It’s a commitment. Set aside at least 2 hours. Put on some nice music, set up your grooming area, and settle in.
When we first brought Sadie home, we gave her a bath and groom EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK. She was our first show dog, and we wanted her coat to be the best it could be! Over time, we came to our senses and realized every week was a bit much, but we still gave her a bath every time we had a show, and usually a minimum of once a month if there weren’t any shows we were going to.
That’s Sadie in the photo, tolerating the bath. It’s not her favorite thing to do, but she is a good sport about it. Generally, a bath and grooming session would go something like this:
Preparation
It makes all the difference to get everything fully prepped before you put the puppy in the tub. Chances are, she’ll try to bolt at first, and you’ll want everything at arm’s reach and ready.
- Gather a bunch of towels, the shampoo, and a rubber-bristled “scrubby brush” if you have one. Make sure everything is within reach near the tub.
- Set up a grooming table with an arm and a grooming loop so that you can work with both hands. Cover the table with a damp towel.
- Plug in a high-velocity dog dryer (we have the K9-III) next to the table.
- Set out the grooming tools, including brushes, a comb, nail clippers, a toothbrush, etc.
The Bath
- Wet the puppy down beginning at the tail end. I’ve found they don’t feel the need to shake the water off until their head and shoulders are wet.
- Apply shampoo and work it through the coat all the way down to the skin. A rubber scrubby brush is fantastic for this. It helps work the shampoo in and feels like a massage for the dog. Don’t skimp on the shampoo, and don’t rush this step. You want to make sure you’re getting through all that thick undercoat.
- Rinse thoroughly. Then rinse again. Seriously, shampoo residue left in the coat can cause skin irritation and will make the coat look dull. When you think you’ve rinsed enough, do it one more time.
- If you use a conditioner, apply it now, let it sit for a minute or two, and rinse it out completely.
- Squeeze as much water out of the coat as you can before lifting the dog out of the tub. Samoyeds hold an impressive amount of water, and your back will thank you.
Drying
This is where the magic happens, and also where most of the time goes.
- Wrap the dog in a towel and blot (don’t rub!) as much water out as you can. Rubbing can tangle the coat. Use as many towels as you need.
- Get the dog onto the grooming table and secure her in the loop. This is when having everything set up in advance really pays off.
- Start the high-velocity dryer. Most dogs need a little time to get used to the noise and the force of the air. Sadie was no exception. Start on a lower setting if your dryer has one, and work up.
- Work the dryer through the coat in sections, using a slicker brush or pin brush as you go. The goal is to get air moving down to the skin while brushing the coat out straight. This is what gives Samoyeds that gorgeous, stand-off coat.
- Keep going section by section, legs, belly, chest, neck, tail, until the coat is completely dry. Putting a Samoyed away damp is a recipe for matting, so don’t rush this step or call it “good enough.” Completely dry means completely dry.
Brushing and finishing
- Once the coat is fully dry, do a thorough line brush through the entire dog. Part the coat down to the skin and work in layers, moving from the bottom up. This is where you’ll catch any remaining tangles or mats, especially behind the ears and in the “armpits.”
- Follow up with a metal comb. If the comb moves through the coat smoothly from root to tip, you’re done. If it catches anywhere, go back with the brush.
- Trim the nails, brush the teeth, and tidy up the paws. Most show people trim the fur between the pads and neaten up the outline of the foot.
- Stand back and admire your work. Maybe take a photo or ten. That fluffy white cloud is all yours.
A few final tips
Never, ever brush a dry, dirty coat. Always bathe first. Dry brushing a dirty Samoyed breaks coat and causes unnecessary damage.
If you find a mat, don’t panic and don’t reach for the scissors. Work it apart with your fingers first, then use a detangling spray and a slicker brush. Patience wins every time.
And if your Samoyed decides partway through that she has had quite enough of this nonsense? Take a break, give her a treat, and keep going. That coat isn’t going to brush itself.