The new inhabitant of your house is non-stop. He plays, gets splashed or steps where he shouldn’t, and, above all: he gets dirty. If you are thinking of giving your puppy his first bath, it is important that you know when you can do it and what you need to make everything perfect. First of all, keep in mind these two requirements to bathe your puppy: he has to be clean, because after bathing him, the mother may not identify his scent and reject him; and he has to have completed his vaccination schedule, or else he is likely to get a poor immune response.
From five months of life, your puppy will already be ready for the bath. Until that time arrives, an effective alternative to clean and disinfect their fur are wet wipes. The first bath is one of the most important socialization experiences, and at the same time the most stressful for your pet. It is a key moment since, depending on how it develops, it will depend on how you enjoy bathing throughout your life.
The bath must be a moment of complicity between the puppy and its owner, so you must make sure that it is a pleasant and positive experience. If your puppy is already out on the street, it is advisable to take him out for a walk so that he spends energy and arrives relaxed at bath time. Check that you have everything you need: a specific shampoo for dogs, a sponge and a brush with soft bristles, a couple of towels and a hair dryer.
Pet and praise your puppy before putting him in the tub. You can rehearse before turning on the tap and slowly pat the chest, flank, back and legs. This way you will check if he is comfortable and you will prevent him from growling at you when you soap those parts of his body. Next, you can gently touch other more sensitive areas such as the ears or the pads of their paws. Also go opening the water tap so that your puppy listens to it and gets used to it.
Once your puppy is still and ready to start the bath, check that the water is lukewarm. Sudden changes in temperature can cause damage to the puppy’s nervous system. When you have the point, follow these steps:
Bathing can become a regular activity that helps strengthen the bond with your pet. You can bathe him every time he is dirty or smells bad, but it is better to establish a periodicity of between 3 and 8 weeks, to avoid destroying the layer of fat that protects the puppy’s skin.
