Do Pugs Like Baths What You Need to Know About Pug Care

Do Pugs like baths? This is the question that you’ve probably wondered if you’ve noticed that your Pug is starting to smell. In this article, I’ve written a Pug owner guide to bathing.

Do Pugs Like Baths?

The answer will vary, but most Pugs will actually enjoy the process. Which is great, because Pugs have a tendency to stink. Their adorable wrinkles are a trap for bacteria and food, which will cause them to stink.

Before you get your Pug ready to bathe, you need to check this article out for the best shampoos for Pugs.

Can You Use Human Shampoo on Dogs?

If you run out of dog shampoo, it’s okay to use human shampoo on your Pug. But over time your favorite human shampoo can cause havoc to your dog.

Human shampoo is made specifically for humans. The human acid mantle has a pH of 5.2 to 6.2 and the pH balance for canines ranges from 5.5 to 7.5, which makes human shampoo acidic for canines.

Bathing them once with your shampoo won’t cause harm, but you need to buy Pug shampoo that won’t cause damage to their skin or fur.

You should also avoid using shampoos that DO NOT contain any added fragrances like eucalyptus, citrus, lavender, and chamomile.

Stick with oatmeal baths for dogs. It’s great for protecting your Pug from itchy skin. I’ve put together a list of some of the best Pug shampoos you’ll love.

Can Pugs Clean Themselves?

All dogs lick themselves for various reasons. Overall, dogs are clean animals, but unlike cats, they lick themselves for various reasons. It’s not unusual for your Pug to use their tongue for self-grooming from time to time.

When your dog licks himself, it represents a different type of cleaning, specifically, cleaning a wound. A dogs saliva contains certain enzymes and bacteria that can help speed up the healing process of an open wound.

You can’t expect your Pug to clean themselves the way that a good bath will.

How Often Should You Bathe A Pug?

Bathing your Pug will depend on several different factors, such as how often they spend outdoors rolling around on the grass. If your Pug spends time outdoors in the sunshine and fresh daily air, without rolling on poop or grass, frequent bathing is unnecessary.

Regardless of how active your Pug is, you shouldn’t bathe your Pug more often than every two weeks. Excessive bathing can lead to dry itchy skin problems.

More often than not, your Pug will just require a good brushing to help remove some of that excess hair.

Where to Give Your Pug A Bath

A Pug puppy first bath should be done in a bathtub or kitchen sink. There’s a chance that they may have some fear of water and it’ll be easier to control their small body in a small contained area.

If you’re bathing an adult Pug, you can bath them in the bathtub, kitchen sink or outside if the weather is warm enough that the hose water is NOT too cold.

We used to give Mindy baths outside using the water hose all the time during the Summer months. It’s much easier if you have a kiddie pool to have them stand inside.

Step by Step How To Bathe A Pug

Okay, now let’s take a look at how to get your Pug ready for a bath. These steps will make the process so much easier for you. Before you start the bathing process, it’s important to prep ahead of time.

You don’t want to leave your Pug unattended in the bathtub or kitchen sink while you run around gathering things you forget.

Here’s what you need to bathe your pug:

A brush or mitt for pre-bath grooming
Dog shampoo
Conditioner for canines
Scrub brush
Non-slip mat – If you’re bathing them in the sink or tub
Towel to dry them – Your Pug will get the zoomies when you’re drying them after the bath.
Treat

Once you have the supplies, it’s time to begin! Read this article to find out how to properly groom your Pug.

#1 Choose a Location

It’s best to use the same location whenever you give your Pug a bath. This will help them understand that it’s their area. It will create consistency and help calm your Pug during the bathing process. When I gave Mindy a bath in the tub during the winter, I found it so much easier to get into the tub with her.

Bending over the bathtub can be difficult on the back and knees. Your Pug will feel more comfortable if you’re sitting in the tub with them while bathing them.

If you’re bathing your Pug outdoors, make sure you choose a spot that has a flat sturdy surface to prevent them from losing their footing. Avoid washing them on the grass or a muddy area, which will just be counterproductive.

#2 Brush Before You Bathe

Pugs have a tendency to shed a lot. Brushing them before a bath will help remove some of that excess hair that they will come loose during the bath.

Not only that, but it will help make the cleanup process a lot easier after the bath. When we gave Mindy her first bath, we didn’t brush her before and the bathroom was a mess with her black hair.

#3 Protect Your Pug’s Ears

Gently place cotton balls in each ear, which will help protect them from any water that may enter their ear canal. If water enters their ear, it can lead to ear infections, as the damp water loves warm environments to grow.

While bathing Fido, be careful not to get water too close to their ears.

#4 Watch The Water Temperature

Maybe you’re like me who loves taking hot baths? If so, you need to ensure that you use lukewarm water on your furbaby. You want to use water that is not too hot or too cold.

Pugs tend to have sensitive skin and if you use water that is too hot, it can cause irritate their skin or possibly even burn them.

If it’s hot outside, you can give them a cool bath to help them cool down.

#5 Use A Handheld Shower Sprayer

One of the easiest ways to rinse your Pug is to use a handheld shower sprayer. Make sure you set the water flow that isn’t too harsh. You’ll do best with the shower setting, which won’t pierce into your dog’s body.

#6 Use A Non-Slip Mat to Prevent Slipping

Mindy’s very first bath in the bathtub was not a pleasant experience. When we put her in the tub, she had trouble standing because her claws kept slipping.

A non-slip mat can prevent them from slipping and make the bathing experience more pleasurable.

#7 Make It A Positive Experience

Pugs thrive on positive reinforcement and making you happy. Don’t forget to use positive reinforcement throughout the whole process. Talk to your Pug in a calm and reassuring tone to let them know they are doing a great job.

#8 Use Hypoallergenic Chemical Free Shampoo

Pugs have sensitive skin and are prone to several skin disorders. Avoid using shampoos that have chemicals that can cause irritation or allergic reactions.

Before you buy a shampoo for your Pug, make sure you read the label to ensure that it is an all-natural product that won’t irritate their skin.

#9 Start Massing and Work The Entire Body

Start at one end of their body and gently massage and work the shampoo into a lather into their body. Make sure that you’re rubbing the shampoo into both their overcoat and undercoat.

#10 Be Careful With The Ears and Eyes

Make sure you do not get any soap or water in their ears or eyes. The best way to do this is to avoid using soap on the head or facial areas. The best way to clean your Pug’s face is to use a damp cloth without any shampoo.

#11 Rinse Thoroughly

Depending on whether the shampoo contains conditioner or the conditioner comes separately. You’ll want to make sure that you rinse all the shampoo out of their coat.

If the conditioner is separate, you’ll want to repeat the process of lathering their body with the conditioner. Some conditioners are leave-in and you’ll want to decide if you want to leave it in.

We NEVER left any condition on Mindy’s coat. We didn’t want to risk the chance of causing her skin to become irritated.

#12 Rinse Again

Pugs have thick hair and this makes it hard to remove all the shampoo and conditioner from their body. We always used to rinse Mindy twice to ensure that all the shampoo and conditioner were out of the coat.

You don’t want to pull them out of the tub only to realize that you left the shampoo on their body.

#13 Towel Dry Avoid The Hair Dryer

You’ll probably be tempted to use the hairdryer to dry your Pug. However, the bath will loosen up the hair on your Pug. If you decide to use a hair dryer on your Pug, you’re going to get a ton of hair all over the bathroom. (I learned this from personal experience)

Make sure you don’t use too much heat! If your hair dryer allows, switch it to the neutral heat or cool air.

Personally, we used a towel on Mindy and she loved it. After the bath, we would hold a towel up and Mindy would run up to us and we would wrap the towel around her and rub her dry.

Don’t forget to dry the face. Leaving the face moist can lead to bacterial infections.

#14 Be Prepared for The Zoomies

Your pug is going to get the zoomies, after their bath. Like us, a bath makes us feel refreshed and clean. Your Pug feels the same way and their excitement will show you that they actually enjoyed the process.

#15 Give Them A Treat

This is one of the best ways to get your Pug excited for bath time. If they start to associate a bath with positive reinforcement, the whole process will be easier. They will stop fighting you and will eventually remain calm during bath time.

#16 Brush Them After They Dry

Your Pug’s fur will be soft and smooth after a bath. However, if you rub them after they dry, you’ll notice that they will most likely have a lot of loose hairs.

Get a good grooming brush and brush them quickly after their fur completely dries after the bath. A brush will not only remove the loose fur but will make their coat shine.

Bathing A Pug Video

Mindy our black Pug loved taking baths. Although, it wasn’t always like that, especially, her first bath. This video will show you how to bathe a Pug, which isn’t that hard as you can see from the steps I’ve shared.

There’s no need to take your Pug to the groomers. If you don’t think that you can give them a bath by yourself, you may want to take them to a local groomer until you get comfortable with the bathing process.

References and Further Reading

My Pet Warehouse – Can You Use Human Shampoo on Dogs

PetMD – Dog Saliva: 5 Fast Facts You Should Know

VetStreet – Simple Tricks to Make Dog’s Bath Time Easier, Faster and Neater

Do Pugs Like Baths What You Need to Know About Pug Care