7 mess-free Tips to wash your dog in an apartment
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Tips to wash a dog in an apartment
If your apartment does not include a grooming facility, you will have to make do with a bathtub. Alternatively, little or toy breeds may be bathed in a sink or baby tub instead.
When you bathe your dog, not only does it eliminate the disagreeable odour of a dog, but it also removes stray hair that might otherwise go on your sofa and flooring.
In addition to shampooing your dog, you should also brush him to remove any knots or mats that may have formed and to remove any extra hair.
Reduce shedding by using dog shampoos made with this goal in mind. Human shampoo typically includes harsh substances that may dry up a dog’s skin and increase shedding, so always use a dog shampoo and conditioner.
If you’re a dog owner who lives in an apartment, chances are you’ll have a difficult time bathing your pets.
As a dog owner in the winter, you’ll have to resort to showering your pet in the bathtub with him, unless you have access to an outside hose.
Pet owners who live in apartments have several difficulties in maintaining a clean living space.
You’ll have one less thing to worry about with this dog bathing solution since a clean dog implies a cleaner home!
Also read: Why do dogs smell after being in sun? 8 Reasons and Tips to control it
Here are a few Quick tips to bathe your dog in an Apartment without a lot of mess…
How can I wash my dog without making a mess?
1. Prepare your dog-washing supplies in advance.
Whether you are washing in a bathtub at your apartment or at the Dog wash centre Make sure you’re prepared for bath duty by bringing the following items:
Portable Dog Bath tub-Bathe your cat or dog indoors or outdoors with 360-degree access and no backache or mess. Portable bathing and grooming tub fits in your bathtub or shower and saves water. Use the attached drain pipe to drain into your tub, shower, or bucket.
Doggy Shampoo+ Conditioner Combo: Human shampoo does not have the proper pH balance for Fido, and vice versa. Depending on your needs, your veterinarian may even recommend shampoos and soaps that may help keep fleas and ticks away or alleviate skin issues. And, if your dog has a lot of hair, don’t forget to give him some conditioner.
A Dog Hair/fur brush is especially useful for dogs with long, thick, or curly coats.
A Hair Trapper: You may either purchase a low-cost bathroom drain hair stopper or make one out of steel wool. Either option will spare you from having to deal with a blocked drain and the mess that comes with it.
Treats: Show Fido how much you appreciate him for being such a wonderful guy with treats! In between bites of his favourite foods, he isn’t stressing out about taking a bath.
Dog Towels: If you have a big dog, you should use at least three or four towels.
For our Cavapoo we use still use quite a big Medium size Towel, though he is quite a small dog.
A useful technique is to lay a towel over your dog in between washing and rinsing him. Fido is unable to shake off the suds because of the towel.
This will help to prevent you, your floors, and your walls from becoming wet.
Portable & Collapsable Bathtubs:
If your Apartment does not have a bathtub or for some reason, you do not want to use the bathtub to clean your Pooch You can go for Portable bathtubs.
2. Prepare Your Fur baby for a bath…
You do your pre-bath preparations before you wash your hair and take a bath. Even Fido has to complete his homework.
He had his nails cut in advance. If he has long hair, you should brush it out to detangle it and get rid of any mats or knots.
This will also make it simpler for the cleanser to get to the skin.
Dogs, like us, hate to receive water in their ears. Additionally, it can result in infections.
When rinsing, use caution, and if necessary, try inserting cotton balls into their ears before giving them a bath. Just keep in mind that you don’t want to bury them too deeply or forget to pull them out after you’re done.
3. Coax and put your dog into the tub
This is the vital and the next step. With our Rover the cavapoo we used to struggle to bring him to bathe and he would run away.. So, getting him into the bathtub is really Important. We woo him with some treats and his fave Peanut butter sticks and we literally trick him into the bathtub.
Coax or put your dog into the tub after filling it with a couple of inches of lukewarm water. Fully moisten the fur – avoiding the face and ears – with your hands so that you can lather the shampoo on it properly.
Pay close attention to the regions of the dog’s body that become the most filthy, such as the bottom, paws, and belly region. To remove shampoo from the dog’s coat, properly rinse him with water.
Prior to removing the dog from the apartment bathroom to dry, squeeze out any extra water from the coat with your fingers.
Prepare a towel to pat dry the horse, beginning at the back and working your way down to the tail. Keep More than just 1 Towel, as one towel gets wet and you will have a spare dry Towel.
What indoor temperature is too hot for dogs-Tips to keep them cool & Happy
4. Make the bath Comfortable for your Pooch
Fill your sink or tub with water first, and then lay one of your towels at the bottom for the dog to tread on. His paws will remain firmly planted on the ground and will not slide around.
Ensure that the water isn’t too hot or too chilly at all times. If you’re in the restroom, remember to shut the door.
It will help to keep the atmosphere calm for you and your pooch. It also keeps him in the room so you don’t have to follow him around while you’re drying the clothes.
Once the dog is out of the tub, use the towel to hoist him/her out and dry the remainder of him/her.
After the dog has been allowed to dry out, brush the coat once more.
To expedite the drying process, if the dog will accept it, you may use a blow dryer on low heat to speed up the process. Another excellent suggestion is to dry your Pooch outside on your patio or balcony.
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5. Let Him dry, do not Rub harshly with the Towel.
As you are in an apartment, do not leave him out of the bathroom wet. First, dry him up with a towel and then with a hair drier. Drying using a towel is OK, as long as you don’t rub the towel too hard. You don’t want to irritate or irritate already-damaged skin.
If the sound of a blow dryer bothers your dog, you may also use a conventional one. Keep the temperature at a safe level so that you don’t injure yourself.
A pet dryer is an additional alternative. It doesn’t become too hot and isn’t overly noisy. It’s also more cost-effective than bringing your dog to a professional groomer.
You don’t have to deal with a huge mess now that Pooch is clean and dry. You and your closest buddy have enjoyed a special moment together. Give him one more of those dog treats. Enjoy a Cuppa while you’re doing it, too!
6. Here is what you need to know when bathing your Dog in an Apartment
Even yet, it doesn’t have to be difficult to give your dog a decent wash in your apartment, and understanding how to do so may lead to fewer professional grooming sessions in the future.
But, Apartments are mostly smaller than houses and mostly there is No backyard.
We live in a suburban House and we have a Bigger yard( Both back & Front Yard).
Its easy for me to Just take my Pooch in the yard, get a portable bathtub and bathe him up. But, this is not possible when you live in an apartment.
Below are things you need to know when you need to bath your dog in your apartment bathtub( Mostly)
- How Often Should You Wash Your Dog? If you need to bathe your pooch often You can bathe alternatively at your apartment and at the dog wash centre.
- Does your doggo has Sensitive Skin, Allergies, and Medical Needs- make sure that you have all the supplies
- Is it a better option to take him to the dog wash or to the Groomer? Just analyse the breed and the situation and act as per that. For Instance, if you have a Poodle mixed dog or any dog breed that needs regular grooming, you’ll need to see the Groomer Often.
- If you are still planning to get a dog, get a breed that is more Apartment Friendly and adaptable.
- Bathtub Supplies need to be handy to keep the bathing experience comfy( Both for you and your Pooch). As you will be mostly washing him Indoors in the bathroom make sure that all needed things are available otherwise you’ll end up in a messy bathroom that you do not want in the tiny apartment.
7. Dog bath Alternatives
You are in a hurry and looks like your Pooch is dirty. So what do you do..?
ta da…
We are here to assist you in the event that you are unsure of how to give your dog a bath without the two of you collapse into a stressful mess.
The good news is that contrary to popular belief, your dog probably needs less frequent bathing than you do. As long as they don’t roll around in the muck or dirt, most puppies only need their nails trimmed once or twice a month at the most.
Even yet, the one day a month when it’s time to give your dog a bath can be a nightmare if you don’t plan it out properly.
With the help of these dog-washing products and our professional advice, you and your pet will be able to enjoy a less stressful and more enjoyable experience during the bathing process.
Use the following as a full bath alternative
The following are the finest breeds of dogs for apartments and tiny houses.
When it comes to getting a dog, you may believe that you need to have a large home with plenty of room for your pet to run about.
However, if you live in a tiny home or flat, there are many breeds that will adapt to your living situation and win your heart.
The following are five of the greatest dogs for apartments and tiny houses.
- Yorkshire Terrier: the Cute lap dog
- Havanese : Lil Gorgeous
- Cavapoo : OMG! they are the cutest
- Poodle: Love them Can Poodles Live in Apartments? Full Guide.
- Cavalier King Charles: the cute ones
For more about Dogs see our other articles below
References
- AVMA– Vet
- Some foods are Toxic to dogs
- The Everything Poodle Book (2004) by J.Adams
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (2014) by H. Bowler
The Complete Standard Poodle (1998) by E. Geeson
Cavapoos or Cavoodles: The Ultimate Cavapoo Dog Manual (2014) by G. Hoppendale

About the Author:
I’m Div Acharya. I’ve been a dog lover my entire life. When my daughter wanted a new Puppy I was looking for another furbaby to share my life with.
As a result of my research, I’ve come to love oodles and wanted to share some of what I’ve learned with you. Whether you’re looking to get a Puppy, or already own one, these Blogs t to be the ultimate guide to help you find the answers you need.
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