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Choosing The Right Shampoo

from: Kyle Besser

Giving a dog a bath can be as simple as rinsing him in a child's swimming pool in the backyard during the summer or as complex as a full-blown spa ritual with a variety of fancy coat products designed to whiten, darken, brighten, detangle, shine, and leave the dog with a designer aroma to rival a fancy perfume. There are many ways to make bathing easier and which makes subsequent grooming sessions easier, too.

Gather the materials and supplies you will use for the bath before you begin so you can easily reach what you need when you need it. You don't want to have to leave a wet dog in the tub to go in search of an item you need.

Completely brush or comb the dog to remove dead hair and tangles before bathing. This is especially important for dog's with long hair and thick coats. Be sure to remove a flea collar before wetting the dog.

To bathe the dog, you will need some basic supplies, such as shampoo, conditioner, sponge, scrub brush, bath mat, a hand-held sprayer or large plastic cup for rinsing, a plastic apron for you to avoid getting wet, a nylon collar and leash if the dog has a tendency to avoid being bathed and a heavy towel.

Choosing A Dog Shampoo

With so many shampoos on the market, it is not easy to decide which one to use. For most breeds, a basic all-purpose shampoo is fine. If you want the shampoo to do more than clean, you might consider a specialty shampoo. These are some of the most commonly used specialty shampoos that dog owners choose.

* A shampoo designed to accentuate a dog's coat color by choosing a shampoo made for white, black or red coats.

* A shampoo designed to deliver extra conditioning for long or curly coats can make grooming easier after the bath.

* A shampoo designed for wire-coated dogs helps to preserve the crisp texture of the dog's coat.

* A hypoallergenic shampoo designed for dogs who have sensitive skin or eyes can minimize sensitivity reactions to bathing.

* A medicated shampoo designed to treat a dog's skin condition. If your dog has a rash, allergies, itching or other sensitive skin conditions, look for a medicated shampoo designed to treat your dog's problem. Your vet should be able to recommend a good medicated shampoo for your dog.

* A shampoo designed to control fleas. During flea season a shampoo containing a gentle anti-flea ingredient, such as pyrethrin or limonene, will help repel fleas from your dog.

* A "tear-less" shampoo if your dog has sensitive eyes.