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How to Bathe a Toy Poodle at Home

Toy poodle sitting in a bathroom sink

Poodles may be water dogs but that does not mean that they do not get a bath every now and then. Nor does it mean that you do not dry them off when they are wet. Making sure they are dry is essential to keeping your poodle nice and healthy.

To learn how to bathe your toy poodle correctly just continue to read our article. It provides a lot of important information that you need to know about. Take a few minutes to see how this important information can solve some of your bathing issues.

How Often Do You Bathe a Toy Poodle?

This is not going to be a frequent task. But up to one year of age, you should bathe your poodle once a month. They should not need more bathing time than that as these dogs are mostly indoor pets that do not get that dirty.

However, not all poodles will be willing to get into the tub and get clean. That may be because there are certain aspects of bathing that bother them. If your pet is fighting you or running from the tub, the source may be one of the following issues:

  1. Shampoo keeps getting into their eyes
  2. Too much water is being splashed in their face
  3. They are not getting completely dry after their bath
  4. They were not introduced to the bathe correctly and are afraid of it
  5. They are in unfamiliar territory and do not like it.

Taking the right steps to change these situations will go a long way to having a great bath time with your dog. Bathing is important but most dogs, including toy poodles, may not like it being done. They do not like the fact that their smell disappears, so they roll around in the dirt, etc., to make themselves smell normal.

How Often to Bathe a Toy Poodle Puppy

close up of a calendar with a pencil getting ready to write on it

This bath time schedule is the same as it is with an adult poodle or miniature or standard poodle. You only have to bathe them once a month unless they got involved with a garbage can or two.

The steps to take are as follows:

Step 1: Put your pet into the tub or basin you want to use.

Step 2: Make sure to completely soak them with water but do not make the water too cold or too hot. Lukewarm should be sufficient.

Step 3: Apply the shampoo and scrub them like you would scrub your baby. These small poodles are not as tough and strong as the adults so be careful when you do this step.

Step 4: Rinse them off. Make sure to get all the soap off and protect their eyes as you do this step. You do not want to get soap in their eyes.

Step 5: Dry them completely. This is very important as little toy poodles do not have the natural protection adult poodles have. You need them completely dry so that they do not get sick. Some poodles can die if not properly dried.

Some Tips for Bathing Your Toy Poodle

Apricot colored poodle wearing a yellow towel and surrounded by rubber duckies against a white background.

1. It is okay to wet the poodle to their skin. These dogs were originally bred to be water dogs so soaking them is okay.

2. Try diluting your shampoo in a bucket with some water. Then use a sponge to wash their fur. This may be easier than pouring the shampoo from the bottle.

3. Avoid washing the inside of their ears. This could lead to some ear problems later on.

4. Apply flea powder after you have completely dried the puppy off. Use a sponge for this step to help cut down on chemical applications.

5. Avoid putting flea powder on their genitals. This contact could irritate those organs and cause your puppy some discomfort if not some pain.

6. Avoid using any disinfectants when bathing your puppy. These products contain harsh chemicals that can harm your pet if your toy poodle starts to lick it off. They are for external use only.

Can I Bathe a Female Poodle When in Heat?

brown toy poodle being bathed in a stainless steel sink

Yes, you can and there are two benefits to doing this for them. One you are helping them to stay clean and two, you are protecting your furniture, carpets, and floors from any blood discharges.

To do this task, be gentle, use a mild shampoo but do not force her into the water. Try to encourage her by giving her small treats to make her think it is a good thing to get a bath. Also, use lukewarm water.

Some Final Words

Apricot toy poodle with a teddy bear cut laying on grey tile

Bathing your poodle can be a good time or it can be a very stressful time for both pet and owner. Take the time to get your pet familiar with their washing tub so that they do not fight you when it is bath time.

Also, take care to keep the shampoo out of their eyes so that they do not get hurt and can enjoy the bathing experience.

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