Some breeders believe that you shouldn't bathe your puppies. Others, on the contrary, are sure that the sooner you start bathing your baby, the faster he will get used to water procedures. But where is the truth?
The main rule of bathing is: if the puppy is very dirty, then it must be washed. In this case, the puppy can be either 6 months old or 2-3 weeks old. For bathing to harm the puppy, basic bathing rules must be followed.
Basic rules for bathing puppies
There is no single and definite answer to the question of how often you need to bathe your puppy with shampoo. Many veterinarians advise bathing your puppy with special detergents only when it gets dirty. Breeders wash their puppies with shampoos and conditioners before each show to give them a shine. And the owners of yard dogs wash them only in the summer and not every year.
Since the puppy's body has not yet matured, it is recommended to observe the following rules while bathing:
- You can only wash your puppy in a warm room. It is also important to avoid drafts, otherwise the puppy may catch a cold;
- For bathing, it is recommended to use only warm water, the temperature of which is equal to or slightly warmer;
- You can use a special puppy shampoo, but only diluted. Recommended proportion: 1 part shampoo to 3 parts water. The use of special antiparasitic shampoos for everyday bathing is not allowed;
- When bathing, it is important to ensure that water and shampoo do not get into the eyes and ears of the puppy;
- After washing with a special shampoo, rinse the puppy thoroughly with warm water. For owners of long-haired puppies, conditioner can be used for easy combing, but like shampoo, it must be diluted in the same proportion.
- After bathing, the puppy should be blotted with a towel and carefully dried with a hairdryer. Even if it seems to the owner that it is hot in the room, you should not refuse drying with a hairdryer. Wet coat helps to cool the puppy's body, which can lead to colds.
Can puppies be washed after every walk?
If after a walk the puppy does not have heavy dirt, then it will be optimal to rinse his paws and stomach with warm water without using shampoo. But even after such bathing, it is recommended to dry the puppy with a hairdryer.
If after each walk a lot of dirt accumulates on the dog's paws, then you can use a special liquid soap or shampoo to wash the paws. In puppies of "bearded" breeds, after each walk, it is necessary to wash not only paws and belly, but also their beautiful beard, as various microbes, reagents, dust and dirt accumulate on it.
If the puppy has a short, smooth coat, it will be enough to wipe it with a damp cloth.
When are puppies not allowed to be bathed?
It is not recommended to bathe puppies if they are experiencing increased stress on the immune system. An example of such loads is various diseases, the postoperative period, injuries, the rehabilitation period, quarantine after vaccination, treatment against parasites and severe stress.
Thus, there is no need to wait until the dog is one year old to properly bathe it with shampoo. If you follow all the rules, then bathing will not harm the puppy, even if he is not even a month old.
