How To Bathe Your Mastiff
For many people bathing their dog is an ordeal, something understandable in giant breeds for a pure matter of weight and space, but not so much in sizes let’s say … “normal.”
The first thing we must decide is the periodicity with which we will bathe it, which (except in cases of veterinary prescription, with the appropriate products) should never be less than one month. Dogs (especially some breeds) have a tendency to stay clean “on their own.” How often to bathe him then…? A monthly bath, and even every two months, is more than enough to avoid skin problems and keep our friend clean. Below we will detail the steps for a correct maintenance bath in a companion dog. Obviously, in the specimens destined for beauty competitions other procedures and products are used… But that’s another story.
Preparation.
We will need a specific shampoo for dogs (the one for humans, although neutral, has been created for a different ph of skin), as always the most prestigious brands are the most expensive, but the shampoo lasts a long time and our friend well deserves it. Conditioner and / or detangling, which may seem like an excessive luxury, but in breeds with a tendency to knots in the hair is practically essential. Brush, because we will brush it before bathing. Towels, in large surfaces we will find them at very low prices and will last us a long time. Anti-slip mat, is a rubber mat that is placed on the floor of the bathtub, we will find it in the bazaars (it does not need to be of good quality, we will buy a “cheap”, after all we will use it little, it only serves to prevent the dog from slipping). Dryer (we will talk about it in the drying section).
Bath.
Always with warm water, which is pleasant in terms of temperature (better a little cold than a little hot). First of all brush well. If necessary, we use the product for detanglement. Next, we start by soaking the dog well, spraying him with the shower diffuser against the grain, always avoiding the head (for now we are only going to bathe him from the neck backwards). When it is well soaked we apply the shampoo with a gentle massage, without haste, letting it penetrate well between the fur (this will take us a few minutes if done well). Then we clarify and repeat the same operation (it is advisable to soap twice and rinse twice). The final rinse must be very thorough, with great care that there is no foam or shampoo left on the coat.
Once the dog is bathed and rinsed, it is the turn of the head. The ears will be cleaned with specific products never with soap and / or water, the eyes with physiological serum or “artificial tears”. The rest of the face with the same shampoo, but always very careful not to come into contact with eyes and ears.
Drying.
We have finished with the bathroom and we only have to dry it. First drain the fur well (by hand) to avoid excess water. Then rub vigorously with the towel. At this point we have two options: go outside (it is the fastest and most practical in summer or in hot weather) and dry on its own, or use the dryer. In the second case it is very important not to use maximum power, never apply it less than fifty centimeters, or more than a couple of seconds in the same place. Interestingly, dogs withstand that heat very well (maybe not so much noise) and it would not be the first case of serious burns produced by a dryer. We will use it in all directions, sometimes against the grain, sometimes in favor, while we brush it to prevent the hair (especially if it is long) from taking shape. A few minutes (depending on the length and density of the hair) will be enough for us to finish the bath… Until next month, of course.
Important note: The puppy should not be bathed until it has completed the vaccination cycle and its veterinarian authorizes it. Meanwhile, we can use dry shampoos, or simply talc.