Bathing a Dog With a Double Coat
Now, lets talk about bathing your double coated dog. You will want to bathe your dog every eight to twelve weeks or when special circumstances (like rolling in something gross and smelly) apply. Increase the frequency of baths in the warmer months, when your double coated dog is shedding most.
Before starting, make sure to give your dog a thorough brushing. This will remove any stray hairs and lower the risk of tangling.
Next, wet your dogs hair with warm (never hot) water, avoiding the ears to prevent ear infections. Apply dog shampoo (never human shampoo) in a line down your dogs back and work the shampoo into your dogs hair along their back, sides, and belly. Apply more shampoo to each leg and work it down the leg and around the feet, making sure to get any dirt near or between the pads of their paws.
Use a spray nozzle to rinse away shampoo, working your hands into their hair to remove any residual shampoo from their undercoat. Repeat this same process with a dog conditioner to further lower the risk of tangling.
To wash your dogs face, use a damp washcloth. Again, avoid getting water inside of their ears.
Drying a Dog With a Double Coat
Is a towel dry enough for a dog with a double coat? It will do in a pinch, but we recommend using a blow dryer on that thick hair. Blow drying your double coated dog will leave them feeling softer and prevent the growth of mold or bacteria on the skin.
First, use a towel to get the job started. Then, grab a blow dryer and set it to a warm setting (never hot) and opt for the highest airflow, brushing your dog with one hand while drying with the other. You can switch to a cool setting intermittently to keep your dog comfortable and prevent over-heating.
Double-coated dogs generally shed more than others, so it is important that their coats are well maintained. If they’re not, it can lead to tangles and matted coats that are painful and difficult to clean. Double-coated dogs with thick undercoats tend to shed heavily in the spring and fall. That’s exactly when you should plan to keep up with proper dog bathing. Dog undercoat cleaning during shedding will keep your dog’s skin healthier and encourage that old undercoat to shed. Don’t plan to bathe your dog more than about four times a year, or you may risk drying out its skin and stripping the oil from its fur.
Proper dog bathing is more difficult for breeds with heavy double coats. Dog undercoat cleaning is not as simple as letting your pup jump into the tub. Many herding, working and terrier breeds have double coats, including Irish terriers and Norfolk terriers, Akitas, malamutes, Bernese mountain dogs, huskies, sheepdogs, border collies, German shepherds and more. If you are concerned about proper dog bathing and you have one of these breeds in Henderson, NV, here are some things you should know about dog undercoat cleaning before bath time.
Proper dog grooming, including proper dog bathing, is essential to the good health of your beloved pet. If you have a dog in Henderson, NV, visit The Soggy Dog for full-service dog grooming services, including baths. We also offer the unique option for self-service dog washing if you’d rather take care of your pet yourself but would prefer not to make a mess of your shower at home. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
Proper dog bathing always begins with another good brushing. You need to remove any shed fur and get out any tangles and mats that you can before getting your dog’s coat wet. Your pup is only ready for a good dog undercoat cleaning after it’s been brushed thoroughly. When bathing your dog, be sure to use products made for canines rather than humans. Human shampoo is far harsher than dog shampoo and can hurt your dog’s coat and skin.
Any dog with a thick undercoat is going to need far more brushing than bathing. You should brush your dog several times a week in order to maintain the health of its fur and remove dirt and debris. Brushing also prevents mats and tangles from building up between proper dog baths. To brush, begin by spraying your dog’s coat with water to prevent the fur from breaking, then use a pin brush, then a slicker brush to remove dead and shed fur and to keep your dog’s coat healthy. Brushing will also evenly distribute the oil throughout your dog’s skin, preventing both dry fur and breakouts.
How to groom a double coated dog – Dog Grooming demonstration
On this page, we’re taking a closer look at grooming double coated dogs. Here we cover topics like: bathing and drying, brushing, finishing,…and so on. But first, let’s get more familiar with these type of dogs.