Brushing and Bathing - Printable Version

Regular brushing removes dead hair and helps to distribute the skin’s natural oils throughout the coat. Although all dogs benefit from brushing, long-haired dogs and dogs with double coats may require a bit more attention to prevent matting. Areas of your puppy’s body that are most likely to form mats include behind the ears, behind the legs and under the tail. Here are some guidelines for caring for your dog’s coat:

Always begin brushing sessions when your puppy is relaxed and in a quiet, distraction-free setting. Avoid attempting to brush him when he is very active and ready to play!
Each grooming session should include a careful inspection for external parasites such as fleas or ticks, and skin infections such as ringworm. Grooming also provides an opportunity to examine your dog for lumps or skin lesions. If any sores or lumps are found, seek veterinary attention.
If your dog has mats on some areas of his body, it is helpful to remove these in a single session and plan another grooming session that is “just for enjoyment”. Separating pleasant from unpleasant grooming procedures is an effective way to ensure that your dog will continue to enjoy being combed and brushed.

Teaching Your Puppy to Enjoy Being Groomed

Select a variety of positive reinforcers (rewards) that your puppy enjoys. These can include small food treats, petting, and praise.
Each time you show the brush to your puppy, immediately present the reward. For example, if your pup enjoys small soft dog treats, present the brush, immediately followed by a yummy treat. Timing is very important because the objective of this training is to “pair” the presence of the brush with the offering of a treat.
After several repetitions, the presence of the brush will start to “predict” the opportunity for a treat to your dog. This begins to evoke pleasurable feelings in your puppy because he associates his brush with good things!
To ensure that your puppy enjoys brushing sessions, begin by grooming areas of his body that he finds pleasurable. For example, if your dog loves to have his back petted, start there. After each brushstroke give a treat. Repeat this sequence each time that you brush your puppy.
As your puppy begins to anticipate and enjoy brushing, gradually groom other areas of the body. When you finish brushing, remove the brush and then the treats; attempt to always end the session while your pup is still enjoying being brushed.

Bathing

If you brush your dog regularly and take good care of his skin and coat, he will require bathing relatively infrequently. Dogs who participate in outdoor activities such as hiking, running or field work, may need more frequent bathing

For bathing, always use a shampoo that is specifically formulated for a dog’s skin and coat. Longhair dogs may also often benefit from a crème rinse designed to help reduce tangles and matting after baths.