Preparation: First, make sure you have on hand all the equipment that you require before starting: towels, shampoo etc. All pre-bath work should be done at your grooming station. It is important to keep to a regular routine, which will make you and your dog feel more secure about the process.
Check the ears to see if they need cleaning. Use an ear wipe if necessary and then plug each ear with a cotton ball to stop water from getting in. (And remember to remove the cotton balls afterwards.)

• Before you start bathing, make sure you have gone over the entire body to remove any serious mats or tangles. If you know how to do so competently, pluck any long hair inside the ear canal, using ear powder and your fingers. Do not delve into the ear – just pluck what you can reach comfortably. Use a shampoo and conditioner that are most suitable for your dog. Shampoo very thoroughly, getting your fingers down to the base of the hair and getting a good lather and massage action going. After the first shampoo, most of the dirt will have been removed. Apply a second lather, then rinse. Apply your conditioner and leave it for a while so as to get maximum benefit from it. Then give the coat a final rinse.
• Towel dry gently: if you rub too hard or enthusiastically, you will just end up tangling and matting the hair. So start by blotting and gently rubbing the hair with a good thick towel until you have removed as much moisture as possible. Then dry with a hair dryer. This has to be done in a methodical way to make sure all areas are reached. Blow the hair away from the body while using a moderately firm pin or slicker brush, in a similar way to blow-drying human hair. Lightly brush the area of the coat where the dryer is focused with light, quick strokes going to the end of the hair shaft. Straighten the hair as you go and do not move on to the next section until the brush flows freely through the area of the coat you are currently working on.
• Be careful not to scrape or scratch the skin with your brush. If you do, this can cause what is called brush burn, which will be painful for the dog. So keep an eye on the skin and let the brush glide rather than digging or pulling it through the coat. After drying is finished, thoroughly groom through the coat with a comb.

1. Wet dogs will naturally want to shake themselves to shed water from the outer layers of a saturated coat. You should allow your dog to do this before you start toweling dry.
2. Seat the dog on a towel to absorb moisture from the paws, rump and underside of the body and use a second towel to blot and pat the coat dry. Don’t rub too hard or you risk creating tangles in the densely growing coat.
3. Gently dry the head with the towel. Pendulous ears can be dried by rubbing them gently with the towel between the fingers and thumbs of each hand.
4. Protect the eyes with one hand as you dry the head with a hair dryer.
5. Use light strokes of a slicker brush in conjunction with the dryer when working on the ears and top knot.
6. Then move onto the body and progress methodically. You can see how a wool coat fluffs up as it dries.
7. Brush in all directions, even against the lie of the coat, as you move around the dog to ensure that the warm air gets right to the base of the coat.
8. Comb through to complete.

Using a Stand Dryer

The advantage of professional dryers is that they leave both hands free to manipulate the dog more easily.

1. Start with the head, as before.
2. You can stretch out the legs to slicker the hair on the front limbs.
3. And support the rear quarters.
4. It’s very useful to be able to support the dog as it stands on its hind legs so that you can get at the chest and belly.
5. Finish by thoroughly combing the head, ears and the entire body.
6. You will be pleased with the result!