Introduction: How to Give Your Dog an Awesome Bath Cheap!!!

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About: I love computers. I will soon start a gaming website. Ask me any tech questions you have, as well as other questions, and i can most likely answer them.

Hi everyone! If you want to pamper your pet, increase your relationship with them, make them and yourself happy, or just plain make them smell better, then you've come to the right place. In this instructable i will show you how to give your dog a soothing bath for under a dollar. (cost was actually less than a dollar for both dogs for me) My two dogs are Minnie, a water loving ,crazy, young black lab, and Rex, a squirrel hunting, water avoiding rat terrier. This bath was so relaxing that even Rex stayed still and wasn't paying attention to squirrels!!! This is one of the EASIEST and CHEAPEST ways to give your dogs the luxury you want them to have.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Ok so heres where everything gets a little different from other guides, so many people say: you need a towel or sponge or something. While using a towel for drying is a good idea (since you can't soak up water with a hose or your hands), it is not the best way for massaging and deep cleaning. This is not Nintendo Dogs! Do not try to wash a dog based off a game. 

Supplies Needed:

1. Shampoo
It is important to get dog shampoo, not human shampoo. Dog shampoo has lower pH levels than human shampoo and is more suited for your dog or puppy. Human shampoo, other than baby shampoo, can also burn your eyes and your dogs. I recommend a shampoo made with 100% natural oatmeal as it soothes the skin (oatmeal can help remove your sunburn too) and pampers your pouch. Dog shampoo also produces less bubbles and can be rinsed off quicker.

2. Hose With Nozzle Set on Shower or Mist 
Not much to say here, if the water is to cold or hot for you then its to cold or hot for your dog. If this is the case the attach the hose to a faucet where you can control the temperature. It was summer in Louisiana for me so the cold water was refreshing. Make sure that the prussure is enough to do something but not to hard! If your dog runs away from a good temp then it it probably to powerful or scares it, try pouring water on your dog with your hand or a pitcher.

3. Plastic Pool or Similar Tub 
These can run you 6-10 dollars for one like mine. DO NOT put your dog in anything where it has to swim or the water it up past its stomach, you could drown the poor thing and this makes it harder to wash your dogs legs anyway. 

4. Towels for Drying
Simple and easy, i reccomend using older towels or buying a set just for washing your dog. DO NOT USE A HAIRDRYER!!! This can overheat your dog and can possiblyhurt your dogs skin because of the heat before the coat is dry. Only use a special doggy blower, but i don't use one. Besides, this scares some dogs and does not give the luxury or rubbing. (which can mean all the difference to a dog)

5. A Treat For Your Clean Dog
You can use store bought treats, or you can make a peanut butter sandwhich with extra peanut butter (peanut butter is like catnip for dogs, Minnie licked every little bit off the gate where it had touched when i gave it to her).

Optional:
Leash
If your dog tries to get away from you, or isn't very calm, i recommend a leash. I had a leash but barely even used it.

Step 2: Beginning of the Bath

First, make sure you have all your supplies. Then make sure the water is a good temp and begin to rinse your dog. Gently rub and scratch the dog while doing this. Make sure the dog's whole body is wet. Then add some shampoo.

Step 3: Middle of Bath and Final Rinse

This is the part where you might have to get a little dirty (or wet!) to give your dog a better time. You might end up laughing in the end. The key here is to scrub throughly in a massaging motion. Move in circular motions across the shoulders and back. Do not do the head yet! Rub firmly, but not too hard. Slightly use your nails to get deeper. Do this until your dog is covered in lather or for a few minutes. Watch how your dog reacts. Imagine a nice massage in perfect temp water. =] Thats basically what your doing. After the body is covered, get a small amount of shampoo and start working around the head. Don't get to close to the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. Also watch for to much soap piling up above these areas as it may slide down. After the luxurious massage, rinse your dog, massaging all over to get all the soap out.

Step 4: Drying

Now get your dog out, and try to not let them lay down. Minnie did all of a sudden and rolled over and became LEAF-PUPPY!!! DEFENDER OF DIRT. So back in the water she went. LOL
If you are next to mud, try to get away, then dry your dog with towels. Try to do a thorough job and get deep.  Walla! A cute, clean, berry smelling, shiny dog that wants....a treat of course.

Step 5: Puppy's Treat

For a treat you can use any type of store bought treat, or you can make your own. A peanut butter sandwhich will drive dogs crazy. (peanut butter = dognip) Also try a homemade peanut butter cookie. A good idea i have is to take peanut butter cookie dough, make kibble size chunks and bake them to make a dog treat useful for training and pampering. Ive always wondered what Minnie, who loves to eat, like her mom, would do with a slim jim or one of those huge sausages 3-4 inches across and weigh over a pound lol.(Minnie's mom ate so much puppy chow the first time she ate it tht my dad to take her to the vet lol) 

Step 6: Your Done!

Please Suscribe For More Dog Training Tips and Hints, as well as links to dog training guides and my blog, all coming soon!!! 

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