{"id":24025,"date":"2023-12-19T08:50:44","date_gmt":"2023-12-19T14:50:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/?p=24025"},"modified":"2025-11-20T11:28:54","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T17:28:54","slug":"5-tips-for-bathing-your-dog-in-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/grooming\/seasonal\/5-tips-for-bathing-your-dog-in-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips for Bathing Your Dog in Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Grooming your dog<\/a> may not be as high on your to-do list in winter as it was in summer, but it\u2019s still likely to make it onto that list at some point. Warm days in winter can create the perfect recipe for a messy, muddy dog (snow melt + dormant grass = mud). Add a playful dog, and you\u2019ve got all the ingredients for a muddy (but extremely happy) dog who definitely needs a bath.<\/p>\n

Winter also doesn\u2019t stop the production of that certain aroma dogs emit when it\u2019s been a while between baths. And for some dogs with skin conditions, regular baths are important to keep them healthy and comfortable. So here are five tips for giving your dog a bath during winter.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s OK to Give Them a Bath<\/h2>\n

If your dog is not getting as dirty in winter because they\u2019re not playing outside as much, they may not need as many baths as the rest of the year. However, it probably won\u2019t cause any problems if you do keep to the same bath schedule during winter. It was once thought that if you gave your dog a bath too often, it could remove important oils from your dog\u2019s coat \u2014 oils that are important for stopping your dog\u2019s skin drying out in winter. However, as long as you\u2019re using a shampoo made specifically for dogs, bathing your dog often shouldn\u2019t strip their coat and skin of protective oils. In fact, dogs with sensitive skin may continue to need frequent baths throughout winter \u2014 sometimes twice a week. Your veterinarian can advise you on how often your dog should have a bath in winter.<\/p>\n

Get Everything Ready Before Bath Time Begins<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s a good idea to bathe your dog in the morning, immediately after a potty break, so that they will be inside long enough to dry off before needing to go outside in the cold again. You also don\u2019t want a wet and possibly cold dog (yes, <\/span>dogs do get cold<\/a>) <\/span>standing around while you grab the towels, so make sure you have everything you need before you turn the water on. That includes preparing a warm area for them to relax in while they\u2019re drying off.<\/p>\n

To help your dog feel more secure and comfortable, place a towel or mat on the floor of the tub or shower so that they have something to grip. If you have installed a secure, dog-proof hook near the bath, you could use a leash tied around the hook to free up your hands and keep your dog from moving around too much. Definitely do not tie their leash to any sort of plumbing fixture (shower head, faucet) because a good tug from a strong dog could lead to some costly plumbing repairs. If you dog isn\u2019t a fan of baths, a better way to keep them in place and distracted is to smear some peanut butter on the side of the bathtub or shower.<\/p>\n

The Correct Bath Supplies Are Important<\/h2>\n

No one likes a cold bath at any time of the year, but especially in winter. At the other extreme, a bath that\u2019s too hot can dry out your dog\u2019s skin. So test the water and make sure it\u2019s lukewarm before your dog steps (or is reluctantly lifted) into the tub.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to use shampoo that is specifically made for dogs. The pH of human skin is different from canine skin<\/a>, so the shampoos have different formulations. Human shampoo can dry out your dog\u2019s skin \u2014 which is already a problem during winter. Even baby shampoo should be avoided. People shampoo isn\u2019t toxic, so it can be used if you have no other option, but it\u2019s not recommended as your dog\u2019s regular shampoo.<\/p>\n

If your dog has sensitive skin, they may need to use a sensitive-skin shampoo<\/a> (no dye, fragrance or soap) that soothes and hydrates their skin. If your veterinarian has prescribed a medicated shampoo, we have some tips for giving your dog a medicated bath<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Keep Your Dog Inside Until They\u2019re Dry<\/h2>\n

When you\u2019re done rinsing, squeeze off the excess water by running your hands along your dog\u2019s body. Then take cover and let them shake. Use a towel or two to pat them dry, but don\u2019t rub back and forth with the towel \u2014 that can create tangles in their fur.<\/p>\n

To speed up the drying process, you could use a hair dryer on low heat and speed, if your dog can tolerate the noise. You may need to desensitize them to the hair dryer outside of bath time. Using a hair dryer is not recommended if your dog has sensitive skin.<\/p>\n

Keep your dog in a warm part of the house while they\u2019re drying. If it\u2019s a cold winter day, you shouldn\u2019t take them outside while they\u2019re wet. Make sure they\u2019re completely dry before taking them on a walk or sending them out for a potty break.<\/p>\n

Try a Water-Free Wash Between Baths<\/h2>\n

If your dog just has a spot of mud on them, you could use pet wipes instead of giving them a full bath. And if your dog is smelling, well\u2026 like a dog, you could try using a dry or waterless shampoo between baths to freshen them up. There are also leave-in conditioners available for dogs to condition their fur and skin between baths.<\/p>\n

An Important Note About Washing Paws<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve been walking your dog outside where there is snow and potentially deicer, you should rinse their paws off, to make sure you get them really clean and then dry. Salt and deicer can irritate and damage your dog\u2019s paw pads, and some deicers are toxic to dogs. So make sure you rinse off their paws (and the potential salt and deicer) as soon as you get home, in case your dog licks their paws. Snow or ice buildup between their toes can also be irritating, so rinsing their feet with warm water helps with that, too \u2014 and stops a trail of melting ice or snow appearing throughout your house.<\/p>\n

Bathing your dog doesn\u2019t need to stop during winter. Just make sure you keep your dog warm and that they\u2019re completely dry before they venture back out into the cold.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Grooming your dog may not be as high on your to-do list in winter as it was in summer, but it\u2019s still likely to make it onto that list at some point. Warm days in winter can create the perfect recipe for a messy, muddy dog (snow melt + dormant grass = mud). Add a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":24028,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"How to Bathe Your Dog in Winter","_seopress_titles_desc":"Read on to learn a few tips for bathing your dog this winter! Learn how to choose the right supplies and discover drying methods that can keep your dog comfy!","_seopress_robots_index":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[47,264],"tags":[134,10,776,54,192,126],"class_list":["post-24025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-grooming","category-seasonal","tag-diamond-pet-foods","tag-dog","tag-dog-bath","tag-dogs","tag-grooming","tag-winter"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24025","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24025"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24025\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24028"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24025"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24025"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24025"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}