General Chat

Do you know how to bath a dog?? My daughter has brought home a Westie about 8 months old, filthy dirty and has blue paint on the back of its legs... Some one came into her pet shop today and said they had found it at a fete, and just left it there in the shop. Its very friendly.... Daughter has informed Battersea & the police but they have said that she should keep her for a few hours as my daughter has put her mobile as a contact number in her shop window....My daughter recognises the dog and knows the owner has been in her shop before with the dog.... Is it hard to bath a dog, is there any tips???? I cant keep it here all night as Im really nervous of any dog but my daughter is a dog lover and has fed and watered it and took it for a walk.......

Depends on the dog some dogs are real easy I have 1 which will climb in. best to shower with something on the bath floor to it slipping.

Could be tricky if the dog is not used to it. Be prepared for a Big Shake after. Have loads of old towels ready. Use gentle shampoo if possible. Might go a bit loopy and run and roll around after (thats the dog not you!) Selena

Wear something waterproof, keep hold of it's head to stop it shaking, have plenty of towels ready, weak shampoo won't hurt it just once, keep it out of eyes, when finished wrap a towel round it before getting out of the bath carry downstairs & put outside to let it shake. Brian

Where my Jack Russell is concerned...bathing is a great difficulty...in fact he hasn't had a bath in over a year! However he moults so much I swear none of his hair stays attached to his body for very long...and everyone comments on how white and clean he looks! Westies do tend to have an affliction - commonly known as the Westie Itch....skin complaints seem to run in the breed (much to the benefit of vet's paid to treat them), so do use a mild shampoo. If he is new to you, then he probably won't protest too much about being bathed....it's when they get to know you they start to take liberties! As others have said, prepare for a big shake and a lot of rolling on the carpets afterwards. Even after thorough towel drying! I Would think twice about letting him shake outside....he is likely to go roll all around the garden and coming back dirtier than before you bathed him! Some doggies don't mind being dried with a hairdryer...others are afraid of the noise, so a warm fire to dry beside or a radiator with his bed beside it might be better. As for the blue paint....can only suggest that you trim it off, if he will let you! Wouldn't put any solvents on it! Oh and my dog HATES the shower attachment, and is a little less manic standing in a few inches of bath water and being rinsed off with several jugs of warm water. Good luck Dee x

Oh god I dont know what to do....We have no dog shampoo or baby shampoo.....Would just plain water be ok???

Daughter has has a good look at the dog and has tried to brush it, she has said by the way it has reacted she dont think it has ever been brushed....The blue paint does actually look like gloss now she has had a closer look it is very hard but I think it has been on there for a while........Only Battersea would know if it has a microchip My daughters boss has 2 Westies that are brushed and both dogs dont react like this one does....The fur is quite matted, as is the area around its face. Daughter is now saying that owner, if she does come forward and claim the dog that she would rather Battersea take the dog and check it over rather than just return it as she dont think the owner has not looked after it properly...

If it is gloss then at least it's coat will shine ( sorry ) lol Brian