After a hard, dirty day of chasing squirrels, nothing soothes the not-so-savage beast like a nice, relaxing bath. But if you’re like me, even spelling out the “b”-word is enough to send my two pups, Daisy and Bud, into a panic. Yeah, you could spring for a grooming to get the grit out, but I actually found that setting a spa-like vibe helps us all relax and get the job done at home.
The idea is to make the environment as calm and peaceful as possible, since my dogs are anything but calm when in close proximity to a bathtub.
Who doesn’t like a nice rubdown? At our house, it’s basically the act of being petted with long strokes, which is a favorite activity anyway. It’s also not a bad idea to brush your dogs out before the bath, to get rid of as much excess hair as you can (your tub drain will thank you). And you can accomplish both in one fell swoop by using a massage brush with rubber bristles. The gentle pins not only stimulate the skin’s natural oils for a shiny, more healthy coat when dry, but they’re also great to use in the tub itself to gently massage the shampoo into the dog’s coat. So now that we’re all relaxed…
A nice, warm bath
There are almost as many choices for dog shampoos are there are for humans, at every price point, in every scent, with every combo imaginable for skin, coat type and more. And if you really want to go all-out, there are even actual doggie-spa scrubs, including one I found that offers “a combination of grapefruit seed extract, apricot and avocado oils and sulfur to provide relief from flaking skin, excess oils and scratching.” We prefer the basic oatmeal formula. But whatever shampoo you decide to use, make sure to rinse it out well, using your hands to squeeze out the excess. Now jump back! There will undoubtedly be a whole lotta shaking going on. 
Namaste!?? Is your pet the cutest, scariest or silliest in his or her costume?…
DIY Dog Care: How to Give Your Dog an At-Home Spa Day
Before check-in time
So not only does the word “bath” alert my geniuses that the unthinkable is about to occur, but it’s even gotten to the point that reaching for my waterproof apron and gloves, not to mention their shampoo, brushes and towels, sends them scampering under the bed, never to be coaxed out again. So my work-around consists of gathering all of that stuff into a tote bag way beforehand and stashing it behind closed doors in the bathroom. Works like a charm.
Music to my dogs’ ears ranges from classic rock to classical, so I’ll fire up some of that for them to listen to. Or we’ll howl along to some blues. But there are great spa sounds CDs and music feeds online as well. I also move slowly and use a soothing tone of voice. It’s all about setting the vibe.
Turn on the water and get the temperature right (not too hot, not too cold) before putting your dog into the actual tub. Treats come in handy at this point, to coax your pal to either jump into your arms or into the tub itself. Get him wet all over. I use a big plastic pitcher for the job, but a built-in sprayer is definitely handy.
You know how after a spa treatment, they give you a nice comfy robe to lounge in and a nice cup of water with an herb or fruit infusion to sip? Then you know what’s next for your pooch. For that final relaxing touch, rub him all over with the biggest, fluffiest towel you can find (this is my dog’s favorite part). It may take more than one towel to dry, depending on the size of your dog. Offer up some nice, fresh water and let him ease back into the day by chilling out with a chewie… Now give yourself a nice big tip!
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