Tips on How To Give Your English Mastiff A Bath

If you have a Chihuahua, giving them a bath in the kitchen sink is always an option. If you own a Mastiff, the kitchen sink is probably out of the question! But not to get discouraged, giving a Mastiff a bath is really not that hard as long as you are prepared.

So how do you give a Mastiff a bath and how often do they need a bath?

Unless your Mastiff gets really dirty, a bathing schedule can really be about every couple of months. A Mastiffs skin serves as protection from a loss of water and electrolytes, and also preserves their body heat.

Preparation is the key to give a Mastiff a bath. First you will want to put on some old clothes that you don't mind getting wet, (there will be a lot of big dog wet shaking going on.) Second you need to gather your supplies before you even start. Here is a list you may want to have on hand before giving your Mastiff a bath:

• A good Brush to help with shampoo (usually rubber tipped)
• A good shampoo
• Lots & lots of towels
• Cotton balls & cotton swabs

Now as far as where to give a Mastiff a bath, you have a few choices. Most Mastiffs enjoy the water so getting them to stand still is fairly easy. You could just bathe them in the yard with a hose but chances are, you will both end up dirty again before you are done.

The next option would be a large rubber tub which can usually be found at a farm store.

Then if you want to really be prepared, making it easier on you and your Mastiff, you could invest in an elevated tub or Booster Bath. If you have ever used one, you will not want to go back to using a tub.

It not only makes is easier for your Mastiff to get into the tub, it also saves your back by allowing you to stand straight up when you give a Mastiff a bath.

Now once you have everything in place, let the fun begin! Here are some simple steps to follow on how to give a Mastiff a bath:

1. Before you start with the water, you may want to place cotton balls in their ears to help prevent so much water from getting in.
2. Next I like to squirt a little shampoo in little dots or lines from front to back before I add water
   
3. Thoroughly wet Roxy with warm water, working up a good lather go from her head and work your way down to her tail ( I like to use a rubber tipped brush which helps with loose hair too)
4. Remember to clean their paws and under legs, too.
5. Avoid getting water in their eyes and ears as much as possible
6. Massaging your Mastiff with the shampoo and brush allow her to enjoy the bath and gives the shampoo ample time on her coat (ideally approx. 10-15 minutes)
7. Holding your Mastiffs head will help deter them from shaking until you are ready
8. Now you need to rinse well (again with warm water) and be sure to get all those crevices & skin folds. Leftover soap can irritate their skin
9. Now bring on the towels and soak up as much water as possible before the "Big Shake! "
10. Give your Mastiff a chance to shake a few times and then carry on with the towel drying
11. If weather is warm she can dry inside or out but if the weather is cold be sure to use a forced-air dryer(on low) to get her completely dry.
12. Now you can brush if you like to finish removing any remaining loose hair

Congratulations -- you made it! Now it's time to give your Mastiff a treat and probably a good nap. Although you will probably need a bath yourself, especially if you Mastiff likes to give wet, slobbery kisses like mine do. Then you can put your feet up and relax too, you successfully completed giving a Mastiff a bath!

I hope this step-by-step guide on How to Give A Mastiff a Bath was informative, if so, you may want to read All About English Mastiffs Puppies for more great tips.