Most of us think about bathing dogs in one of two ways. Either we believe that dogs nearly never need bathing, or we fall in with the people who feel a dog should be bathed once a month or even more often. The truth is somewhere between the two.

Bathing is really good for dogs, but it may cause problems if you do it too much.

This is because dogs have natural skin and fur oils, the same way that people do. If you bathe your dogs too frequently, their skin will become dry and itchy. This creates a risk of scratching and breaking skin. Remember that the natural oils really are beneficial, and that they protect your dog from many things.

With care, you can make bathing entertaining for you and your pet. Just watch for a few things.

1. It’s important to provide protection for your dog’s ears. Soap and water, if they get into the ear canal, can cause significant infections. This is often temporary, but infections can cause real damage, up to and including deafness. If you think your dog may have an ear infection, look for frequent head shaking and discharge from the ears to be sure.

To make sure that this doesn’t occur, all you need to do is use cotton balls to stop your dog’s ears. Never force these into the ear canal – just place them securely at the entrance of the ear, keeping water out. Once the bath is over, dry the ears to keep moisture out – a finger wrapped in a cloth works well. If you decide to use a cotton swab, make sure you don’t put it too deeply into the ear canal, since it could damage the ear drum.

2. Use a shampoo intended for dogs. These are made to protect your pet’s fur and skin. Soaps meant for people can be irritating and harsh. There’s also a chance your dog will be allergic to the perfumes in human products.

3. The frequency with which you bathe your dog will depend on the breed you have. Dogs with long hair need to be washed more often than breeds that have short hair. That means that if you have a hairy breed, such as a spaniel, you may need to bathe as often as once every two months. Other breeds could go as long as eight months, but outdoor dogs will probably need more frequent bathing.

Starting your dog off right with routine bathing is important. Be compassionate and patient, since scaring your dog makes it a lot harder to bathe him. Make bathtime fun if you can, since lots of dogs enjoy swimming or being sprinkled with water.

Set the bath up outside when you can, and encourage your pet to run through it. Distract your pet from the water with a toy or two, and once your pet calms down, you can start the bath. Some people use a leash to keep their dog from running off.

Collect everything you’ll need for the bath well in advance, including soap, towels, and a bowl for pouring water. Hoses usually are full of water that’s too cold – use water from the bath instead.

If you teach your dog that bathing is fun and enjoyable, he’ll be excited about the prospect.

Training your dog is very worthwhile for both you and your dog. Before you start training, there are some dog training basics that you need to know in order to make training easier and more pleasant for you as well as your dog.

The first thing you must remember is that you are the boss. Dogs are pack animals by nature and will adhere to the ‘leader’ of that pack. To train your dog properly, you first need to establish that you are the leader early in your relationship.

Some breeds of dog are much more forceful in their need to be the leader, however, you must not let that happen. If you allow him to dictate what happens in your relationship, you are in line for a negative relationship and nothing but problems. To be in control does not mean that you have to be unkind to your dog, in an abusive way. Absolutely the contrary, yes your dog may be scared of you, but he does not respect your authority.

Consistency is key when it comes to dog training basics. Set aside some time each day to work on training your dog. It is important to note that training can be started at any age. If you have an older pet, it is not too late.

Start training the basics. For many dogs, the sit command is a great place to start. Work on this command each day until your dog has it down perfectly before you move on to the next command.

When teaching your dog commands use the same word for each command, for instance if you start off with ‘sit’, don’t change it to ‘sit down’ after a few lessons. Positive reinforcement is necessary when your dog does as you command. He is looking to please you so don’t disappoint him, when he does something right always be sure to praise. Do not get angry and shout because you will confuse and scare him.

Dogs are not like humans, they forget easily sometimes, so even though you might take a day or so off from training, any interaction with him will always need you to maintain that control. You cannot mentally have a day off and expect your dog to understand what is happening.

Going through dog training basics with your dog will take consistency, persistence, and a lot of patience. Your efforts will be rewarded when you have a well behaved dog who has a stronger bond with you.