Do You Need to Wash Your Dog After Every Walk?
During some months of the year when it’s constantly raining during your walks, you might assume you need to pop your pup in the bath at the end of each adventure. This is particularly true when your pooch seems to be drawn to every puddle he or she sees.
However, washing your dog fully after every walk can do more harm than good. Like us, dogs produce oils from their skin which help to keep them healthy and comfortable. When you wash your dog too often, you risk washing away those oils, and leaving your pup with dry, flaky, and uncomfortable skin. This is why it’s usually a good idea to avoid letting your dog jump into every mud puddle they see.
If your dog is absolutely covered in mud, and there’s nothing you can do but give him a bath, remember you don’t have to use shampoo every time. You can always just rinse your dog and use a soft towel to wrap him up post-bath. Remember to give your dog’s fur a quick brush to protect against any matts and knots too.
IntroductionCoco is a feisty little terrier who lives in an apartment with her owners. She needs to be clean when she comes inside, as other tenants in the apartment block will not appreciate muddy paw prints or stinky wet dog smell in the corridors. Unfortunately, true to her terrier nature, Coco loves to dig and root on walks and investigate everything disgusting along the way. When she returns from her daily walks she frequently has muddy paws and beard and is covered in sticks, grass and other debris, not to mention bacteria and germs from other dogs leavings and whatever dead critters she discovered along the way. Her owners need to clean her up before coming inside to keep their apartment clean and their neighbors happy.
Towel Step 1 Be prepared for dirty feet Have a rubber mat and towel by the door so that you can bring your dog inside after his daily walk and towel off excess moisture and mud in a warm dry location. A rubber mat will protect your floors and prevent you and your wet dog from slipping. Step 2 Remove dirt and debris Remove sticks and other large debris by hand, especially on the belly where debris gets tangled. Brush out your dog thoroughly to remove dirt. Step 3 Use pet wipes Use commercial pet wipes to wipe off dirt and debris. Start around his mouth and face where he may have picked up bacteria and germs sniffing and investigating, and work towards his back end. Wipe his back side to remove residual urine and feces and dispose of pet wipes. Step 4 Spray and spot clean If pet wipes are not enough, spray your dog with a mixture of water and vinegar, especially if your dog is wet, as vinegar will help remove funky wet dog smell. Wipe stained areas with a face cloth soaked in the mixture and towel off your dog. Step 5 Dry clean Use dry shampoo or cornstarch sprinkled over your dog and then brush off excess to get rid of dust and dirt.
Towel Step 1 Clean off before going in house In summer you can hose your dog off outside, but in winter you may need to take him inside to bathe. Wipe his paws so he does not track mud through the house or carry a small dog to the tub. Step 2 Wipe off mud and wet Have a rubber mat and towel by the door. Towel off excess moisture and mud. A rubber mat will protect your floors and prevent you and your wet dog from slipping. Ensure your dog can walk to the bath or be carried to the tub without getting you or the floors covered in mud. Step 3 Remove debris and tangles Remove obvious debris like sticks tangled in your dogs coat and work out tangles with your fingers prior to wetting your dog down, as entangled debris will become more difficult to remove when wet. Step 4 Bathe Wet, shampoo, and rinse your dog thoroughly with warm water. Step 5 Dry Dry with a towel and blow dry or put your dog in a warm, dry location to air dry.
Should I bathe my dog after walking?
4. Should I bathe my dog each time after it goes out? If you bring your dog out on walks daily, the answer is no — avoid giving your pooch daily baths as this will dry out its skin and coat. Instead, stick to your dog’s usual grooming routine and give it regular showers according to its needs.
How to Wash Your Dog’s Feet After Walks
This is a quick and easy process to follow for cleaning your dog after a walk. However, location will play a large part in how you are able to wash your pooch especially if it involves avoided a messy house. So we decided to cover this in more detail along with some additional information for cleaning your dog.
If there is one thing that dog walks generally produce, it’s a muddy smelly dog. Dogs love nothing better than to run around splashing in puddles and rolling in the dirt. The winter months can become hard work keeping both your pooch and your home clean and even in the summer they unbelievably manage to find a muddy puddle. That’s why we think reducing the mud on your kitchen floor should start with cleaning your dog after a walk. You can also check our article on “How To Keep Your House Clean With Muddy Dogs”. Here are some of the ways you can clean your dog after a walk, leaving your home a bit less muddy.