Whether your dog regularly enjoys baths or is always skittish about the whole prospect, you’re going to want to line up some safety measures to keep bath time safe and secure. It’s recommended that you take the time to brush your dog’s coat, especially if they’re longer-haired pups that get frequent tangles,” says Jennifer Freeman, PetSmart resident veterinarian and pet care expert. “Tangled hair can mat once you start bathing your dog, making it an unpleasant experience for your pet.” Where to bathe your dog: If you have a large older dog with mobility issues, a dog bathtub with a ramp or stairs can help your dog easily navigate an indoor or outdoor bath without you having to lift.

Bathing your dog outside instead of indoors might be a solid choice for certain breeds in some seasons. Ideal water conditions for bathing a dog: When shopping for a bath mat, one of the most important things to consider is size. Make sure you get a design small enough to fit comfortably in your bathroom but also large enough to be functional and not just decorative. "Think about your space and how you'll use it," says Baker. "Would a long runner be nice in the space, or perhaps two smaller mats?"

We spoke to veterinarians, professional dog groomers, and pet owners to find the best dog bathtubs on the market. Be careful around the ears. Wendy Weinand, services training and education manager at Petco and a Certified Master Groomer (CMG) and Master Pet Stylist (MPS) says to avoid getting water into your dog’s ears or letting it build up in skinfolds. Not keeping these areas dry can lead to secondary skin issues.

Safety: We looked for tubs that included safety features to help prevent your dog from slipping, sliding, or jumping out mid-bath.

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Whether it’s a hose or shower head, make sure water pressure is low and the water is lukewarm,” Freeman says. When it comes to how much to fill the dog bathtub, the water should be about as high as your dog’s knees to ensure it’s not too close to their face. Frontgate's Bath Rug is our favorite bath mat design we've tested. It offered the best of both worlds with a visually pleasing design and high-end construction. Earning perfect scores in all of our testing categories, it stands out because of its appearance, absorbency, feel, and care requirements. Jae Hyung Lee, Seong Hun Kim, Kwang Ju Lee, Dae Young Lim, Han Yong Jeon. Determining the absorption properties of split-type microfiber fabrics by measuring the change in color depth. Textile Research Journal. 2004;74(3):271-278. doi:10.1177/0040517504074003 Unless your dog can sit still during a bath or you’re able to restrain them with your hand, it’s important to make sure you have somewhere to tether them if need be to avoid them escaping mid-bath,” Freeman notes. “Never leave your dog unattended.”