Course 04 · Bathing · Lesson 6 of 12
How do you wash a face without getting water in eyes and ears?
Wash a face with a damp cloth and a tiny amount of dog shampoo, working gently around eyes, muzzle and ears, keeping water away from eyes and ear canals, and rinsing with a clean damp cloth.
Washing a face without getting water in eyes and ears means using a damp cloth and a tiny amount of dog shampoo, working gently around the eyes, muzzle, folds and ears, and rinsing with a clean, damp cloth rather than a stream of water. The face is the area most dogs dislike being washed, and it is also the area where water in eyes or ears causes the most discomfort. A cloth gives control that a shower or cup cannot, since it delivers a small amount of water exactly where it is needed and nowhere else. The wash should be brief, gentle and systematic, with the dog head supported and the handler watching for stress. A clean face, washed safely, is better than a thoroughly washed face that leaves the dog frightened of the next bath.
How do you prepare for a face wash?
Prepare by washing the body first, so the face, which many dogs dislike, is left until last and is brief. Have a soft cloth, a small bowl of warm water, a tiny amount of dog shampoo if needed, and a second clean cloth for rinsing, all within reach. Check the face first for eye discharge, ear redness, skin folds, sores and food debris, since washing over a sore area or a discharging eye needs vet advice, not a wash. Support the dog head gently, speak calmly, and let the dog sniff the cloth before it touches the face. The cloth should be damp, not dripping, and the water should be comfortably warm. Preparation prevents the common mistake of reaching for a shower attachment near the face in a hurry.
How do you wash around eyes, muzzle and folds?
Wash around the eyes by wiping gently outward from the inner corner, using a clean part of the cloth for each eye, and avoiding pressure on the eyeball. Wash the muzzle by wiping in the direction the hair lies, cleaning food and dirt from around the mouth and, where present, from beard hair, without getting shampoo in the mouth. Wash skin folds, where present, by gently separating the fold with a hand and wiping inside it with a damp cloth, then drying the fold thoroughly, since damp folds can become sore. Keep shampoo away from eyes and mouth, using plain warm water on the cloth for the eye area and only a tiny amount of shampoo elsewhere on the face if needed. If the dog pulls away, pause, offer a treat, and try again gently, or leave the face for another day if distress continues.
How do you wash and protect the ears during a face wash?
Protect the ears by keeping the cloth away from the ear opening, wiping only the outer flap and the hair around the ear, and never pouring water over the head. Hold each ear flap down gently while wiping the surrounding coat, so water runs away from the canal. Do not insert cotton buds, cloth corners or any object into the ear canal, and do not clean inside the ear as part of a face wash. If the ears are red, swollen, smelly or discharging, do not wash them at all, and seek vet advice, since ear cleaning in that state needs professional assessment. After washing, dry the outer ear flap gently with a towel, and watch for head shaking or scratching afterwards, which can indicate water or irritation in the ear.
How do you rinse and dry the face?
Rinse the face by wiping with a second cloth dampened in clean warm water, repeating until no shampoo residue remains, and taking care to wipe folds and beard hair thoroughly. Dry the face by patting gently with a soft towel, paying attention to folds, beard and the area around the ears, since dampness left in folds can cause soreness. Do not rub the face vigorously with a towel, since that can irritate eyes and skin and frighten the dog. Check the eyes after washing for redness or irritation, and check the ears for dampness or discharge. A face that is clean, dry and calm is the goal, and a brief, gentle wash that achieves that is a success, even if it takes two short attempts.
What is the sequence to follow?
- Body first, face last, cloth and bowls ready. 2. Check eyes, ears, folds and skin before washing. 3. Wipe eyes outward, muzzle in hair direction, folds gently. 4. Protect ears, outer flap only, no objects in canal. 5. Rinse with clean damp cloth, pat dry, check eyes and ears.
When should you stop and get help?
Stop and get vet help if eyes are red, swollen, discharging or painful, if ears are red, swollen, smelly or discharging, if skin folds are sore or broken, or if the dog shows pain or distress. Do not wash over sore skin, do not insert anything into the ear canal, and do not use eye or ear products without vet advice. Get groomer help if face hair is matted or needs trimming, since cutting near eyes and ears needs hands-on training. A face wash should be stopped, not forced, when the dog or the skin says it should.
A face washed with a cloth, gently and briefly, will usually be accepted far more readily than a face washed with a stream, and the dog that trusts the face wash will trust the next bath more easily too.
Further reading
- American Kennel Club, grooming guidance
- RSPCA, pet care guidance
- PDSA, dog care guidance