How to Properly Bathe Your Dog

30 years ago, John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems, revolutionized the professional salon industry by banning animal testing for his line of hair products. But he didn’t stop there. Next, John Paul took his in-depth expertise in hair and skin care formulations and love of animals and applied himself to researching new standards for pet grooming, ultimately creating the John Paul Pet line shampoos, conditioners, sprays and pet wipes (motto: “tested on humans first”). Deeply committed to animal friendliness and giving back, John Paul Pet knows pet grooming. Here John Paul Pet shares their bathing basics for proper, stress-free bathing of your dog.

1. Brush your dog before bathing to remove tangles, dirt, debris, and shedding hair.
2. To reduce dog anxiety during bathing, place a towel on the bottom of your tub or sink to reduce the water spray, mute the sound, and to prevent your dog from slipping.
3. Pre-treat areas on your dog by applying shampoo directly onto dry fur—surfactants in shampoo bond to dirt on contact. Then proceed to wet down the coat and apply all over shampoo.
4. Dogs are calmer if you start at the tail and move forward, wetting down and lathering the coat.
5. Use tepid/warm water to bathe your dog—not as warm as we might like our bathwater. (However dogs do not like cold water either.)
6. Be sure to use a tearless shampoo on the face area to prevent eye irritation, and rinse thoroughly.
7. Keep water out of the ears! Placing a cotton ball just under the ear flap can help keep water out of the ears.
8. Be sure to use a conditioner after shampooing even on very oily coats, as it returns moisture to the skin and coat.
9. After massaging your favourite conditioner into your dog’s coat, lock in moisture by rinsing with cool (not cold) water.
10. Be sure to rinse out shampoo and conditioner thoroughly as they will attract dirt and can cause irritation and flaking if left in the coat.
11. Blot your dog dry with a towel (this may take more than one towel).
12. If your dog will tolerate the sound of a blow dryer, use on NO or LOW heat, moving quickly over the coat avoiding ears and face while running a brush through the fur.