All Chihuahuas must be bathed to prevent build-ups of dirt and to keep their fur free of any tangles, according to many healthcare specialist. If you wonder what is the best way is to clean them, this article and video at the end will walk you through the steps to bathing a Chihuahua.

While bathing is an very important for the health of your Chihuahua, you should avoid over-doing it. It is very common for many owners to bathe their puppies a few times a week, which can easily dry out their skin.

So, how often are you supposed to bathe them?

Experts suggest to bathe them around once every 2-3 weeks, as this should keep them clean without drying out their skin. However, It really depends on a few other factors, such as their level of outdoor activity, the type of shampoo you use, if they are long-coat or smooth and how clean the air is inside your home.

Ready to bathe your Chihuahua? This is what you'll need

Before you can give your Chihuahua a proper bath that he deserves, you'll first need to buy a few supplies.

• Premium dog-formulated shampoo (do not use people shampoo, as it can be too harsh for their delicate skin)
• Wash cloth
• Dry Towel
• Pitcher or large bowl
• Some treats

Steps To Bathing a Chihuahua

To make the bathing process easier and less messy, give your Chihuahua's coat a good brushing to remove any excess fur. Brushing them beforehand will catch any loose fur on their body that would otherwise end up in your bathtub or sink.

There's really no one specific way to bathe a Chihuahua. Some owners prefer doing it in a large sink, while others prefer to do it in the bathtub or tin bucket. As long as you don't get backaches from bending over, then it's usually best just to bathe them in the bathtub. It has a readily available water source, towels, and it's easy to clean up. With the tub stopper removed, turn the water and wait for it to reach a comfortable, luke-warm temperature that isn't going to freeze or scald your Chihuahua.

Just remember to try and make them as comfortable and relaxed as possible. If they are nervous or anxious of getting bathed, try petting and talking to them to calm them down. Typically, this type of behavior goes away once they get into a routine with consistent bathing at certain times of the month.

With your Chihuahua in the bathtub, follow these steps to clean properly clean them:

• Fill a pitcher or bowl up with luke-warm water and gently pour it over their body while holding shielding their head with your free hand.
• Read the directions on the label of your dog shampoo to see exactly how much needs to be used. Because of their small size, Chihuahuas usually only need a very small amount of shampoo.
• Lather the shampoo into their fur coat using either your hands or a wash cloth. Remember, it can easily cause pain and discomfort if it gets into their eyes, so keep their head shielding during the process.
• Allow the shampoo to sit for a couple minutes to help freshen their coat.
• Fill the pitcher back up with more water and pour it over their body to rinse out the shampoo. As the water pours over their body, run their coat with your hands to help work out the shampoo. Repeat this step until the water comes out clear and shampoo-free.
• Now that your Chihuahua is fresh and clean, take them out of the tub and wrap them up in a dry towel. Gently rub the towel against their body to speed up the drying process.
• Since your Chihuahua did such a good job at bath time, give them a treat followed by lots of petting and praise.

For a detailed step-by-step video on how to wash your Chihuahua, you can watch the video bellow:

Credit: Bemorepanda.com