A good wash is necessary for dogs as it helps remove dead skin, accumulated dirt when outdoors and removes shed hair. Although Singapore is a pretty clean country, you cannot rule out ticks and fleas in particular when it irritates your pet dog in the humid weather. Fleas thrive in warm and humid weather which can cause intense irritation to your dog. Once with fleas your dog is more likely to bring them into your home – from your sofa, carpets to your bed linen.
Regular grooming practices can help prevent fleas and ticks from your dog’s coat and even the dogs bringing them to your home. Since most dogs like the outdoors, the warm and humid weather can cause much stress for them. Taking some time for your pet dog more often will ensure it’s healthy and it feels comfortable and cared for.
Pet grooming ensures the shed hair is removed allowing for the dog’s skin to breath. Keeping your dog’s needs attended to regularly will help avoid long nails that may be curled as well as matted hair which can be rather difficult to straighten out.
Below are some washing tricks and tips for your dog to ensure it looks good, it’s healthy and comfortable even in the humid Singaporean weather.
Give Your Dog A Thorough Pre-Bath Brush
Prior to going to the dog wash, be sure to fully brush out your dog and if your dog has tangled fur, the tangles are straightened out. It is rather difficult to clean tangled fur and even drying your dog completely becomes rather impossible.
Matted fur which is not completely dry is a breeding ground for mould and bacteria which causes skin infections. Be sure to brush your dog’s back legs against the direction the fur grows and towards the body and then the head. If your dog is a Pit Bull, this won’t take you much time. If it’s a Chow, Golden Retriever, Alaskan malamute, Afghan or a Rough Collie, it will likely need more time.
Even then, you will save on the time taken in the tub since water will easily penetrate the dog’s coat. However, is easier to either cut the dog’s fur short or brush it out to remove the matted and even hairs it has shed.
Use The Hairdryer To Blow Out Stray Hair Before Getting Your Dog Wet
Before getting your dog wet, ensure to use the force blower or a hairdryer to blow out all the loose hair that may have missed during the brushing process. A force blower is not a dryer but it is very effective in getting the dog hairs since it works by velocity.
The force dryer will help blow out matted hair and all the loose undercoat off your dog’s coat. It can be used for drying your dog as well as for de-shedding before bath. Above all, it does save you time since it is faster compared to brushing especially if you have more than one pet dog. So an investment in a force dryer will benefit you and your dog in the long run.
How You Should Wash Your Dog
Once ready for the bath, start by wetting your pet dog bottom and back upwards, thereafter, you can apply the shampoo.
A dog washing tip when washing your dog: Instead of lathering the shampoo on your hands, you can brush it through the dog’s coat. For dogs like Labs and Pit Bulls using a rubber curry on them will work well. If you have a low-shedding or a double-coated dog, a much slicker brush will do the trick.
Also ensure to use the right dog shampoo, using more shampoo on your dog will not always guarantee it is cleaner. The ingredients of the shampoo and its level of agitation against the dog’s fur are what works best. You can try to make some of your shampoo at home too.
Rethink Crème Rinse Or Conditioner
Crème rinse or a conditioner of your dog’s coat is what ensures the undercoat is released. When your dog’s coat tends to tangle more often, or you intend to cut static, a conditioner or a crème rinse will help. This, however, works by locking moisture in your dog’s fur making it rather difficult to completely dry it. A far better solution is the use of after-bath antistatic products like Ice on Ice or The Stuff.
Thoroughly Rinse Your Dog And Squeeze Out As Much Extra Water As You Can
Ensure you thoroughly rinse and squeeze out as much water off of your dog as you can then step back if he starts to shake off. Once you have towel dried your dog make use of a dryer or a force blower to finish up the process.
As a precaution: if your dog has drape-coat like a Lhasa Apso or an Afghan, using the velocity of the force dryer will tangle your dog’s hair. If you opt to use the velocity dryer, move slowly further and use it at a distance. Most groomers in part crate dry these dog types and always have low-speed dryers at hand. Drying a long-haired dog is rather demanding of time and effort, hence many long-haired dog owners often opt to call in Likeable Pets to do the job for them.
Conclusion
Giving your dog a thorough brushing before bath will help detangle the fur and remove loose hairs. Always brush your dog against the grain from the legs moving towards the head. Then move to the force dryer to blow out stray hairs and detangle before wetting its fur.
Once done, wet your dog from bottom to rear then upwards then apply shampoo on its coat and brush it through. Crème rinses or conditions your dog’s coat to prevent static. Carefully rinse and squeeze out as much water off of your dog as you can then step back if he starts to shake it off.
Even when you become an expert at washing your dog, it is a good practice to visit a professional groomer once a month.