Find an experienced dog washer near you

Dog washing services include washing and drying your dog - either at your house, in a mobile dog-washing trailer, or at your dog groomer’s home nearby. Generally, they’ll supply their own products, tools, and equipment, including a range of shampoos for different hair and skin types. Here’s the process your dog washer will follow:

Step 1: Prepare the area

Your dog washing professional will prepare the area for grooming your dog. They’ll lay out towels, tools, and equipment, and make sure there are no obstacles that could get in the way. They may also lay a towel or rubber mat in the bathtub to prevent slipping, plus keep a spare towel on hand for the inevitable water shaking action that’ll happen during the bath. They’ll also place a drain guard over the plughole to prevent large quantities of hair going down the drain. 

Step 2: Brush out matted hair

Before they get your dog wet, your dog washer will brush out any knots and tangles in your dog’s fur, removing hair that has shed. Sometimes they’ll need to cut out or gently pull apart any bigger knots. This step is important because when knots get wet, they’ll tangle further and become harder to remove.

Step 3: Shampoo and Conditioner

When washing your dog, your dog washer will usually start at the neck, and work their way down with shampoo and water. This stops any fleas from moving up to hide in the ears, and keeps the soap out of your dog’s eyes until the end. They’ll try to make the experience as enjoyable as possible for your dog with plenty of praise, massage, and maybe even treats. Plus, they’ll use low-irritant and low-scent products in case your dog has sensitive skin. Once your dog’s body is clean, your dog washing professional will gently rinse the head, taking care not to get water in the ears. After shampooing, your dog may need a gentle conditioner to soften the hair and prevent matting (especially if they’re a long haired breed). Conditioner will stay on for a few minutes, before it’s rinsed off. At this stage, your dog washer may also apply flea treatments.

Step 4: Drying and grooming

This final step may vary depending on the size of your dog, and whether they’ll tolerate a hair dryer. Dogs love to shake when they get wet, so at the very least, they’ll be towelled dry, and then allowed to shake themselves off. The washing process will finish off with another brush over, an ear check (to ensure they’re dry), and an eye check (to make sure they’re clear).