Bathing: the full procedure
Pre-brush, bathe at a comfortable temperature with the right product, rinse thoroughly, and protect the ears.
- Applies to: Bather / groomer.
- Frequency: Every groom that includes a bath.
- Scope: Covers the bath. Product choice and any medicated-shampoo use follow the label / a vet’s direction.
What you need
- Tub + non-slip mat
- Shampoo (by coat/skin type)
- Cotton for ears
The procedure, step by step
- Pre-brush first — Brush out loose hair and tangles before the bath — water tightens mats and makes them harder to remove.
- Comfortable water temperature — Use lukewarm water (comfortable, never hot), and keep a hand on the dog with the restraint loop fitted safely.
- Protect the ears and eyes — Place cotton in the ears to keep water out and avoid getting product in the eyes.
- Shampoo by coat/skin type — Choose the right dog shampoo for the coat/skin, lather neck-to-tail; for dense coats, section so water/product reach the skin (a two-lather pass for dirty coats).
- Rinse thoroughly — Rinse completely — leftover residue causes itching and dull coat.
- Squeeze out and move to dry — Hand-squeeze excess water from legs/ears/tail, then move to drying (its own SOP).
Quality check before you finish
- Pre-brushed before the bath.
- Lukewarm water; dog secured; hand on the dog.
- Ears protected with cotton.
- Right shampoo; lathered to the skin.
- Rinsed thoroughly, no residue.
- Hand-squeezed; ready to dry.
This is a free, source-anchored standard operating procedure (SOP) you can print and hand to staff. It documents the work sequence for a Dog Grooming business — not safety or regulatory rulings, which defer to the cited authorities, the applicable code, and your own health-and-safety plan. Open the tool above to print it, toggle ink-saver, or (with a free ToolFluency Business account) edit it to match your own workflow.
Sources
- AKC — How to Groom a Dog (bathing) (akc.org)
- PetGroomer.com — Bathing & Session Arc (petgroomer.com)
- Paragon School of Pet Grooming — Production Bathing (paragonpetschool.com)
About Free Dog Bathing SOP
Free printable dog bathing SOP: pre-brush, comfortable water temperature, shampoo by coat/skin type, thorough rinse, and ear protection — a clean base for the groom.
How to use
- Read the full procedure top to bottom before the work — the SOP runs in order and each step builds on the last.
- Toggle Ink-saver (black & white) for a cheaper mono print for the binder; leave it off for the full-color version.
- Click Print SOP to print or save as PDF. Print one per crew, laminate it for the binder, or attach it to the job in your scheduling system.
- Train new hires on it and have staff sign off. Found something out of date? Use the feedback link — flagged SOPs are re-researched against the source list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct way to bathe a dog for grooming?
Pre-brush to remove loose hair and tangles (bathing mats tightens them), use comfortable lukewarm water, choose shampoo for the coat/skin type, lather and rinse thoroughly (residue causes itching), and protect the ears from water. Keep a hand on the dog at all times.
Why pre-brush before bathing?
Water tightens mats and tangles, making them far harder (and more uncomfortable) to remove after a bath. Brushing out loose coat and tangles first is why the bath SOP starts at the table, not the tub.
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