Oily hair attracts dirt and dirt can destroy a good coat, so most breeders who show will bath at least weekly. I try to make Joey's bath a very pleasant experience. I have lots of towels on the counter to pad it and he's bathed in a plastic tub in the kitchen sink. The water is tested on my forearm, and I try to never get it hot because dogs can't handle the heat like humans, and puppies are especially vulnerable to hot water. So I go for warm not hot. I heat his towel in the microwave while I'm rinsing him. Joey's breeder stressed that rinsing was more important than washing, and if all the shampoo isn't rinsed out you can have white flakes on their skin. She also stressed that a good cream rinse shroud be used as this conditions the skin as well as the hair. After bathing, I wrap the heated towel around him and he lies on the counter covered head to toe in towel. I start the blow dryer up after a minute or so, and start drying his leg, and he eventually pops up and tries to rub himself down with all the towels. After he’s blown dry, I swear he gets this attitude like; I’m so beautiful aren’t I? |