Because puppies get into everything, they often get dirty. Food, fecal matter, newsprint, and mud have a way of attaching themselves to these little sprites. Don't panic. Getting a small dog used to having a bath is much easier if you begin when it's just a pup. Whether their coats are short or long, all dogs need a bath now and then. If you use a quality shampoo made just for dogs and you rinse well, you can bathe your dog as often as necessary without worrying about drying out the coat.

To make bath time easier, organization is key. Have on hand a tearless puppy shampoo, conditioner, or crème rinse if your dog has a lot of coat, as well as a brush, comb, cotton balls, ear cleaner, nail trimmers, styptic powder, fluffy towels, and pet cologne if you like. Brush and comb long coats thoroughly before bathing. Once wet, any mats or tangles left in the coat will get bigger and multiply. Clean the pup's ears with cotton balls and ear cleaner, and trim the nails if needed.

Place a rubber mat on the bottom of the kitchen or laundry sink and add a few inches of warm water (a temperature that would be comfortable to a baby). No hose-downs in the driveway, please — you wouldn't enjoy such an ice-cold bath, and neither will your little dog.

Speak lovingly as your puppy gets used to the water. Wet it down from the back end so you won't startle it with water squirted in its face. Placing cotton balls inside the ears will prevent water from getting into the ear canals. For a regular bath, use a hypoallergenic tearless shampoo. It your little one has dry, flaky skin, use an oatmeal shampoo, leaving the lather on for at least ten minutes before rising. This is also advisable when using a flea shampoo. It needs time to kill those pesky pests before you rinse. Then, rinse thoroughly — any shampoo left in the coat will cause dry skin and itching.

No matter what shampoo you use, don't get it in the dog's eyes. If you are following up with a conditioning rinse, make sure it is diluted according to directions so it won't leave the coat greasy. Once rinsed, towel-dry the dog and use your handheld dryer to complete the process. Make sure the setting is not too hot and don't aim it at one area too long. Afterward, don't let the dog outdoors until it is completely dry. A damp dog will roll in whatever it finds out there, undoing all your work.

Once your dog is dry, give it another brush-through. If you wish, apply a little pet cologne or coat dressing to make it smell great and look shiny. Keep in mind that bathing a small dog is much easier than bathing a large one, another reason to congratulate yourself for choosing a small dog. Offer a treat to make it a happy experience, and have a human treat yourself for being such a great caretaker!