Before heading to the dog wash, make sure your pup is totally brushed out and mat-free. Washing matted fur is counterproductive. Among other things, it’s almost impossible to dry it completely, which sets the stage for skin infections caused by bacteria and mold.

Brush from your dog’s rear legs up, against the grain (the direction the hair grows) toward the body to the head. If you have a short haired dog like a Doberman, Pug, Coonhound, Labrador, this won’t take any time at all. If you have that Rough Collie (or Chow, Alaskan Malamute, Golden Retriever or Afghan) it will obviously take you longer, but you’ll save on tub time because it will be easier for the water to penetrate the coat. In any case, it makes sense to either brush out or cut off hair you don’t want to end up washing.

Muddy Mutt offers shampoo/conditioner, this will be located at the individual wash stations. Aprons are stored at the stations for your use. In addition to your basic needs we offer brushes and massaging hand mitts.

After carefully leading your pet to to the washing station secure their collar to the tether. Now, wet your dog from the bottom and rear up, then apply shampoo. Rather than lather it on with your hands, brush the shampoo through your dog’s coat. For slick types, such as Pit Bulls or Labs, a rubber curry will do. For a double-coated or low-shedding dog, a slicker brush is ideal. And remember, more shampoo doesn’t get your dog cleaner. It’s the ingredients and the agitation of the shampoo against the fur that do the job.

Thoroughly rinse your dog and squeeze out as much extra water as you can (then stand back when he shakes off). After towel drying, you will be ready to move across the room to drying tables.

Once your pup is rinsed utilize the drying towel to rid your pup of excess water. Once water is removed to the best of your ability unhook your best friend and move to your assigned drying table. Be sure to hook Fido up to the safety latch prior to the drying process. Dryers are preset to provide a comfortable temperature for all dogs.