Most pet owners never think twice about spending big dollars to buy their dog premium dog food, the best health care or even blissful days at a doggie day care facility. Most pet owners also never think twice when it's time to give Bowser a bath. But a proper dog bath is the key to maintaining the pet's vigorous good health. The skin is the body's largest part and a perfect dog bath is key to stimulating blood circulation and keeping its skin healthy. Improper bathing can lead to a matted condition in the coat that is uncomfortable to your dog. The first and the foremost step in the perfect dog bath is a good brushing.

More about the dogs

For shorthaired dogs one should brush in a circular motion with a currycomb that is made of rubber with teeth cut into the edges. This will pull the dead coat out. Slicker brushes takes out the dead undercoat. For longhaired dogs use a pin brush if the coat is not tangled, a slicker brush if the coat is tangled. Start at the legs, again brushing from the skin out and brushing only a few hairs at a time. The secret to thorough brushing is to brush only a few hairs at a time. The right way to bathe a dog is determined by the texture and length of the coat. Shorthaired dogs are washed with a vigorous circular motion, which will pull out the dirt. On dogs with a medium-length coast, use a back-and-forth motion. As the hair gets longer, go only in the direction the hair grows.

Ways to bathe the dog

Firstly, rinse the dog completely. Then apply the shampoo along the back, working up as much lather as possible. You can try the same with the belly, legs and tail. Thirdly, rinse the coat with one hand to run water on the dog and the other hand in a kneading fashion to work the soap out. Just make sure that all the soap is out, as dried soap will dull a coat and cause skin problems. Before towel drying the dog, squeeze as much water out of the coat as possible by pulling its hair straight out and squeezing at the same time. Then use a washcloth to clean the dog's face and avoid getting water in his ears. The moisture inside the ears of the dog provides the conditions for fungus infections. Lastly, towel dry your dog and always use a hand-held hair dryer on thick-coated dogs but never use a human hair dryer as they run too hot and can burn the dog and damage the coat.