Shampoo care is essential to keep your dog’s coat and skin clean. However, if you don’t know how to wash it, you can’t clean it at home. Especially when it comes to puppies, it’s only the first time and you don’t know what to start with.
Therefore, this time, I will explain the basic method and frequency of shampooing my dog, and when the puppy may start shampooing.
Do puppies need shampoo? When is the best time to start?
Dogs need to shampoo regularly, even if their coat looks clean at first glance. This is because there may be dust and fine dirt on the surface due to daily walks and indoor environment, and in some cases fleas and mites may be lurking.
In addition, if the amount of sebum that covers the surface of the skin and keeps it moisturized becomes more than necessary, sebum stains will accumulate at the roots of the hair and the hair will become sticky. In addition, although the degree varies depending on the breed of dog, dogs have a unique body odor, so the odor is also a concern.
Therefore, it is a sign that shampoo is necessary not only when the dirt becomes noticeable, but also when the hair feels moist or when the body odor becomes strong.
If you neglect to shampoo, you can easily cause various troubles. First of all, let’s deepen your understanding of the basics of dog shampoo, such as the importance of keeping cleanliness and how old shampoo should be.
It’s important to keep dogs and people clean
Like humans, dogs need to be washed and kept clean in order to stay healthy. If your hair or skin is dirty, you will have various disadvantages such as the following.
Shampoo is very important for dogs as these disadvantages can be prevented by regular shampooing and it makes the dog more comfortable and comfortable.
Problems due to hair and skin stains
- Causes skin diseases
- Itching is caused by excess sebum and residual old dead skin cells.
- If you are allergic, the allergen remains on your skin and hair
- Become a hotbed for fleas and ticks
- Body odor gets worse
Does the frequency and method of shampoo differ depending on the breed?
The frequency and method of shampooing is basically the same for all breeds, except for those with illnesses and old dogs who are weakened. Regular shampooing is essential, especially for long-haired breeds, as the coat tends to get dirty.
For dogs with short hair and low body odor, you can keep them clean to some extent by simply wiping them with a damp towel. However, as with long-haired breeds, regular shampoo is still necessary as sebum stains and old dead skin cells accumulate.
How old can a puppy shampoo?
It’s okay for puppies to start shampooing 1-2 weeks after the first vaccination they receive around the age of two months. However, puppies have weak immunity and weak physical strength, so shampoo should be done when you are in good physical condition. The frequency should be once or twice a month.
Puppies are sensitive to new events and the environment, so don’t shampoo suddenly. It is not uncommon to be frightened by the sound of the shower and the sensation of hot water splashing on your body. If you are not good at shampoo, you may not even want to approach the bathroom, let alone shampoo, so it is important to get used to it step by step as follows.
How to break in a puppy shampoo
- Start by letting them play in the bathroom and make them recognize that the bathroom is a safe place
- Listen to the sound of the shower and give a snack as a reward
- Wipe your body with a towel soaked in water to get used to the feeling of getting wet.
- Wet your feet and buttocks far from your face and get used to washing in the shower.
The right way to shampoo dogs and shampoo puppies
Brush before shampooing to get rid of tangled hair. This will prevent the wet hair from solidifying when shampooed, so you can remove dirt firmly.
Correct washing with shampoo
A warm shower temperature of about 35 to 37 degrees is suitable. Be sure to touch it with your hands to check the temperature before starting washing. When you get your body wet, you will be surprised if you get it from your face suddenly, so wet your back, neck, and face in that order from the buttocks far from your face. At this time, if the shower head is brought into close contact with the dog’s body, the sound and water pressure of the shower will be reduced. Wet your face with a sponge soaked in water to prevent hot water from getting into your eyes or ears.
When your body gets wet, lather the shampoo liquid and wash it gently as if you were massaging it. Wash your face carefully with your fingertips, being careful not to get bubbles in your eyes or ears. When rinsing, wash from face to neck, back, buttocks and top. If the shampoo liquid remains, it may cause skin troubles, so please rinse carefully.
After rinsing, wipe off the water with a towel and dry with a hairdryer. Keep the dryer about 30 cm away from the dog’s body so that the heat of the dryer does not damage the skin, and dry it so that it is not exposed to the wind directly. Make sure that the areas that are difficult to dry, such as the toes, between the paws, and the ears, are also dry.
How often to wash
Shampoo is recommended once a month, at most twice a month. It’s not good to shampoo many times a month just because you want to keep it clean all the time. Excessive shampoo removes even the necessary sebum, drying out the skin and making it easier for dandruff and itching to occur. Also, the epidermis of dogs is only about 1/5 the thickness of humans and is very delicate, so skin problems may occur.
For old dogs, try to do it about once every two months. As you get older, your physical strength weakens, so shampooing itself becomes a burden on your body. If you have a skin condition, the appropriate frequency of shampoo depends on your symptoms, so please follow the instructions of your veterinarian.
Points to note
Be sure to use shampoo exclusively for dogs. Humans and dogs have different skin properties. Therefore, if you use a human shampoo tailored to your skin type for dogs, it will be too irritating and may cause skin problems.
There are many types of shampoos for dogs, but if you want to minimize skin irritation, a mild shampoo is recommended. Hypoallergenic shampoos are less irritating than regular dog shampoos because they are made mainly from naturally derived ingredients.
Also, if you have a weak skin or a skin disorder, do not judge for yourself, but consult a veterinarian before deciding which shampoo to use.