. ^{[7] X Research Source} Before bathing your dog, you should brush the coat thoroughly to make it easier to detangle while the coat is dry. Use a dog comb to gently remove the tangled hair, do not pull hard or it will hurt the puppy. You need a lot of patience and lots of praise. Puppies need to adapt to brushing!

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Create the best conditions for puppies. Puppies need to go to the bathroom first so they don’t feel the need to urinate or feel bloated. The temperature in the house should be warm enough that the puppy won’t get cold while in the water. The water temperature should be lukewarm, lower than when you shower. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Use your wrist or elbow to check the water temperature just like you would when bathing a baby. If you feel warm, then the puppy will feel very hot!
The water level should only be about half the puppy’s height to avoid the risk of drowning.

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Breathe deeply and relax. Bathing an anxious, hyperactive pet can make you feel stressed. Then your pet can recognize your emotions! The calmer you are (becoming the puppy’s “leader”), the more relaxed they will be. You can turn on soft music to calm your nerves and control yourself. Use a calm, happy tone to show your puppy that you’re around and that everything is fine.

Wait until the kids come out. Their laughter and screams can be stressful for pets.
At the very least, don’t let other people disturb your puppy during the bath, or else they will think bathing is something terrible.

Bathing the puppy

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Take the puppy to the bathroom. You shouldn’t call them close when you’re about to do something they might not really like. ^{[9] X Source of Research} You need to make sure that your calling is always for the good. Then the puppy will always be ready to run back instead of dodging or running away.

“Come here” is a command that can save a pet’s life, but one bad experience is enough to make a puppy stop responding to commands.
Instead of chasing after the dog, you should pick up the puppy and slowly bring it to the bathroom.
Always talk to your pet in a fun and reassuring way. This is not a speed race, so you should not put pressure on yourself or your pets.

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Close the bathroom door. After entering the room, you should close the door so that the puppy cannot run out. This can make them nervous, so it’s a good idea to spend some time cuddling and playing with your pet in an enclosed bathroom so they can relax before bathing.

Place the puppy in the water. Once the puppy feels comfortable and happy, pick it up and gently place it in the water. Bring the puppy’s hind legs in contact first, making sure the head is above the water level. The water level should only be about halfway up the dog’s body. Using a cup, gently and slowly pour water over the puppy’s upper body.

You can use a hand-held shower or faucet if you have one, but don’t use it if your dog is scared.
Talk in a gentle voice, praise and reward your dog.

Apply a dog oil bath. Pour a small amount of bath oil on the palm of your hand and apply it evenly to the puppy’s coat. You don’t need to use too much shampoo, or it will be difficult to rinse off the water!

Apply bath oil all over the puppy’s tail.

Hold the puppy gently if needed. In case the dog is trying to jump out of the water, you should put one hand on their back, but don’t be rough, but keep the position suitable for the puppy. Talk softly to your dog, and always work slowly. Sudden movements can frighten the puppy and put him at risk of injury when he slips and falls in the tub.

Praise and cuddle the puppy to show them that being held like this is not scary at all. ^{[10] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}

Rinse off the bath oil. After cleaning the entire body and hair, you can rinse with water to wash away the bath oil. Use a shower or water sprayer if the dog is not feeling scared. If not, you should use a cup or mug to pour water over them. No matter what measures you take, you should not let water get on the head and ears because it will cause ear infections or make the puppy feel scared.

Remove all soapy water and replace with fresh water if necessary. You need to remember that the dog can get cold and start shivering, and you probably don’t want this to happen at all.
You should rinse the soap off the puppy’s coat, as any leftover soap can cause irritation. ^{[11] X Research Sources} Do it slowly and thoroughly.

Consider bathing the puppy’s head area. ^{[12] X Research Source} In many cases, you don’t need to wet the puppy’s head; they can gradually get used to it later. If you still want to wet the puppy’s head, you should not flush it directly, as this can scare the dog or cause an ear infection. Instead, apply one of the following methods:

Using a cup, slowly pour warm water over the puppy’s head from the back and avoid the front face. Raise the puppy’s nose high so that the water runs down the entire body without entering the nose and eyes.
If your puppy can’t stand it, just use a damp cloth (no soap) to wipe his face.
Another method to wet a puppy’s face is to cover the ears with the ear flaps. Gently push the puppy’s nose into the floor and splash the water over the back of their head. While folding the ears, your hand will cover the dog’s eyes.
Use caution when using ear protection. You need to remove the cotton ball after the bath, and cotton wool should not be used if it irritates the puppy and causes him to shake his head constantly.

Dry the puppy. After rinsing off the soap, you can move on to drying the dog’s coat. Take the puppy out of the tub and cover the dog with a towel, leaving the head exposed. First, use a gentle towel, then place them on the floor to shake your body dry. Bath towels have the effect of absorbing water and limiting tangled hair. You can give commands while the puppy is shaking himself to let them know that you allow them to do so.

Give your puppy lots of encouragement and praise for his good behavior.
Use a towel to dry as much as possible. Gently pat the head and face dry.
Set aside old towels for puppies.

Be careful when using the dryer. Do not set the heat to high to avoid burning the puppy’s skin. If you must use a dryer, you should only set it to a cool setting that does not blow hot air.

Unusual sounds and sensations can frighten a puppy. You should introduce them to the dryer before bathing, just like when acclimatizing to the bath and water.
Play, praise, and reward puppies to keep them happy.
Do not direct the blower head directly into the puppy’s eyes, as this can lead to dry eyes.

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Keep the puppy in a warm room. Do not expose your puppy to the cold until he is completely dry. Also, you shouldn’t let them run around in the house while they’re wet, so keep your puppy out of your bedroom, kitchen, or any other area you don’t want to be disturbed. There is a risk that they will run around and shake off water anywhere after bathing, but you should prepare yourself because this is one of the instinctive habits of dogs.

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Consider professional advice. If bathing your pet is too difficult, you should contact a professional pet sitter and consult the process of bathing a puppy for the first time. You can take them to a professional for their first bath, but it’s also a good idea to observe and ask for their advice.

If your puppy has not been fully vaccinated, you should be extra careful before taking him to a pet groomer.
You should take the puppies out very early in the morning so they don’t get sick from other dogs. Pet sitters will need to disinfect the tub, cage, and toilet table after bathing your pet.

Advice

Don’t be surprised to see dandruff on your puppy’s coat while you dry and brush them. Dandruff is a normal response to stress and is nothing serious, so there’s no need to panic!
Only bathe puppies unless they are really dirty or smelly.
Excessive bathing (several times a week) will wash away the protective oils on the puppy’s coat.
The water temperature should be neither too hot nor too cool.
Be gentle with puppies as this is their first bath.
Try singing to your puppy.

Warning

Do not be rough or hurt the puppy in any way. Since this is their first bath, they may feel surprised or scared.
Puppies should not be left in the water as this can lead to accidental drowning.

Things you need

Puppy
The pot or object is not too large for the puppy’s body
Reward
Shampoo for dogs
Bowl or utensil that can hold water
Washed old towels

Steps

Preparing to bathe the puppy

Bathing the puppy

Advice

Warning

Things you need

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