3. Rinse Well
After lathering your dog up, it’s important to get all of the product off of them. Some coat types are easy to rinse, and some hold on to shampoo. If you shampooed your dog’s head, carefully lift their head and gently pour water from front to back. Pouring water directly in their face is one way to have a very unhappy pup. The shampoo can run into their eyes, causing irritation. For this reason, you may just want to avoid shampooing the head and face altogether. Instead, wipe away dirt and debris with a damp washcloth.
For the rest of the body, start at their back and work down to their legs and feet. Rinse them until you are positive that there is no more shampoo on their fur or skin. If shampoo residue remains, it can cause dry skin and itchiness. Give them a few extra minutes under the shower head to ensure the shampoo is gone. If you do not have a detachable shower head, a cup of water works well, too.
4. Protect their ears
Labradoodles have floppy ears that make them especially prone to ear infections. The risk for ear infections increases when their ears get wet. To prevent water from going in their ears, gently place a cotton ball or cotton pad at the entrance of the ear canal. Be especially careful when cleaning their head and face, so water isn’t poured directly into their ears.
Bath time may be a good time to pay extra attention to the cleanliness of their ears. Good ear cleaners can be purchased at your vet’s office. Squirt the cleaning liquid into your dog’s ear and use the outside of your dog’s ear to rub the liquid into the canal. After a short massage, take the cotton ball and carefully wipe away any discharge from the outer part of the ear. Do not scrub into the ear canal, because this can cause serious damage. If in doubt, you can ask your vet for a lesson during your next check up.
5. Brush out the tangles after they are dry
Resist brushing them immediately after they are rinsed off. Wet hair breaks easily and is hard to brush through. Make sure they are thoroughly dried before working at tangles. Perhaps the best method is to towel-dry your dog, and give them some time to run around and air dry. Some dogs are okay with hair dryers, and others may get freaked out by the noise and sensation. If you want to try drying your dog with a hair dryer, be gentle. Slowly introduce them to it, and stop immediately if they are shivering or appear agitated. Keep the dryer on a low setting, so you can avoid burning your dog’s skin. Once your dog is completely dry, brush out all of the tangles and carefully trim matted fur. Finish up with treats and a lot of praise.
Bathing your Labradoodle doesn’t have to be a fight. If your dog feels comfortable, then they might actually enjoy their time in the water. Always give your dog plenty of positive reinforcement during any sort of grooming to enforce good, calm behavior. With any luck, your Labradoodle with stay clean, and baths with be a rare occurrence!
Image sourced from www.labradoodledufjord.com.