The most effective way to keep your Papillon clean is to bathe him often, but you may worry that shampooing too frequently will leave your dog’s skin dry and itchy. Rest assured that as long as you rinse your dog properly, this should not be
a problem—even if you bathe him as often as weekly. On the contrary, regular bathing will stimulate hair growth and prevent breakage.
Preparing for a Bath
The most important step in bathing your Papillon is to brush him beforehand. Bathing a dog with mats will only make them nearly impossible to remove later. Once you have properly brushed your pet, gather all the things you will need for his bath. This should include a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, a cup for rinsing (if your sink or shower does not have a move-able spray nozzle), a washcloth, cotton balls, mineral oil, and at least two large bath towels.
Because your Papillon is so small, you may prefer bathing him in your kitchen sink rather than leaning over the bathtub to do the job, but you must use the utmost caution if you do this. A fall from counter height could critically injure or even kill your precious pet. Wherever you choose to draw the bath, use a nonskid mat to prevent him from slipping while standing in the water.
Next, take your dog for a walk to give him a chance to empty his bladder before running his bath water. If you live in a colder climate, this is also the time to turn up your thermostat a bit because your Papillon may feel a bit chilled when he first gets out of the tub. Remember, this may also be the case even in the middle of summer if you use air conditioning. If the day is an especially cold one, postpone bathing until a warmer day.
The Bathing Routine
Begin the bathing routine by placing a dry cotton ball in each of your dog’s ears. After positioning him in the lukewarm water, saturate his coat thoroughly, and using your dampened washcloth, gently wipe his face. This area should not be washed with shampoo because it can irritate your dog’s eyes. The washcloth will also come in handy a bit later as you clean your dog’s underside and bottom.
Next, dispense a small amount of shampoo into the palm of your hand and work it into a mild lather before applying it to your dog’s back. You may notice that canine shampoo doesn’t produce the same amount of suds as human shampoo. This is intentional—it makes for easier rinsing. You may also be tempted to spoil your dog by using your own salon brand, but resist this urge. The pH of a dog’s skin differs dramatically from a person’s, so your high-end products will only leave your Papillon feeling highly uncomfortable. If you truly want to indulge him in spa-style treatment, several designer brands of canine shampoo are available, although you need not spend a fortune for a quality product.
Once you have washed and thoroughly rinsed your pet, follow up by applying a conditioner. Rather than simply rubbing this product over your dog, use your fingers to really work it through the hair. This enables it to reach all his hair and skin. Follow the instructions on the label for the amount of time you should wait before rinsing once again. The great thing about rinsing is that there is no danger of over-doing it, so continue to shower your dog until you are confident that all the shampoo and conditioner has been rinsed down the drain.
Drying After the Bath
To maintain the classic Papillon appearance, follow up by blow drying your dog on a low-heat setting. You may certainly opt to merely towel-dry your pet if the temperature is comfortable, but it may leave his coat looking less than ideal. If you will be showing your dog, using the hairdryer is a must. Even cage dryers, a common tool used by groomers and breeders, are not recommended for use after a pre-show bath.
The Papillon’s coat should be abundant, but not puffy or wavy looking. Brush your dog throughout the drying process. To
avoid fluffing the coat too much, brush and dry in the direction of hair growth. Beware of taking your dog outside until his coat is entirely dry, as he may be especially vulnerable to cold air and dirt while he’s still damp.
Use special care when blow drying your Papillon’s ear fringe.
Position the dryer at the back of your dog’s ear as you gently separate and brush the fur with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush. This will help prevent a pointed-ear appearance, a look that is considered a fault in the show ring.
Conversely, at the front of each foot, a bit of hair coming to a point is not only deemed acceptable but desirable.
Trimming your dog’s coat should only be done when necessary and should be limited to specific areas like the foot, which may need a small amount of scissoring for a neater appearance. Be careful not to trim too much, though, or your Papillon’s tootsie might look too much like a cat’s paw instead of the hare-like foot described in the breed’s standard. Never trim your dog’s ears. Just a single ear trim can start an ongoing need for trimming in this area; a natural look is highly preferred.