Do you have a dog who run into every puddle and splashes around in the ocean but when it comes to bath time the breaks come on?  There's a few things you can do to make it a bit easier for yourself and of course your fury friend.

Prep time

This may sound obvious but make sure you have everything ready before you start. Towels ready on the bath and on the floor, dog shampoo mixed up, calming music playing in the background etc. It all helps and will save you stress running around trying to find a towel while your wet dog is making a run for the door.

Brush before the bath

It may not be the first thing you would think of before bath time but brushing before bath will remove shedding hair and make it easier to lather and rinse. It will also save your drain from clogging up! And it's a great time to calm your dog down and bond with them before moving him to the tub. 

Make it a positive experience

It's important to build positive associations with bath-time from the very start. Start slowly and use treats, favourite toys or even playtime in the bathroom. If your dog is still hesitant then start with having him just stand in the bath and build it up from there over the course of a few weeks.

Use warm water and gentle shampoo

The water should be no warmer than you would use for a human baby. Make sure you wet your dog thoroughly before applying and lathering the shampoo. Use a gentle shampoo without parabens and avoid using human grade shampoo. And try not to bathe too often. Frequent use of shampoo can dry out the skin and the natural oils that protect their skin from the elements.

Avoid getting water in the ears

Be careful around the ears as any water down the ear canal is not only irritating but can cause ear infections. Put some cotton wool in the ears if you're worried.

Stay calm 

It always help staying as calm as possible whenever attempting grooming your dog. Dogs are very responsive to voice tone so try talking in a gentle reassuring voice.

Brush after the bath

The single most important thing to avoid matting for all you curly wurly owners! Cokapoo, cavapoo, cavashon, bichon, mini schnauzer etc. or any other long hair breed prone to matting, make sure you brush the dog completely after they're dry. Same goes for any rainy day walks.

Consider a professional 

This is where my professional pitch should come in! Seriously though, if you find it too stressful just call your dog groomer. You could even be a bit cheeky and plan a really long dirty walk before bringing your dog in... Afterall that’s what we’re here for!