Generally, a dog should be bathed only when necessary. Frequent combing and brushing should keep him quite clean and the bath should be reserved for special occasions. When Rover rolls in the mud, or even worse, and the smell is enough to stop anyone at ten paces, then the time has come. Why not bathe more frequently what harm can it do? Plenty! The typical dog will suffer from dry skin and hair if bathed too often. The natural oils are removed and the coat will lose its shine and luster. Dogs washed too frequently will display a thin soft coat. Unnecessary bathing also needlessly exposes the dog to possible chilling, and eye or ear irritations.

The Dog Bath: Before the bath your dog should be completely brushed and combed since bathing will increase any mats and tangles which exist. The actual mechanics of the bath are quite simple. Have all your necessary equipment and bathing materials at hand before you start since you want to proceed quickly to avoid chilling the dog. Using a laundry tub is ideal because pup won't jump out. Protect the ears and eyes and then wet down the dog thoroughly. The water temperature should be lukewarm, like you would use to bathe a baby. Apply a rich lanolin or protein dog shampoo and rub vigorously through the fur to work up a lather. If there are problems such as dandruff or external parasites, then you will need to use a special shampoo. Several complete and thorough rinses are of utmost importance. A hose with a spray attachment simplifies the procedure. Rinsing is of utmost importance as shampoo remaining on the coat may irritate the skin and will dull the fur. Be certain that the feet are washed and rinsed carefully.

Now comes the drying. With a long-haired dog you should pat off the excess moisture, others can just be towel dried. Vigorous rubbing with several turkish towels should get your soppy friend damp dry. If he will then submit to being dried by an electric hair dryer, your job is much easier. Many dogs are deathly afraid of a dryer though and it isn't worth creating a problem. Continue drying until your dog feels practically dry. Pay special attention to the ears to be certain that they are completely dry. Wipe them clean with cotton dipped in a little oil.

Dog Nails
A dog's nails should be kept cut quite short to keep his feet feeling comfortable and neat in appearance. Walking on long nails will spread the toes, thus adversely affecting the dog's gait, as well as presenting the danger of their being caught and torn accidentally which can cause great pain.

Cutting the nails regularly is recommended. Special pet nail cutting scissors are available for this purpose. Proceed with this task most cautiously as the quick above nail bed is highly sensitive and will bleed and cause extreme pain if cut. Once a dog has been hurt he will usually resent having his nails cut. Some dogs are so terrified of have their nails touched, often because of some previous injury, that only a vet or professional can handle them.

In white nailed dogs, the quick, which is pink, is visible and cutting too short can be avoided. However, black nails are difficult to judge and the novice should not attempt it. Using a file may be preferable at first until you learn to gauge correctly. Frequent cutting helps the quick to recede. The section to cut is the hook which curves downward.
City dogs that walk on sidewalks a great deal keep their nails filed down and need cutting infrequently. By filing the nails with a regular canine file, they can be kept shortened without frequent cutting.

Dog Teeth
Tartar deposits may form on your dog's teeth if his diet contains inadequate amounts of hard biscuits or rawhide bones. These black tartar deposits should be removed since they cause recession and irritation of the gums. Have your veterinarian show you how this is done and then you can handle this chore should deposits continue to form. If you wish, you can brush his teeth with baking soda, salt, or a mild pumice. The best care though is providing chewable material which will clean the teeth.