If you are like most people, you will overdo shampooing of your dog by applying too much shampoo and not diluting it. Why do we do this? People are programmed to make a lot of suds — every shampoo commercial on TV shows someone in the shower with a head full of rich suds. The problem is, most shampoos are so concentrated that it only takes a little bit to get the entire dog clean.

You don't need to buy a 16-ounce bottle of shampoo and use half the bottle on one bath! If you do, then the problem starts: itching, scratching, and hot spots. But why? You gave your dog a good bath and he's very clean now. Well, dogs are very hard to rinse well. It's easy to miss a spot underneath them or behind an ear and since the shampoos are so thick and we overdo it, we don't rinse the dog long enough to get all the shampoo out. Then it dries and the fun begins.

Owners sometimes bring dogs into their groomer complaining that the dog is scratching and they think the dog may have fleas. But when the groomer puts her in the tub and runs clear water on her to wet her down, there are suds in the tub! The problem isn't fleas, it's that she wasn't rinsed well at home. It's imperative that you rinse your dog very well all over so that she won't get itchy and start scratching herself.

No-Rinse Shampoos

There are some no-rinse formulas; many people use them on cats or for a quick bath without the water. You can spray it on, rub it in, and wipe it off with a towel. These are great for touch ups or spot removal, but bathing is more than just a quick wipe, it's about dander removal, oil removal, and no matter what you put on hair, there is bound to be buildup that you eventually need to remove.