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When can you bathe a puppy? How often should you bathe a puppy? How old does a puppy have to be to get a bath? These are questions that often come to mind for new puppy owners. While the answers may seem pretty straightforward, they depend on many factors.
If you want to know at what age you can bathe a puppy, this guide covers the perfect bathing age, how to shower your puppy, provide you with expert puppy bathing tips, and more to ensure a happy, healthy, and clean pup.
Table of Contents 📖
- When Can You Bather A Puppy?
- How Often
- Things To Avoid
- How To Bathe A Puppy (Step-By-Step)
- Puppy Bathing Tips (Infographic)
- Puppy Gets First Bath (Video)
- Can I Give A Puppy A Bath Without Water?
- FAQs
- Final Thoughts
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When Can You Bathe a Puppy?
So, how old can a puppy be to take a bath? There is no set age at which a puppy should receive his first bath.
Generally, it’s advised to bathe your puppy once they are 6 to 8 weeks old or older before giving them a full bath.
However, most puppies are prone to get dirty and smelly, so you may have to expedite your puppy’s first shower. If this happens and your pup is younger than 6 weeks, before putting a single drop of water on your puppy, use bath dog wipes or a warm cloth to clean him up.
According to veterinarian Destini Holloway from PetCoach, puppies can regulate their body temperature after just 1 to 2 weeks old, so there is no danger of getting your puppy wet. However, it’s better to wait until your puppy is a bit older to avoid complications, such as getting water into your puppy’s lungs or shampoo in its eyes.
Can I Bathe My 2-Month-Old Puppy?
It’s okay for a 2-month-old puppy to take a bath if he needs one. You can safely give him a nice lukewarm bath head to tail if he is this age.
Can You Give A 2 Week Old Puppy A Bath?
At two weeks old, puppies have just started to be able to regulate their body temperature. It’s not advised to give a bath at this early age. Wait a couple of more weeks, ideally until six-week of age. Puppies under 2 weeks old might get overheated or too cold during bathing.
Can You Bathe A Puppy At 5 Weeks Old?
Puppies should not be fully bathed until around six weeks old or older. You can still bathe a 5-week-old puppy by wiping him down with a warm wet cloth or using bath dog wipes.
Can You Bathe A Puppy At 4 Weeks Old
While a full-on puppy shower is not recommended, it is good to introduce water gradually at this age. A 4-week-old puppy should be cleaned using a wet washcloth or wipes.
How Often Should You Bathe Your Puppy?
So, how often should you bathe a puppy? The answer: It depends. For instance, active dogs who spend a lot of time outdoors rolling around in things should shower more often than dogs who spend most of their time inside the house.
Your puppy bathing routine will depend on several factors, including:
- Coat length and type: Shorter hair often means your dog is less susceptible to trapping dirt and debris, which translates to less frequent baths. On the other hand, long-coated or medium-coated dogs will require extra brushing, including the frequency of the baths. Puppies with natural oily coats will typically require regular bathing to remove excess oil and unpleasant odors resulting from the oiliness. Be sure to use a dog shampoo for oily coats. Puppies with water-repellent coats (i.e., Golden Retriever puppies) should have a more moderate bathing schedule to maintain their natural oils.
- Puppy activity level: If your puppy is constantly outdoors, roaming around your backyard, playing in puddles, or stepping on stuff he shouldn’t, he may need more baths than puppies with a sedentary lifestyle.
- Skin condition and health: Some puppies have skin allergies or other health conditions. If this is your dog’s case, speak with your vet. He may suggest a medicated shampoo along with a bathing regimen.
Bathing your puppyas frequently as once a week is considered perfectly safe for most dogs according to Terese DeManuelle, a veterinary dermatologist from Portland, Oregon.[1]
However, if your puppy doesn’t seem to need a bath, bathing them once every three months or a couple of times a year may also be just fine.
If you are uncertain about how often to bathe your puppy use your nose and eyes. If your dog starts to smell and looks not huggable, it’s probably time for a bath.
The Don’ts Of Puppy Bathing
Keep these puppy bathing don’ts in mind when washing your puppy.
- Avoid over-bathing. Bathing your puppy daily or several days a week can harm your puppy’s health. It can irritate the skin, damage hair follicles, and increase the risk of bacterial or fungal infections, according to Dr. Adam Denish ofRhawnhurst Animal Hospitalin Elkins Park, Penn.
- Human products. Shampoos or soaps formulated for humans (adults and babies) have different pH and can irritate your puppy’s sensitive skin. Don’t use human products on your dog.
- Don’tbe careless. Be very diligent when washing your dog’s head. Shampoos and other products, even if made specifically for dogs, can cause an adverse reaction on Fido. Ingestion of pet shampoo can cause symptoms like vomiting, drooling, and decreased appetite, Dr. Denish says.
- Watch at all times. Never leave your puppy alone while the water is running. He could drown, scald, or get into an accident when not supervised.
How To Give Your Puppy A Bath: 9 Tips
Wondering how to give an 8 week old puppy a bath or an older puppy so they are happy and willing to take a bath again in the future?
Follow these simple steps to make bath time enjoyable for you and your puppy.
1. Determine Coat Needs
A puppy’s coat requires specific skincare products. Some dogs have “double coats” (the outer coat plus an undercoat). Other dogs have water-repellent coats. The type of shampoo and conditioner you use will depend on your puppy’s fur. Research your dog’s coat-care needs and talk to your veterinarian to find out the most suitable product for your puppy. This will serve to minimize potential coat problems and hygiene issues.
2. Gather All The Supplies
When buying shampoo, conditioners, and other products for bathing a puppy, make sure they are formulated for dogs. Select all-natural products with no additives or chemicals to avoid skin irritation or allergic reactions. Avoid selecting cheap products. Paying a little extra for high-quality and safe products is often better.
Make sure you have these items as well:
- Two rubber mats to place inside and outside the tub. This will stop your puppy from slipping and sliding
- Cotton balls to gently place in your puppy’s ears to prevent water from going inside them
- Bathtub drain hair stopper to catch loose hair from going into the drain
- Dog hairbrush
- Towels and, or blow dryers made for dogs
- Pitcher or nozzle to rinse your puppy
3. Positive Reinforcement (Treats)
More than a step, this is a concept to implement. Every positive behavior while showering your puppy should be rewarded with treats or assertive praise such as “good dog.” This combination of positive reinforcement will teach your dog that bathing isn’t scary.
4. Where to Bathe a Puppy
Consistency and positive association are key in this step. You want your puppy to always relate his bathing spot with a happy and fun experience. A puppy will shower just fine in the kitchen sink or bathroom. A walk-in shower or a regular bathtub is the best place for a larger breed puppy. There are also bathing puppy tubs you can purchase.
If the weather is hot you can bathe your puppy outside. Just make sure the water from your garden hose or faucet has the appropriate temperature. Puppies will chill rapidly. You can use a tub, baby bathtub, or even akiddie pool.
Avoid the grass or yard for obvious reasons. You don’t want to create a mud puddle when bathing your pet.
5. Brush Your Puppy
Often overlooked by pet parents, brushing your puppy is one of the essential parts of puppy bath time. Before even turning on the water, brush your puppy thoroughly to remove tangles and knots. Be gentle when brushing, specifically in areas such as the armpits, groin, or ears. The fur in those areas tends to create firm knots. Brushing without looking can hurt your dog.
If a foreign object (i.e., gum) is stuck on your dog’s fur, use scissors to trim it—cut away from the skin to avoid accidents.
Pro Tip: Brushing time is also the perfect opportunity to check for bumps, wounds, fleas, and other abnormalities that could mean a bigger health issue.
6. Use The Right Water Temperature
Never use burning hot water to bathe a dog. It will burn your dog’s skin.
So, can I bathe my dog in cold water?
It’s not recommended, and most dogs don’t find it fun. Lukewarm water is ideal and will ensure your puppy’s time in the tub is positive. What it’s optimal for bathing a newborn baby should work perfectly for your puppy. Bishop-Jenkins, an internationally certified mastergroomer, says, “dogs’ body temperatures run higher than ours. Their experience with temperature is different from ours.” This is why it’s important to have the appropriate water temperature when bathing Fido.
7. Puppy Bath Time (Start From Botton to Top)
Assuming that you have taken care of steps 1 to 6, get ready to start washing your puppy. Puppies, like babies, aren’t used to being bathed. You need to be gentle.
- Get your puppy in his bathing spot.
- Use a very gentle stream of water to wet your puppy gradually.
- Lightly lather the shampoo in a circular motion. Rub in it thoroughly. Start with their paws and work your way up. Leave face for last. Pay close attention to places prone to dirt such as armpits and tail.
- Wash your puppy’s face separately. Avoid the eyes as much as possible. Even tearless shampoos can irritate your dog’s eyes. Be careful with the nose and mouth. “Dog’sexternalear canalis L-shaped if water gets down there, it gets trapped and causesear infections,” says Bishop-Jenkins. It is advised to use a washcloth dipped into lukewarm water to wash a puppy’s face and limit the product amount around the face.
- Rinse your puppy. Start from the head and work your way down. Rinse more than once until all the suds and shampoo residue disappears.
8. Drying The Puppy
After the splish-splash fun is over, immediately wrap him in a dry towel. Gently rub the towel against your puppy’s fur to dry him up. If you want to speed things up, you might want to use a dog blow dryer. Set the blow drier on a low setting, at a reasonable distance from your dog, and constantly moving to avoid burning your puppy with the hot air.
9. Reward The Experience
After the bath experience, you also want to reinforce your puppy’s good behavior with his favorite treat so he can associate bathing with a happy memory.
9 Steps To Bathing Your Dog (Infographic)
Follow these nine steps for bathing a puppy in a visual format to reference easily.
Watch A Puppy Get His First Bath
Check out this video to see an experienced dog dad bathe Husky puppies using some of the tricks and techniques in this post.
Washing A Puppy Common Problems
Here are some of the most common problems when bathing a puppy.
What If My Puppy Won’t Sit Still During A Bath?
For a puppy to remain calm during bath time, teach him to associate the experience with good things. The first treat should always be given when your pup gets in the tub. You can use treats throughout the entire bathing process.
Using a lick pad is an excellent trick to get your pup to sit still during a bath. Just stick the pad to the side of the tub and add peanut butter. This little puppy bathing hack should keep your puppy busy and happy during the shower so you can focus on cleaning.
What If My Puppy Is Scared of Water?
Start with small exposure. Dip your finger into water and let your puppy smell or lick it. If your pup seems calm, praise it and proceed to run your wet hand over your puppy’s fur. If he reacts well, praises him again. Gradually increase water exposure over multiple weeks. A warm cloth or wipes are good tools to introduce water to your puppy.
Can I Give A Puppy A Bath Without Water?
So, how to bathe a puppy without water? There are a few options to contemplate.
Use bath dog wipes for a quick and hassle-free bath. These specially-made wipes for dogs will remove bacteria and unpleasant odors. It’s always good to carry wipes for unforeseen accidents that could make your dog smell. Your second option would be waterless dog shampoos. Simply apply it to your dog’s coat, rub the product off, and let it dry without rinsing.
You can also sprinkle baking soda and rub it gently from neck to paws, not the face. This product soaks up any bad odors. Let sit for a couple of minutes, then brush. While these tips for bathing a puppy seem easy and quick, be careful with your eyes or breathing passages. Always consult your veterinarian to determine what’s appropriate for your dog’s breed.
When Can Bathe A Puppy? Frequently Asked Questions
What Age Can You Bathe a Newborn Puppy?
The optimal age to bathe a newborn puppy, according to our research and expert groomers, is 6 weeks old. While all bathing needs of puppies vary depending on different factors and breeds, once they’re 6 weeks old, they should be fine with a full shower. However, you must assess the frequency and establish a proper puppy bathing schedule. Remember not to over-bathe, and use our guide above to bathe your pup correctly.
Can I Bathe My 9-Week-Old Puppy?
Yes, bathing a 9-week-old puppy is safe. He is old enough and well over the bathing threshold to have full baths.
Can You Bathe a Puppy at 8 Weeks Old?
Bathing an 8-week-old puppy is possible. It’s safe and doable to give him a full shower. You can use dog wipes or a lukewarm washcloth to clean him up if he is not too dirty. Use our ten-step guide above if you decide to bathe your furry friend.
Can You Bathe a Puppy at 3 Weeks Old?
At two weeks old, puppies have just started to be able to regulate their body temperature. It’s not advised to give a bath at this early age. Wait a couple of weeks more, ideally until six-week of age.
How Old Does A Puppy Have To Be To Get a Bath?
There is no set age. It’s generally advised to bathe puppies when they are 6 weeks old or older. However, they can safely get wet at three weeks old, as puppies can regulate their body temperature after two weeks. We advise you to wait as long as possible to avoid any complications.
What Can I Wash My 8 Week Old Puppy With?
An all-natural and tearless puppy shampoo that contains oatmeal and aloe vera work best for 8-week-old puppies. These are gentle ingredients that can moisturize your puppy’s skin. Never use human shampoo or soap. These products aren’t formulated for puppies and can dry and damage a puppy’s sensitive skin.
Can I Bathe My 1 Month Old Puppy?
1-month-old puppies should not be bathed until around six or eight weeks old. Older dogs’ body temperature self-regulates, but young puppies don’t have that ability.
How Many Months Can a Puppy Take a Bath?
Puppies can safely be bathed at one and a half months or two months of age.
When Can A Puppy Take A Bath?
Improving the hygiene of your puppy is essential, and dogs enjoy being clean, just like people. We hope this guide serves you well to get you on the right track regarding puppy bathing.
Puppies can safely enjoy baths at 6 weeks old or older.
If you are curious about other ways to improve your dog’s lifestyle and health, CBD oil can be a viable option for puppies and dogs who experience anxiety, chronic pain, and cancer. We invite you to read our CBD oil for dogs guide to learn more.
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[1]Vetmed WSU
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