Dogs can become quite dirty very quickly. In the winter, even a quick walk around a neighborhood street can bring on a variety of muck and grime. Because of this, it’s crucial to understand the basics of cleaning your dog after a slightly messy walk. So, as a puppy lover and owner, I’m here to share my experience and the methods I follow in cleaning my puppies.
Maintaining The Cleanliness Of Your Dog After An Outdoor Walk
Dogs are undoubtedly adept at getting muddy, especially when out for walks in bad weather. Fortunately, being prepared should allow you to keep your dog comfortable on their upcoming walk and avoid that awful wet dog odor in your car or house. When going on long walks or if you’re exploring naturally messy places, like the beach, I’ll advise keeping some microfiber towels and sources of water in your car.
Keep in mind that most dogs are pretty adept at cleaning themselves, so you don’t necessarily need to give your puppy a full bath every day. However, you should assist your dog by removing as much dirt as you can at all times. Remember to keep an eye on any over-grooming on your dog as well, as this could indicate that something is causing his skin to become itchy.
Do You Need To Wash Your Dog After Every Walk?
It’s not always a good idea to wash your dog after every walk. I’m shocked after hearing that because I do wash them too often. Then, I discovered why washing them after every walk is not good.
Like humans, dogs have oils on their skin that help them stay healthy and comfortable. Overwashing your dog increases the chance of removing those oils too. It may leave your dog’s skin dry, flaky, and uncomfortable. This is why it’s generally a good idea to discourage your dog from jumping into every puddle of mud they come across. However, there is no choice but to bathe your puppy if he is completely covered in mud.
Things You Should Concern About Before Washing Your Puppy
Figuring out how to get the dog inside and out of the house without leaving stains and dirt everywhere is my biggest challenge when cleaning my puppies after a walk.
Preparation is the key to keeping your dog clean and odor-free after every walk. Make sure you have the appropriate tools on hand, to begin with. If you’re taking a car, this entails bringing a towel or dog-drying bag with you or a bag where you can store must-haves. If you think you’ll need a complete rinse before you get home, a freshwater source can also be helpful as I mentioned above.
However, Suppose your puppy shows any sickness, such as cold after a winter or rainy day walk. In that case, you should especially care about that. It is best to avoid washing him for the day. If it shows symptoms furthermore, it is good to carry him to the nearest pet hospital for crucial treatments.
A Minimal Cleanup Is Sufficient Sometimes
You might have just walked through a mall with your dog, or you might have taken them for a walk on a dry concrete floor. To get the dust and debris off your dog’s paw, you might not actually need to “wash” it. Here, I use wet wipes for a quick cleanup. But you must ensure that you are using dog-friendly wet wipes.
There are a variety of dog wipes on the market right now, so you should probably stock up and keep some in your bag, pet stroller, and car in case of emergency. If your dog has sensitive paws, buy some all-natural, alcohol-free dog-safe wet wipes or ask your vet for a recommendation.
Then it would be best to wash your puppy’s paws after such an outdoor walk. You can simply use a hand shower in your washroom. Or, grab a paw washer, fill it with water, and twist it to clean up the dirt.I use both options to wash my puppies paws according to the occasion.
How Do You Clean Up Your Puppy When He Is Thorough Dirt?
Wipes or a paw washer are insufficient for deeply caked-on dirt and muddy paws. You must take your dog to a sink with a sprayer or water tray. When cleaning the knees and feet of larger dogs, place them in a tub with a sprayer. They have a lot of debris and dirt between their toes from messy play. Scrub the paw pads as they turn their paws toward you.
Remember to separate their toes and scrub in between them for thorough cleaning. This is your chance to feel and look at cuts, blisters, or wounds. You should carefully remove small pebbles, shards of glass, shells, or other materials. To keep your dog relaxed and at ease, speak to them in a friendly manner. Wash your hands with a dry towel after rinsing with warm water. Allow their paws to dry completely to prevent slipping on the floor.
Generally, I use the same procedure to wash my every puppy. But, sometimes, I pay special attention to washing and cleaning special care-need breeds such as french bulldogs.
Take A Towel And Wrap Them Up
When you drive home or bring your dog inside to dry off, wrapping him up as soon as you rinse him will help keep him warm and cozy. To avoid a “wet dog smell,” a good towel is a necessity.
In order to enjoy cuddles with your dog as soon as possible, a microfibre option will be perfect for soaking up odors and dirt. Wrapping your dog in a dog-drying bag and letting them chill until dry is one of the easiest ways to save time and effort.
Check Your Dog Over After The Cleanup
After giving your dog a rinse and ensuring they’re mostly dry, you can check to see if they need more cleaning. Here, you can once more find any hidden dirt sources by using a brush or comb.
To prevent infections or illnesses, it is also important to ensure that your dog’s paws and ears are thoroughly cleaned. If your dog is in reasonably good condition, you can remove the towel or drying bag and let it dry itself. Make sure the house is sufficiently warm.
Summery
It is unnecessary to wash your puppy after every outdoor walk. And it may harm their health too. So, it is good to wash your puppy when it gets more dirty than usual.
