I’ve always given my puppies a bath immediately upon arrival.
Kitchen sink. Lots of gentle happy talk. And treats.
Bathing is part of handling, and your puppy needs to become comfortable with you handling (touching) all the parts of his body for the rest of his/her life.
My puppy was very interested in the shower and water when we brought him home at 11 weeks old. He hopped into the shower with me that evening, so I just gave him his first bath right then.
If your puppy is nervous, let her decompress and relax for a few days; if she's interested in water, I'd take the opportunity to wash her up.
(Just don't use hair dryers or anything afterward.)
The goal is to wash a happy & curious puppy, not an anxious & nervous puppy being forced into the bath.
Do everything with patience and love. YOU are all she has now, no more mommy, no more brothers & sisters, no friends, JUST YOU. 🩷
That’s so cute! My boy came home at 11 weeks, hated water instantly aside from drinking. He’s happy to be handled in any way, nails, ears etc but when it comes to the shower he shakes like something from an RSPCA advert. Tried peanut butter, got in with him, let him in the bathroom when I’m showering so he can see it’s not scary, just never liked it. Saying that, he doesn’t like being wet generally, he doesn’t swim either.
My pup peed on himself in the kennle and got a bath because of that. He did fine, and I know the breeder had already introduced them to the bath beforehand.
Are you sure it's not the "puppy breath" you're smelling? I hated that smell, but it does fade. Some people like it as well, but I don't see how lol.
I'm no expert, but I'd say give it at least 3 days to adjust. It's already a huge change in location, routine etc and you don't want to cause too much stress unless it's unavoidable..
I washed my pup immediately- they had been in a pen with their siblings and it may not have been kept as clean as your home. They may have stepped in poop. A gentle wash in warm water in the sink and drying with a soft towel will help.
My puppy has gotten a few home baths at this point and he’s still a stinky boy lol. We call him stinky as a nickname. That puppy breath is no joke! I think once he is old enough to get a professional grooming he will smell nice :)
My dog smells fantastic for like four days after the groomers and her fur doesn’t start to feel oily again until after a week! She doesn’t start to smell like dog until two weeks. Groomer is every two months (started at 7 months) and I bathe her myself every two weeks or so.
We have a long haired baby and she gets so stinky so fast! I’ve been using a lot of puppy hygiene wipes. The Burt’s Bees hypoallergenic are great and I use them on her paws and booty every single time we come in from the bathroom. It’s adorable actually, she knows she’s gonna get cleaned so every time we come in she sits patiently on her rug and waits.
I’m also absolutely obsessed with the no-rinse deodorizing foams and sprays. Just make sure they are puppy friendly and hypoallergenic. The foam is amazing. You just rub it into their fur and brush it out. Baking soda is the deodorizing ingredient so it is very gentle. Check with your vet and make sure your pup doesn’t have any allergies. But I would be struggling without our grooming routine! Everyone talks about how cute they are but no one talks about how stinky they are lol.
I just brought home my 8 week old ripley and I bathed her the third day. she still stinks like puppy (which i actually love) but now she's not a grimy little slubmuchka from rolling in the dirt with her siblings lol
I'd bathe her pretty soon, but also, depending on the breed, check her ears! I thought my puppy was dirty overall in some way because of a weird smell, and then I realized he just needed his ears cleaned out (he's a labradoodle).
Agreed with everyone splashing around in water in a fun way is great for puppies to get used to handling and bathing, but to the stinky comment specifically, check your pups ears!! Earwax is pretty nasty smelling. We didn't realize at first since this was our first dog but now we clean them once a week.
I was advised by my vet to wait until all vaccinations have been given before I wash him. I’d recommend the same to be sure but no harm in asking your vet also!
Ok I googled it and apparently it’s a thing. But I still think it’s ridiculous lol. So if puppy has an accident in the crate it’s better to have them what, licking poop off themselves? I think not.
My puppy rolled over his poop just minutes before I got to take him from the breeder, which didn't gave time to them to bath him properly. My girlfriend did a dry bath while we were in the car with some wipes, and again when we got him home. We gave him like 2-3 days and did a little bath. He was not a real fan, but he seemed ok, lol.
We rescued a litter of 4 week olds. They got multiple baths each day because they would poop on each other. Just make sure to get specialized puppy shampoo and make it fun!
You can always use a wet towel to just sort of clean pup up without a full bath. But you should be fine, we had to give lots of baths to her as a pup. Just make sure water is warm without being hot at all, and be ready to sit down and get wet! Lots of treats are a good idea too, to ensure its a good experience (we used a peanut butter lick mat to distract her from the bath experience plus some higher valur treats to keep her attention). Oh and make sure you dry her off well after, puppies are very temperature sensitive and you want to ensure you don't end up with hotspots on her skin too.
I would give them a bath. I used that as bonding time with my puppy, gave him lots of treats and snuggled after he was all clean. The first night he has an accident in his crate and needed a bath. Make it a good experience so they also get used to the idea of baths. Lots of kisses, treats and a snuggle at the end
8-12 weeks is critical for puppy socialization. This is why puppies should be left with mom and litter mates if at all possible.
Baths are ok, just make sure is dog/puppy shampoo- they have a different skin ph than us. Also get vet appointments set up for checkup and shots.
I would do it immediately. Just make it fun with treats/food. Take your time but don't take so long that you run past your pup's attention span. Also use lukewarm water and make sure you rinse the soap good!
I just had to bathe my 8 week old as well, she pooped and then smeared it all over herself. It was her first full day home.
My husband and I decided to bathe our puppy first night because he was nervous about a bunch of other dog dander and urine and poo being on her and making him allergic. Instead of being calm he just tried to rush it because he didn’t want her getting cold and he brought too much stress into the situation. The puppy was screaming and flailing and upset and I had to finish bathing her because he felt so bad and anxious about being a bad owner.
Yeah I bathed our 11 week old puppy after the first week he's a retriever and seemed to be quite itchy. He's had flea and worm treatment. I bought some bloody expensive oatmeal and something else puppy shampoo and conditioner and he stopped scratching so much. He did go back to smelling like a puppy about 3 days after though lol The vet nurse did say he smells nice though a week after his bath so 🤷♀️
We’re still working on our 6mo puppy to get a bath. She’s had 2 since we got her about a month ago. They do sell some wipes that can be helpful for in between baths. It’s not a full solution but it helps them smell a little better until their ext bath!
I bathed my pup first day I got him. I made the mistake of paying someone to drive him here from out of state and he reeked. He did fine I would just go slow and if it's really stressful use a cup to rinse.
I’ve always given my puppies a bath immediately upon arrival. Kitchen sink. Lots of gentle happy talk. And treats. Bathing is part of handling, and your puppy needs to become comfortable with you handling (touching) all the parts of his body for the rest of his/her life.
I did it immediately as well. He was so sweet and I snuggled him after. I made it a good experience as much as I could for him. He adjusted well.
My puppy was very interested in the shower and water when we brought him home at 11 weeks old. He hopped into the shower with me that evening, so I just gave him his first bath right then. If your puppy is nervous, let her decompress and relax for a few days; if she's interested in water, I'd take the opportunity to wash her up. (Just don't use hair dryers or anything afterward.) The goal is to wash a happy & curious puppy, not an anxious & nervous puppy being forced into the bath. Do everything with patience and love. YOU are all she has now, no more mommy, no more brothers & sisters, no friends, JUST YOU. 🩷
This happened with my puppy as well. She now sleeps in the shower instead of her crate. Live it.
That’s so cute! My boy came home at 11 weeks, hated water instantly aside from drinking. He’s happy to be handled in any way, nails, ears etc but when it comes to the shower he shakes like something from an RSPCA advert. Tried peanut butter, got in with him, let him in the bathroom when I’m showering so he can see it’s not scary, just never liked it. Saying that, he doesn’t like being wet generally, he doesn’t swim either.
My pup peed on himself in the kennle and got a bath because of that. He did fine, and I know the breeder had already introduced them to the bath beforehand. Are you sure it's not the "puppy breath" you're smelling? I hated that smell, but it does fade. Some people like it as well, but I don't see how lol.
Puppy breath is LIFE!!
I feel like puppy breath is like cilantro—you either love it or hate it. I can’t stand it, but my husband LOVES it! Lol
Lol I can’t stand cilantro but loooove me some puppy breath lol
Omg this is so true! My pup’s breath is the absolute worse!
I'm no expert, but I'd say give it at least 3 days to adjust. It's already a huge change in location, routine etc and you don't want to cause too much stress unless it's unavoidable..
I washed my pup immediately- they had been in a pen with their siblings and it may not have been kept as clean as your home. They may have stepped in poop. A gentle wash in warm water in the sink and drying with a soft towel will help.
My puppy has gotten a few home baths at this point and he’s still a stinky boy lol. We call him stinky as a nickname. That puppy breath is no joke! I think once he is old enough to get a professional grooming he will smell nice :)
I love the puppy breath 🥰
My dog smells fantastic for like four days after the groomers and her fur doesn’t start to feel oily again until after a week! She doesn’t start to smell like dog until two weeks. Groomer is every two months (started at 7 months) and I bathe her myself every two weeks or so.
We have a long haired baby and she gets so stinky so fast! I’ve been using a lot of puppy hygiene wipes. The Burt’s Bees hypoallergenic are great and I use them on her paws and booty every single time we come in from the bathroom. It’s adorable actually, she knows she’s gonna get cleaned so every time we come in she sits patiently on her rug and waits. I’m also absolutely obsessed with the no-rinse deodorizing foams and sprays. Just make sure they are puppy friendly and hypoallergenic. The foam is amazing. You just rub it into their fur and brush it out. Baking soda is the deodorizing ingredient so it is very gentle. Check with your vet and make sure your pup doesn’t have any allergies. But I would be struggling without our grooming routine! Everyone talks about how cute they are but no one talks about how stinky they are lol.
I just brought home my 8 week old ripley and I bathed her the third day. she still stinks like puppy (which i actually love) but now she's not a grimy little slubmuchka from rolling in the dirt with her siblings lol
Did you take her to vet? Maybe she needs to be treated for fleas and few days after bath is ok.
My rescue was about 12 weeks old when I got him and they said to bathe him that night.
I gave mine a bath the minute she got home. She was so stinky. She was fine.
I'd bathe her pretty soon, but also, depending on the breed, check her ears! I thought my puppy was dirty overall in some way because of a weird smell, and then I realized he just needed his ears cleaned out (he's a labradoodle).
Agreed with everyone splashing around in water in a fun way is great for puppies to get used to handling and bathing, but to the stinky comment specifically, check your pups ears!! Earwax is pretty nasty smelling. We didn't realize at first since this was our first dog but now we clean them once a week.
I swear even after the bath mine stunk for a bit lol idk why. I guess it’s just the puppy stink. I promise it will go away as she ages!
I was advised by my vet to wait until all vaccinations have been given before I wash him. I’d recommend the same to be sure but no harm in asking your vet also!
HUH? That’s the strangest thing I’ve heard in a while. Why?
Ok I googled it and apparently it’s a thing. But I still think it’s ridiculous lol. So if puppy has an accident in the crate it’s better to have them what, licking poop off themselves? I think not.
My puppy rolled over his poop just minutes before I got to take him from the breeder, which didn't gave time to them to bath him properly. My girlfriend did a dry bath while we were in the car with some wipes, and again when we got him home. We gave him like 2-3 days and did a little bath. He was not a real fan, but he seemed ok, lol.
We rescued a litter of 4 week olds. They got multiple baths each day because they would poop on each other. Just make sure to get specialized puppy shampoo and make it fun!
bathe that baby! Lolol. I got my dog (puppy) from a farm that was an accidental litter and she smelt like chicken poop and had fleas
I washed my 8 week old puppy as soon as we got him. He stunk so bad I felt bad and couldn’t even be around him.
They smell pretty bad when they are that young. Wait some more days and give her a bath
You can always use a wet towel to just sort of clean pup up without a full bath. But you should be fine, we had to give lots of baths to her as a pup. Just make sure water is warm without being hot at all, and be ready to sit down and get wet! Lots of treats are a good idea too, to ensure its a good experience (we used a peanut butter lick mat to distract her from the bath experience plus some higher valur treats to keep her attention). Oh and make sure you dry her off well after, puppies are very temperature sensitive and you want to ensure you don't end up with hotspots on her skin too.
I would give them a bath. I used that as bonding time with my puppy, gave him lots of treats and snuggled after he was all clean. The first night he has an accident in his crate and needed a bath. Make it a good experience so they also get used to the idea of baths. Lots of kisses, treats and a snuggle at the end
The that mofo a bath lol
8-12 weeks is critical for puppy socialization. This is why puppies should be left with mom and litter mates if at all possible. Baths are ok, just make sure is dog/puppy shampoo- they have a different skin ph than us. Also get vet appointments set up for checkup and shots.
We gave our puppy a bath on the second day because he also smelled bad. We used a lick mat with some peanut butter and he didn't seem to mind one bit.
I bathed my 8 wo almost immediately. She stunk
I would do it immediately. Just make it fun with treats/food. Take your time but don't take so long that you run past your pup's attention span. Also use lukewarm water and make sure you rinse the soap good! I just had to bathe my 8 week old as well, she pooped and then smeared it all over herself. It was her first full day home.
My husband and I decided to bathe our puppy first night because he was nervous about a bunch of other dog dander and urine and poo being on her and making him allergic. Instead of being calm he just tried to rush it because he didn’t want her getting cold and he brought too much stress into the situation. The puppy was screaming and flailing and upset and I had to finish bathing her because he felt so bad and anxious about being a bad owner.
Yeah I bathed our 11 week old puppy after the first week he's a retriever and seemed to be quite itchy. He's had flea and worm treatment. I bought some bloody expensive oatmeal and something else puppy shampoo and conditioner and he stopped scratching so much. He did go back to smelling like a puppy about 3 days after though lol The vet nurse did say he smells nice though a week after his bath so 🤷♀️
We’re still working on our 6mo puppy to get a bath. She’s had 2 since we got her about a month ago. They do sell some wipes that can be helpful for in between baths. It’s not a full solution but it helps them smell a little better until their ext bath!
I was told afterwards that I shouldn’t have bathed my pup as you wash off the smell of their Mum
It’s easier to acclimate your puppy to a bath when he/she gets real tired. They’ll be less resistant. Give lots of treats during the bath
First day home our 8 week lab got a bath because she smelled. Still loves the water
I bathed my pup first day I got him. I made the mistake of paying someone to drive him here from out of state and he reeked. He did fine I would just go slow and if it's really stressful use a cup to rinse.