Muddy paws after a walk in the woods, or a dog that has rolled in something nasty: time for the shower. With a hand shower, a long hose and a pause button, that goes a lot more smoothly. Besjaar lists the steps, with the Besjaar Shower Head with Hose and Filter as your helper.
The short answer
Use lukewarm water and a dog shampoo, and keep water and shampoo out of the ears and eyes. Then rinse very thoroughly and dry your dog. A healthy dog usually only needs a bath once every one to three months.
What you need
- A non-slip mat in the shower tray or bath.
- A hair catcher on the drain, so hairs do not block it.
- Dog shampoo. Human shampoo is not suitable: our skin is more acidic than a dog's.
- Two or three towels.
- A treat as a reward.
Step by step
- Test the temperature. Let the water run lukewarm and feel it on the inside of your wrist. Not too warm and not too cold.
- Wet the coat. Choose a soft setting and start at the paws and back. Keep the shower head close to the body, so the water does not splash down on your dog from high up. Leave your dog's head dry for now.
- Pause the water and lather up. Press the pause button and massage the shampoo into the coat. That way no warm water runs away while you work. Stay away from the ears and eyes.
- Rinse very thoroughly. Press the pause button again and rinse until the water runs clear. Shampoo left in the coat can irritate the skin.
- Clean the head. Use a wet washcloth for that instead of the spray.
- Dry off. Pat your dog dry with towels. A hairdryer on a low setting is fine too, if your dog is happy with it. Keep it moving and not too close to the skin.
Which setting do you use?
Use a soft rain setting for your dog. The two PowerWash jets are more powerful. They are handy for rinsing hair and sand out of the shower tray or bath afterwards. Never aim a powerful spray at your dog's head.
Why this Besjaar set helps
- A 1.5-metre hose. You can easily reach your dog, even low down in the bath.
- A pause button. The water stops while you lather up, and you do not need to readjust the temperature afterwards.
- 10 settings. From soft for your dog to PowerWash for the shower tray.
Is your hose still fine and do you only want a new head? Then the Besjaar Shower Head with Filter is enough. To be honest: the filter makes little difference for your dog. What counts here is the hand shower, the settings and the pause button. How the pause button works is explained in the pause button on your shower head.
Afterwards
Remove the hairs from the catcher, rinse the shower tray with a PowerWash jet and squeegee the shower screen. How to prevent limescale spots is explained in a shower screen without limescale spots.
How often can you wash a dog?
A healthy dog does not need frequent baths. According to Test Aankoop, the Belgian consumer organisation, once every one to three months is enough for most dogs, depending on the coat, the breed and how active your dog is. Often brushing is enough. Does your dog have a skin condition or allergy? Then follow your vet's advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wash my dog with regular shampoo?
Better not. A dog's skin is less acidic than a human's. So use a shampoo made for dogs.
How warm should the water be for a dog?
Lukewarm: not too warm and not too cold. Test the water on the inside of your wrist.
How often can you wash a dog?
For most healthy dogs, once every one to three months is enough. With skin problems, your vet decides how often.
View the Besjaar Shower Head with Hose and Filter or discover all Besjaar shower heads.
Besjaar makes shower heads and filters for Dutch bathrooms, from Assen. Better water, every day.