Dog Bathing
When it comes to dog bathing using the bathtub, it is important
to remember to put down none-slip mats or wet towels. When the
surface is less slippery it creates less stress during the bath
and your Greyhound will be more inclined to get in the tub the
next time. Many Greyhounds become very relaxed when being bathed
and may lean on you. They may even fall over, so please make
sure you have a firm grip on your Greyhound during dog bathing.
If the water is too hot they can feint so it is important to
use lukewarm water.
If you’d rather do your dog bathing outside get a couple buckets
of warm water from the house, use one for washing and a couple
for rinsing. Greyhounds do not have enough body fat to regulate
their body temperature very well in hot or cold water so do
not use the garden hose. Be sure to dry your dog off quickly
so he doesn't get chilled. If you start them when they are young
some Greyhounds even like to be dried with a blow dryer. Rub
most of the water off with a towel first and be careful not
to hold the dryer too close to their skin or hold it too long
in one place - lightly from a distance works best. Your Greyhound
can learn to love this especially in cold weather.
How often you do your dog bathing really depends on how dirty
your greyhound gets and if they have any allergies. Greyhounds
have very little oil in their skin making their ‘doggie odor’
very minimal. Usually a bath every 6 months is more than enough
to keep your Greyhound clean. Remember to gently place a dry
cotton ball in each ear to keep water out.
Use a gentle, conditioning, dog bathing shampoo on your Greyhound,
and remember to rinse thoroughly. Rinse, rinse and when you
think you have rinsed sufficiently then rinse him again - because
the soapy residue can be very irritating to your Greyhound's
skin. Remember always dry your Greyhound completely so they
do not get chilled.
A cotton ball moistened with eye drops can remove any stains
around the eyes and you can apply a natural, gentle, skin cream
to the elbow calluses. The final appearance of your Greyhound
can often be improved using a final coat conditioner (the type
applied AFTER the bath). Used sparingly these conditioners are
lightly rubbed onto the coat, and then distributed with a light,
gentle brushing.
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