For instance, let’s suppose that your lovely little pet Siberian husky had a great time playing outside and is now all covered with mud and if it’s your first time trying to shower up your pup, you are probably wondering how to go about it??? Right..!!! Or, maybe you managed to take your doggie to the shower but, what if the first jet of water spray hitting your pup’s body and it ran away out into your living room wetting your sofa???
Don’t worry; here we provide some tips to help you have a smooth first bath day for your puppy that will leave it clean, relaxed and also look forward to its subsequent shower time.
So, come, let’s have an overall idea regarding bathing of Husky.
Before we begin, often people have this question:
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When can my Husky have its first bath?
Well, veterinarians would advise holding off putting your puppy into the bathtub until all the vaccines are administered. This would mean until the puppy is about 16 weeks old.
Many pet-care and grooming products also come with a warning for use in pets younger than 12 weeks. So, it would be a good idea to plan that first all wet experience when your pup is about 4 to 5 months old.
If you are too worried about the smell, consult your vet and use a waterless shampoo or a natural-based deodorizer till you are able to put the pup in the tub.
What do we need to prepare for a husky to bath?
Ok, now let’s grab all the things you need and get ready for the first shower.
You will need:
- Patience and lots of affection
- Lots of Treats for the pet
- A pin-brush
- A wide-rake brush
- A slicker-brush
- Your preferred shampoo
- Your preferred conditioner
- Large bottles for pouring shampoo and conditioner
- Towels
- Dryer
- Leash (in the worst case)
It goes without saying that lack of patience and lots of warm hugs, your Husky is likely high to resist this new experience, and it might turn out too scary for you as well.
So, approach this slowly and gently, encourage your pet to trust you with this process, and it can be smooth and hassle-free for both you and your pet.
And, what could be the better way than to get your puppy excited with lots of treats. Additionally, you can have a nice pouch or bag which can conveniently hold the treats while providing easy access so that you can grab a treat from time to time and keep your puppy happy while you go about cleaning it up.
What are the steps to be followed for bathing a husky?
Now over to the bath steps:
Preparation: Some doggie lovers prefer gently blowing the coat before putting the pup in the shower. You may skip it if you think it is ok to start shampooing directly.
Step 1: Use the pin-brush mentioned above and brush your pup from head to toe literally. This would straighten up its hairs and also dislodge any debris or other matter, making it easier for you to proceed with the bathing. Be careful to proceed very gently so as, not to hurt the pup even slightly. Otherwise, it would scare the poor thing and make things difficult.
Step 2: Wet your pup gently with a dog-sprayer that gently sprinkles the water all over the puppy. A jet that is too harsh can hurt or scare your pup, so proceed carefully. Make sure to hold the dog gently to prevent it from running away. In the worst case, you might want to use the leash, but it is highly recommended to be gentle and loving with your pup than forcing it.
Here, you might wonder –
What is the right water temperature for bathing my Husky?
Experts recommend using room temperature, or water at 37 degree Centigrade, which is also the human body temperature, for bathing your Husky. Warm water, though pleasant for us humans, is not well suited for the sensitive skin of pets.
If hot water is used too long, it may cause hyperthermia. Room temperature also helps in keeping the Husky calm which is otherwise a very energetic dog.
Step 3: Use the large bottles to mix just a little bit of your favourite shampoo in water, mix it well and pour it gently all over the pet’s body and lather in straight strokes along the body. Here, the wide-rake brush that you bought along will help you clean your pet without tangling up its hairs.
Most pet lovers recommend diluting the shampoo, and not using it directly on the coat or skin of the pet. There are a lot of excellent pet care products, both natural and chemical-based.
It is better to avoid chemicals unless the poor pet is suffering from bad allergies and frequent itching. Tips for choosing pet care products are provided at the end of this section.
Step 4: Rinse the shampoo once or twice
Step 5: Take your bottle containing the conditioner (again dilution is recommended) and pour it generously over your pup. Use the slicker brush to pick out broken hairs from the pet’s coat by brushing a couple of times along the body over its entire length.
Step 6: Rinse your puppy thoroughly. Any traces of skincare products left unwashed may later cause irritation or bacterial growth.
Step 7: Clean your puppy’s face, ears, and legs, all the way down to its paws with a wet cloth and a small amount of shampoo on it. Proceed with the face, gently, carefully avoiding the pup’s sensitive eyes, over to the outside of the ears and just a little bit from the top on the inside, finally going down all the way to the legs and paws.
Step 8: Now that the bath is over, get some towels and dry out your puppy as much as possible. You can use the treats at this stage to encourage the pup to shake the water off its body. Two or three shakes is necessary.
Step 9: If you have access to a doggie drying blower, set it to the lowest setting and gently begin blowing the pup dry. Some Huskies may not like the blowing, so proceed carefully and slowly and offering some treats if necessary.
That is all, and your puppy is clean.
You can take it out for a walk if the weather outside is good. The warm sun helps in naturally drying the dog some more.
Suppose your puppy co-operated all along, good job! Now you can easily take it for a bath next time.
Ok, now if you are thinking –
How frequently should I bathe my Husky?
Unless it is too dirty or smelling too bad, typically once in 6 to 8 weeks should be good. If you and your pet are constantly outdoors, once a month may be necessary.
Things to consider before purchasing puppy’s soap, shampoo and conditioner?
Skin and coat care products for your pet need to be chosen carefully as often we consider their skin to be similar to us.
Dogs have thinner and more sensitive skins as compared to humans; thus, products which are meant for normal skin use in humans may be harsh for pets due to the difference in pH levels.
If your pet is extra sensitive, there are mild shampoos for them too, fortunately.
Types of shampoos and soaps for dogs:
- Medicated – Medicated shampoos may contain chemicals like salicylic acid, chlorhexidine or could also be made up of natural extracts of tea tree oil, aloe vera etc. Unless advised by the vet, natural formulations are always best for the puppies. The vet may recommend Chemical-based shampoos for severe anti-bacterial/fungal infections or to combat tick and flea.
- Hypoallergenic: Shampoos containing proteins help manage allergies in dogs. Choose one that is specifically labelled for this purpose, if your dog is hypoallergenic.
- Dander control: Dander is dangerous for human respiratory system in addition to being an irritant for your pup. There are specific formulations for dander control. Read the product label carefully if you are worried about harsh chemicals in the product.
- Deodorizing: Shampoos containing oatmeal and wheat protein are often used for keeping the pet odour away. You may pick one that contains these deodorizers if you want your pup to smell good.
- Waterless – There are some waterless shampoo for saving some water. You may consider getting one if you are not too keen on wetting up your pup.
- Whitening: Some doggie lovers want a shine in the coats and prefer whitening shampoo. Be careful to avoid the ones which contain dyes, parabens. Sometimes honey is all you need to keep the coat shining. And there are some products that contain honey.
- Combination types: Sometimes, a combination product is what you might want to achieve one or more of the above results. There are quite a number of options here as well.
So, with that, we hope you have all the tips to now manage your pet’s grooming needs. The good thing with Huskies is that they naturally shed and you would not need to clip them.
Gentle and regular brushing will keep them all untangled, clean and that bath once in a while should leave it fresh and smelling like your favourite scent.