Buzz
Lion dogs often have a natural tendency to groom themselves, but it’s still important to bathe them regularly, especially when they begin to smell or get dirty. Since they may not clean themselves thoroughly, it’s essential to learn the correct way to bathe them. With proper preparation and professional bathing techniques, both you and your dog will enjoy a relaxing and pleasant experience!
Steps
Prepare for the Bath
Buy high-quality, pet-safe shampoo and conditioner. Lion dogs should be bathed every three weeks. However, puppies need more frequent baths, as they may dirty their fur when using the bathroom. It's best to use high-quality shampoo and conditioner to keep your puppy's fur and skin soft, smooth, and healthy.
- The wide range of shampoos and conditioners in pet stores can make it hard to pick the right one. To narrow down your choices, opt for shampoo designed specifically for puppies.
- Hypoallergenic shampoos are also suitable for puppies. These don’t contain harsh chemicals, fragrances, or additives that could irritate their skin. High-quality hypoallergenic shampoos include ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, or lanolin.
- Conditioners offer many benefits, such as preventing hair breakage, restoring split ends (to avoid dirt buildup), and keeping the skin from drying out after a bath. Conditioners are especially good for long-haired breeds like the Lion dog.
- Moisturizing sprays will leave your puppy's fur shiny after the bath. They also help protect the coat from the sun and other environmental elements like wind and dry air.
- Deep conditioning oils are perfect for Lion dogs. Regular conditioners may not provide the best results for their coats.
- If your puppy has skin conditions, consult a veterinarian to find the most suitable shampoo and conditioner for their needs.
- Shampoos and conditioners for humans have a pH that can irritate your puppy’s skin, so avoid using your personal hair products on them.
Prepare bath supplies. In addition to shampoo and conditioner, you will need the following items: a comb, brush, cotton balls, towels, and a pet hairdryer. The comb should be made of stainless steel and double-sided, used after the puppy’s coat is dry. A stiff-bristle brush is perfect for brushing your puppy before the bath.
Get your puppy used to bath time. If this is the first bath for your puppy, they need time to get accustomed to the bathing process. This includes getting used to the sights, sounds, and sensations during bath time. Puppies usually take a few days to adjust, but it could take longer (a week or more) until they feel comfortable with the routine.
Bathing the Lion Dog
Prepare the bath tub. Since Lion Dogs are small, you can bathe them in a sink (if available) or a bathtub. Regardless of where you bathe them, always place a towel or non-slip mat at the bottom to prevent slipping during the bath.
Lift the puppy into the bath. Instead of calling them over, it’s better to approach the puppy, lift them up, and place them gently in the sink or bathtub. If they are too small, they may not respond quickly when called, which is why it’s important to take the initiative.
Brush your puppy’s coat. Use a stiff-bristle brush to detangle and smooth out any mats (especially in tangled areas) before bathing your puppy. It's difficult to brush out tangles when the fur is wet, so it’s important to brush your puppy’s coat thoroughly before starting the bath.
Moisten your puppy’s coat. Always check the water temperature before bathing your puppy. The water should be lukewarm. If bathing in a tub, you can use a handheld showerhead to wet the puppy’s coat. If they are fearful, you can gently pour water over them with a cup.
Apply shampoo to your puppy’s coat. Follow the instructions on the bottle to determine the appropriate amount of shampoo. Apply the shampoo from the head down to the tail, using your hands to lather it into their fur and skin. As mentioned earlier, you can use a dog-specific bath brush instead of your hands to bathe your puppy.
Rinse the shampoo thoroughly. Leftover shampoo residue can irritate the puppy’s skin, so it’s important to rinse the coat thoroughly to remove all soap. Since a dog’s coat is thicker than human hair, you may need to rinse multiple times to ensure all shampoo is washed out.
Apply conditioner to your puppy’s coat. Use conditioner in the same way as shampoo. This step is crucial to moisturize your puppy’s coat, replenish the natural oils on their skin, prevent hair breakage, and repair split ends. Follow the instructions on the bottle to determine the amount of conditioner to use and the recommended time for leaving it on before rinsing.
Rửa mặt cho cún con. Nhúng khăn vào nước rồi lau nhẹ lên mặt chó con. Bạn cần lau hai hốc mắt, và xung quanh mắt để loại bỏ ghèn và chất nhờn. Chú ý lau sạch hai bên miệng.
- Chó Sư tử có hốc mắt cạn, vì thế chúng dễ chảy nước mắt và bị ghèn nâu đỏ.
- Bạn có thể cho một lượng nhỏ oxy già lên bông gòn hoặc khăn nhỏ rồi lau sạch ghèn trên mắt cún con.
Lau khô cún con. Đầu tiên, dùng khăn tắm để thấm khô lông và da. Đây là bước không thể thiếu vì nếu chà xát có thể làm lông chẻ ngọn. Sau khi thấm khô, bạn dùng máy sấy để hong khô hoàn toàn. Một tay cầm máy sấy còn tay kia lật từng thớ lông. Bước này giúp bộ lông khô hoàn toàn từ trong ra ngoài.
- Để tránh da bị tổn thương do nhiệt, bạn nên đặt máy sấy ở chế độ nhiệt thấp nhất và không sấy một chỗ quá lâu.
- Giữ đầu máy sấy cách bộ lông của thú cưng ít nhất từ 5 đến 8 cm.
- Lưu ý rằng chó con sẽ lắc mình ngay sau khi bạn rửa sạch dầu xả.
- Đừng quên lấy bông gòn ra khỏi tai của chú cún sau khi hong khô.
Hoàn tất quy trình vệ sinh
Chải lông cho cún con. Sau khi bộ lông khô hoàn toàn, dùng lược thép không gỉ hai mặt để chải lông và gỡ rối. Sau khi bộ lông đã gọn gàng, bạn có thể xịt dưỡng ẩm để lông sáng bóng hơn.
Lau sạch tai chó con. Vệ sinh tai cho chú cún quan trọng không kém việc tắm rửa cơ thể. Làm theo hướng dẫn trên chai dung dịch vệ sinh, đổ một lượng dung dịch vệ sinh vào tai của cún con mỗi lần một ít rồi nhẹ nhàng mát-xa tai. Dùng bông gòn lau sạch ráy tai.
- Nếu có thể, dùng nhíp gắp lông còn sót lại trong ống tai. Trong trường hợp không biết cách thực hiện, bạn có thể mang cún con đến bác sĩ thú y hoặc người chuyên chăm sóc thú cưng tại địa phương để làm thay.
Trimming Your Puppy’s Nails. Be sure to trim the nails around the meat pad area. This part contains blood vessels and is about half the length of the claw. You can clearly see the meat pad if the nail is light-colored or transparent.
- The meat pad contains many nerve endings. If you cut into it, the nail will bleed, and your puppy will feel pain.
- If the claw is light-colored or transparent, you will see the meat pad from the side of the nail. In this case, trim the nail just until you see the meat pad exposed, and then stop.
- If the nail is dark, trim a small amount and observe the nail's edge. Stop cutting once you see the oval-shaped gray or pink meat pad protruding.
- If you accidentally cut the meat pad and the nail starts to bleed, apply some styptic powder to stop the bleeding. The blood will cease immediately once the powder is applied.
- If you're not confident about trimming your puppy’s nails, consider bringing them to a vet or a local pet grooming professional to handle the process.
Advice
- Since puppies tend to get dirty quickly, it's a good idea to trim the fur around their anus to keep the area clean.
- Your puppy may not be ready for a bath. If this is the case, you can take your puppy to a local professional pet groomer to have them bathed.
Warnings
- Frequent bathing can strip away the natural oils essential for your dog’s skin health.
