Giving Your Dog a Bath - Before the Bath
Before bathing your dog, make sure that your dog is of a size where you can handle this task alone. With very big dogs or breeds that require special care, it's advised to seek out the help of a professional dog groomer, at least for a demonstration of what you should be doing and how.
It is also not recommended to bathe extremely young puppies, and vets will typically tell you to wait until they are anywhere between 6 months old or even a year old.
It is important that your pet remain calm, and that you comfort it prior to the bath, especially if your dog seems agitated by getting into the bath or contact with water or any shampoos.
Things You Will Need
The best and most convenient place to wash your dog is in a tub or a large container into which you can place your pet and easily rinse them off as needed.
Make sure you have prepared soft, absorbent towels to towel-dry your dog with following the bath, soap-free shampoo specialized for dogs (you can consult your vet in order to get recommendations for such shampoos on the market), brushes and combs - depending on your dog's fur density and length, and lastly - an old shirt or apron to cover up with, because you will most likely get wet in the process.
Grooming Tips
It's best to brush or comb through your dog's fur before rinsing them with water, so that you can easily remove any matted fur, tangles, dirt or any other debris that could attach itself to your pet's fur. Such tangles and matted lumps of fur are much more difficult to deal with once your dog is wet and anxious to leave the bath.
If needed, you may follow up with a specialized treatment against fleas, ticks and other parasites.