Things needed :
Shampoo |
Creme Rinse |
Towels |
Cotton Balls |
Bathing too often may destroy the coat. If the dog is kept in clean dry quarters, bathing a few times a year is enough.The exception is the underside (the genital, rectal area and the feet) as needed. When bathing use a good name-brand dog shampoo and creme rinse (see note below). Start by placing a cotton ball in each car. Wet the coat thoroughly. Apply a small amount of shampoo to palm of hand rubbing palms together to distribute shampoo, work shampoo gently into coat bringing to a full lather. Pay close attention to feet and rear. This is also a good time to express anal glands. Rinse coat c0mpletely and repeat process. Follow with a good creme rinse being sure to wait the required time before rinsing. It is important to rinse all creme rinse from the coat as any residue left can make the coat dull and flat. Gently squeeze out any excess water from the coat, then cover dog with a large towel.A frequent mistake made at this point is to towel-dry the dog - rubbing vigorously can cause tangles and or coat damage. Taking one section of the hair into the towel at a time, let the towel draw the moisture out of the coat. When finished place a clean, dry towel on the surface on which you'll dry the drying.
Note: PH balances differ greatly between dogs and people. Human shampoos used on dogs can strip out important coat oils, leaving the coat dry and brittle. It actually takes a dog a whole month to produce the oil a human produces in 24 hours. Be sure to read labels on any shampoo making sure it is the best suited for your dog. Remember to check if it is a "tearless" product- if not, avoid the eye area. DryingYou will need: Blow dryer, brushes
A high-velocity dryer is a tool that can make this whole process much easier. Readers owning more than one Peke will find this an invaluable time-saver when used correctly. A mistake often made with disastrous results is using the HV dryer in a rapid back and forth motion. This can cause severe tangling and knotting. With practice you can dry nearly the whole dog by moving slowly and keeping the dryer far enough away from the body so as not to tangle hair. Yes, it does take practice. If you are not blowing with a HV dryer a common blow dryer will work fine. Check temperature settings making sure the air current is not too hot for your dog's skin. As with the HV dryer, your goal will be learning to blow dry and brush at the same time. The results will more than reward your extra effort. For both types of drying styles refer to the brushing section to make sure you're brushing correctly. |