Guide to Washing a Dog 

To help you structure your own dog bathing routine, here is an easy guide to the steps involved in washing a dog:
1.    Be prepared with treats and calm verbal praise to ensure a positive experience for your dog or puppy.
2.    Brush any mats or tangles out of their hair before washing your dog.
3.    Wet the dog’s hair all the way to the skin, working down from the neck to the tail. Be sure to work in one direction to avoid further matting or clumping of the hair. Check the temperature of the water before wetting your dog to make sure that it is warm but not too hot.
4.    Once wet, shampoo your dog’s body and gently massage the shampoo all over from the neck to the tail. Once your dog is comfortable, be sure to wash their underside as well. Take care to avoid getting shampoo in the eyes, ears, nose and mouth.
5.    Next, gently rinse the shampoo, making sure there is none left lingering on your dog’s coat. 
6.    After washing your dog, you need to help dry them off, using a towel to gently pat them dry.
7.    Make sure you have been using the treats and positive reinforcement throughout the bathing process to ensure that your dog has had a pleasant experience that they will be happy to repeat later. 
By following these steps, you can create the basis for your own dog bathing routine, adding any further steps you need to ensure that you can effectively clean and care for your pet.

To establish a successful routine for washing a dog, you will need to decide which products you require. You will need a shampoo suitable for dogs. If your dog has a skin condition your vet may recommend a medicated dog wash or oatmeal dog wash. Other dog bath products that are available include a special dog bath tub, a portable dog bath, a dog wash hose, or even dog bathrobes.

You may be wondering ‘when can puppies have their first bath?’ or ‘how to wash a puppy for the first time’. You can bathe a puppy if they became dirty or soiled but you must take care as young puppies are less able to regulate their temperature than older dogs and so are at risk of hypothermia if they become cold and wet. When you do begin bathing your puppy, do so in stages. Their first bath may be them simply standing in the water and taking treats from you. It is important that the puppy develops a strong positive association with the bathing experience which means you may need to introduce them to it slowly (and then build up the level of washing over time).

After washing a dog, they will typically shake off excess water from their coat, however they will most likely require assistance to make sure they are completely dry after a bath. Knowing how to dry a dog after a bath will help to save you time and make sure that your dog is happy and dry as quickly as possible. You can use large absorbent towels or products like a dog bathrobe to remove most of the water, at which point most dogs can be left to air dry naturally. Try to avoid using hair dryers, as most dogs will find it uncomfortable having hot air blown at them. However, if you must use them, then make sure to always avoid the head area and keep the dryer a safe distance from the dog. You should also test in advance that they are comfortable with the sound. Ensure that the temperature of the hair dryer is comfortable on your own skin before using it on your dog.
If your dog smells even after a bath, there may be a medical reason and you should check with your vet.