Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Teaching a Large Dog to Bath
• Part 2 of 3: Preparing to swim
• Part 3 of 3: Bathing your dog
• Tips

If you bought yourself a large breed puppy, then at a young age it's time to start teaching him to bathing procedures. Nevertheless, even adult large dogs can really be taught to swim, but this can be associated with certain difficulties, individual for each individual. You can bathe your dog directly at home, but you need to prepare yourself and prepare your pet for this procedure in advance. In addition, it should be remembered that bathing is really necessary only when the dog starts to smell unpleasant, or about once every three months (provided that the coat is regularly combed).

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Teaching a Large Dog to Bath

1. 1 Use a bathroom that is large enough. Use a shower stall whenever possible. If you have a spacious shower, it may be the best option for bathing a large dog, as it does not require jumping into the tub. Some large breed dogs can be bathed in the bathtub. But if the tub is too small for the dog, you may need to consider other options. In the warm season, the dog can be taken outside and bathed in the fresh air. But if it is cold outside, bathing will need to be arranged at home, otherwise the dog may be overcooled.
   • When swimming outside, be sure to keep your dog on a leash. This will prevent her from running away from you while you try to wash her. Also, be sure to choose a place for swimming where dirt from the pouring water will not form.
   • If it's too cold outside and the tub is too small for bathing your dog, try using the kiddie pool. Inflatable children's pools are relatively inexpensive. Just choose a place for installing the pool where it will not be scary to wet the floor. A large trough or paddling pool can also be used outdoors to further restrain the dog and avoid spilling excess water.
2. 2 Adapt your dog to a dry bath. Lure your dog into a dry bath with a treat. Praise her and offer more treats. If it is not possible to use the bath, install a paddling pool a couple of days before your dog's scheduled bathing date. Lure your dog into the container several times a day for several days. If you plan to bathe your dog outdoors without using any containers, skip this step.
3. 3 Train your dog to climb in and out of the tub on command. The next time you lure your dog into the bath, give the command "get in." Once the dog obeys, give it a treat and compliment it. Then give the command "get out".Step back from the bath to have the dog follow you. You can even clap your hands to call her to you.
   • There is no need to offer your dog a treat for getting out of the bath. You should convince her that the most interesting thing for her is happening directly in the bath.
   • Reinforce the commands by repeating them sequentially 4-5 times in a row. Arrange another lesson the next day or even a little later the same day.
   • If you plan to bathe your dog outdoors, the command “place” may be more appropriate. Sit down or lay the dog down. As long as she maintains her position, say "okay" and give her a treat. Give the command "place" and move away from the pet for a short distance. If the animal moves, sit (lay) it down again, then repeat the "seat" command and offer a treat. Continue to return the dog to the starting position as many times as necessary to explain the meaning of the command. Take short lessons for several days in a row.
4. 4 Try filling the tub with water. The next time you run your dog in the bath, try using a little water. While the dog is in the tub, turn on the water. Do not water the dog on top to get it wet. If the dog gets scared, order it to sit down, or just calm it down with an affectionate tone of voice, and then offer a treat. Praise your dog for good behavior. If you are outdoors, try giving your dog a seat command and placing an included hose next to it to get used to the water and the idea of ​​bathing.

Part 2 of 3: Preparing to swim

1. 1 Collect everything you need. Since large dogs may be more resistant to bathing than their smaller counterparts, it is important to have everything you need on hand by the time your pet is in the water. Purchase dog shampoo from the pet store. Prepare a stack of towels for the moment when the dog can already be released from the bath. It will also be necessary to keep a treat for the dog with you.
   • You can even pre-heat the towels with a hairdryer to make them more pleasant for your pet.
   • In addition, you will need a dog brush, rubber mat, napkin, jug, hose or shower head, as well as a washcloth-mitten for a shower or ordinary latex gloves if you do not want to rub the shampoo into the dog's fur with your bare hands.
   • You may also want to use cotton balls to protect your dog's ears from water, eye protective ointment (from a veterinarian), a hair dryer, and an extra drain grate to keep the drain from clogging.
2. 2 Provide non-slip paw support for your dog. Large dogs are especially prone to slipping on slippery surfaces as their paws carry more weight. If the tub has a slippery surface, help your dog stay calm by making the bottom of the tub non-slip. Place a rubber mat or just a thick towel in your tub or other container.
3. 3 Change your clothes. Try to change into a swimsuit or other clothing that you don't mind getting wet. Large dogs wet everything around them when bathing, so you can get wet too.
4. 4 Comb the dog's coat. It is important to comb your dog's coat first, as this will remove tangles from the dog. Wet mats only get tangled more if you don't get rid of them beforehand. In addition, combing the wool allows you to remove some of the dirt from it.

Part 3 of 3: Bathing your dog

1. 1 Limit the available area as much as possible. The likelihood that a large dog will break out during bathing is higher, since there will be more muscles behind its resistance. Lock the bathroom door or place an obstacle in the dog's path (such as a chair). If possible, get a helper to support the dog.The task of keeping the dog while swimming outside can be a little more difficult, but if there is a small enclosed area in the yard, try to use it to restrain the pet.
2. 2 Protect your dog's ears and eyes. Cover your pet's ears with cotton balls. The cotton balls will protect your dog's ears from water. You can also treat your dog's eyes with a special ointment to protect them from the shampoo. If you purchase an ointment from a veterinarian, your veterinarian can show you exactly how to apply the ointment.
3. 3 Tell your dog to get into the tub. Command your dog to get into the tub. If you are going to bathe your animal outside, put it on a leash and take it to the bathing area. Do not forget to praise your pet and treat him with a treat for obedience.
4. 4 Put on gloves. If you are using gloves or a loofah-mitten for swimming, then it's time to put on this accessory. Just be sure to check the temperature of the water on your bare skin as the next step.
5. 5 Check the water temperature. Turn on the water. Make sure that the jets of water are not over-sprayed from the shower head, otherwise the dog's skin may be damaged and the animal may be frightened. Also check that the water is warm, but not hot. If you bathe your dog in the heat outside, you can run the water cooler. If your dog is clearly afraid of the pouring water in his test bathing attempts, fill the tub before placing the dog in it.
6. 6 Get your dog wet. Start at the shoulders and gradually work your way down the body, wetting the dog. Use a low power jug ​​or shower head.
7. 7 Lather the dog's fur. Take the shampoo and start lathering the dog from the shoulders and down the body. It is best to first create a foam ring around the neck at shoulder level so that any parasites (fleas and ticks) have no opportunity to get over the head during swimming.
8. 8 Be gentle and upbeat. While lathering your dog, gently massage its body. Try to rub the soap in with gentle, circular motions. Talk to your dog consistently in a soothing yet reassuring tone, and praise him for good behavior.
9. 9 Wipe your pet's face with a tissue. Do not use shampoo on the nose and eyes. Instead, wet a tissue and use it to wipe the pet's face and eyes, removing any dirt.
10. 10 Rinse your dog with clean water. Rinse your pet thoroughly with clean water. This may take some time, especially if the dog has long coat. Help the water penetrate the dog's coat using the exact same massage movements you used to rub in the shampoo. Be sure to rinse absolutely all areas. Before stopping, make sure that the water drains off the animal completely clean without soap. Residual traces of soap can lead to itching, so the dog will no longer be so docile the next time you bathe.
11. 11 As soon as you're done, throw a towel over the dog immediately. The natural desire of a wet dog will be the desire to shake off, and when the dog is large, this means that you, everyone around and even your whole house (if you bathe your pet at home) can be in the water. A towel draped over your dog will help keep the water out.
12. 12 Dry your dog gently with a towel. Wipe the entire body of the dog with a towel, collecting as much water as possible. It will probably take more than one towel to dry a large dog. Take another towel when the previous one gets too wet. As soon as the pet is almost dry, you can try to dry it with a hairdryer. However, be aware that the noise of a hairdryer is intimidating to some dogs, so be prepared to stop using it.
13. 13 Give your dog a treat. Praise your dog again for good behavior. Also treat her to a treat to show that bathing is fun.Another incentive can be playing with your pet after bathing, or letting him lie down next to you if this is his favorite thing.
14. 14 Don't let go of the dog until it's dry. A wet dog will dry himself on furniture and carpets to dry himself. If you don’t want her to ruin your beautiful furniture, don’t let the dog move freely until it’s dry.

Tips

• If you don't want to make the mess of bathing your dog at home, try a self-service grooming salon. There you will find large bathtubs, matching shower heads and all the necessary bathing supplies.