Rubba Dub Dub there’s a Lowchen in the Tub!
Bathtime and grooming is a constant point of discussion for new owners, and we want to encourage homes to be curious about the process and have the willingness to learn how to be able to perform basic grooming needs for their dogs .
The good news, all Lucali puppies have been exposed to grooming from a young age. Do they all love it, no, but they do tolerate it. The key to continuing that exposure is short grooming sessions, with lots of rewards.
Brushing is your first task. Maintaining length on a löwchen may require daily brushing at some point. This is an easy experience to provide nightly, while they are hanging out on your lap watching your favorite tv show or movie with you.
What you will need:
Puppy sized pin brush or small slicker
Treats (really good ones)
Start small and place your puppy on your lap, brushing their back and then giving them a treat. Continue with one brush stroke and then a treat. This builds a positive association with being brushed and it usually deters them from trying to bite the brush.
Once you are done with their body move to their legs and do the same, brush then treat.
Finally, you will have to turn over the wiggle beast on its back and brush their tummy. This is an area that commonly gets tangled and so getting them used to this now sets you up well for when they are older. I have a Löwchen that falls asleep and snores when I brush her stomach. Keep this session short to start and do make sure they maintain some stillness before you let them up.
Once you are done brushing, now it’s time for a bath!
What you will need:
A sink and preferably a hose with a spout or a cup also works
Shampoo options
Tearless Baby shampoo
Puppy shampoo
A mixing bottle, maybe an empty reusable shampoo bottle, or a condiment bottle with a top that closes
Towels (More than you would suspect)
A hair dryer
I usually mix the shampoo with water to dilute it prior to starting the bathing process. Sometimes for bathtime I will smear peanut butter or puppy food to the side of the sink or tub to keep the puppy occupied while I get them wet. I always target their body, legs, and tail first, and then I get their heads wet last. I try to use a small cup of water for that.
Then I apply to shampoo, lathering straight down to minimize tangles and rinse. I then squeegee off the extra water on their body with my hands and then wrap them in a towel to warm them up a bit before I place them in my lap with a new dry towel and hold them with one hand while I dry them with the hair dryer.
That’s the process in a nutshell.
