Everyone who owns a Labrador knows that they are highly energetic dogs, and they shed lots of fur. Many Labrador's can’t resist splashing in puddles and rolling in mud, but regardless of how much they enjoy a good mud puddle, all Labrador's need a good bath every now and then. When your Labrador doesn't want to cooperate during bath time, it can turn into a lengthy and stressful experience. When it is bath time for your Labrador, follow these four tips for bath time success.
Burn Off That Excess Energy
Before you can even think about bathing your Labrador, you're going to want to let them burn off any excess energy. You can take them for a long walk, a run in the dog park or play fetch in your backyard, whatever your Lab loves to do. Bathing your Lab when they are full of energy is a recipe for disaster. You are going to have a hard time keeping them still and in the tub and this could result in an injury to yourself or your Lab if you are not careful. A tired Lab is also less likely to put up a fight so bath time will be over before you know it.
Give Them A Brush
Before heading into the bath, we suggest giving your Lab a good brush. A thorough brushing before bath time is going to remove a lot of loose and dead fur that was only going to end up in your plumbing. You will also want to remove any mats that have formed that can trap moisture leading to skin irritation and infections. Labradors are known for having a double coat, which means they have a rough, top layer of fur that covers a soft undercoat that is perfect for regulating body temperature. You are going to want to use an undercoat rake, like this one from Gripsoft, that will help to clear out the dead and loose fur in that soft second layer of fur.
Get Them Used to the Tub
It is best to start bathing your dog from a young age, but it is never to late to properly introduce them to bath time. You are going to want to slowly introduce them to the bathtub, first when it is empty of water, and then once they seem comfortable with that, you can slowly start introducing them to more and more water in the tub. You don't need a lot of water in your bath when bathing your Labrador, it should only come up to their belly and you should never leave your Lab unattended in water for any amount of time.
The water should be a lukewarm temperature and then it's time to start shampooing. When selecting a shampoo for your Labrador, your first consideration should be - do they have any skin conditions such as itchy skin, dry skin or any allergies. If they don't, you're in luck! There are plenty of great non-medicated shampoos and washes available for you to choose from. View our range right here. If your dog does have a skin condition, you are going to want to select the medicated shampoo that is right for them. You can view our range of medicated shampoos here. If you still aren't sure which is the right one for your Lab, you can ask our highly-trained customer service team by emailing [email protected] or phoning 1300 838 776 during business hours.
After shampooing your Labrador, make sure to give them a good rinse to get all of the shampoo out of their fur. At this stage, bath time might be over for your Lab. For some dogs though, there might be one more step to go. Before deciding if your dog needs a conditioner, once again, consider their skin type and any skin conditions they have. Then you can shop our range of conditioners for dogs here.
Drying Time
After rinsing your dog thoroughly, it's time to get dry. This is probably your Lab's favourite part of getting a bath (and may secretly be yours too!). They really seem to enjoy being rubbed down with a big, soft towel. As an extra treat in the winter time, try popping the towel in the dryer for a minute or two before drying them off so it is nice and warm and fluffy. If your Lab will tolerate it, you may also want to use a hair dryer to ensure they are fully dry before letting them onto your couch or bed. Be very careful when using a hair dryer on your Lab. You only ever want to use it on the lowest setting and never hold it right up to their skin as it can cause burns. Most Lab's won't tolerate a noisy hair dryer anyway, so just make sure you get them as dry as possible with your towel. Trapped moisture underneath their fur is a recipe for skin infections and a smelly dog.
All Done!
Now your Lab is all clean and dry, you can reward them for their good behaviour during bath time with treats and lots of praise. This is also the perfect time to apply any Advocate, topical flea and tick products such as Advocate, Bravecto Spot-On or Revolution to ensure they last as long as possible.