Petal’s Spa Day: My Dog’s Bath Time Routine (and All the Products I Swear By)

I love my dog. You know what I don’t love? The smell of dog. I wash my girl once a month, and I find that’s enough to keep her fur nice and fresh. If she rolls in something foul, then absolutely—she gets a wash! But I try my best to stick to once a month… However, sweet little Petal is a poo roller! This means spa day happens a little more frequently and so I need something gentle on her skin and fur that won’t upset her natural oils and fur.

When it comes time to wash Petal, I like to make it a bit of a spa day.

I light a dog-friendly candle, fill the bath, and add in some paw soak. I’ve tried a bunch of different shampoos and conditioners over the years, and while Kiehl’s was a long-time favourite, I’ve fully converted to The Fur Love. Petal has some light allergies (which are under control), so I like to be mindful of what I use—especially on her paws.

The Fur Love has two kinds of paw soak: the original coconut and the salt soak. I haven’t tried the salt soak yet (it’s probably better for dogs with more active skin issues), but I stick to the coconut version since it works beautifully for Petal. You can use it as a body soak too, but I focus it just on her paws to keep them clean and fresh.

While her paws are soaking, I wet her down and reach for The Fur Love Natural Dog Shampoo. It’s a sneaky one—it looks like there’s not much there, but it spreads so far. On a very dirty day, I might use two or three pumps total. I take my time massaging it all over: her neck, tummy, back, pantaloons—you name it. It’s gentle on her skin and still does a proper job of cleaning her. I leave it on for a minute or two before rinsing it all off and unplugging the tub to drain the paw soak.

Next up: conditioner. The Fur Love conditioner is actually a mask. I massage it through her coat, from between her ears right down to those pantaloons again, trying to cover every spot I shampooed. Then I leave it in for a couple of minutes. This is when I brush her teeth.

Petal tolerates teeth brushing. She’s placid and just trusts me. I don’t have any special techniques—it's purely relationship-based. I also don’t overthink the toothpaste. Sometimes it’s “poulet” flavour (French for chicken), and sometimes it’s peanut butter. I just grab whatever’s at the local pet shop and get it done. Once her teeth are done, I rinse off the conditioner thoroughly.

Then it’s time to dry—Petal’s favourite part. I ask her to “dry” in the bath first (she gives a good shake), then I lift her out and go in with the towel. I start at her head and neck, then work my way along her back and tummy. She leans into it, and if I stop, she comes back for more! I also press each paw firmly in the towel for a few seconds to wring out the extra water. I usually towel dry her for about ten minutes—she’s double-coated, so it’s a job.

After that, it’s dressing gown time. Her robe is just a towelling dog coat, but it saves the couch and her bed from getting too damp while she finishes drying.

Once she’s fully dry (usually a few hours later), I finish her spa day with The Fur Love Moisture Balm. I call it her “paw massage”. She loves this part. I call her up for cuddles, put on a movie or a TV show, and spend about 5–7 minutes on each paw. I just rub in a little of the balm and gently massage it into her paw pads while she dozes. She’s spoilt. It’s a full-on spa day.

That’s everything I use on Petal. The Fur Love has other great products, especially for dogs with allergies, but I mainly use it because it makes her fluff so soft and doesn’t upset her skin.

Currently The Fur Love have a little promo. Spend $100 and get a free pair of socks! They are bright and dog themed and perfect for winter! You can order nowon there website: www.thefurlove.com

Do you do a spa day for your dog too—or am I the only one turning bath time into a whole vibe?