YOUR PUP'S FIRST BATH

Puppies generally do not need to get bathed until they are three months old since they get their vaccinations during these first three months of their lives and during this time their bodies are more sensitive to catch a cold. It's always best to take all the necessary precautions. When your puppy finally takes his first bath, make sure to find a nice warm spot to it in and use the appropriate dog shampoo. Puppies and dogs don't need to get bathed very often in order to stay clean. The most important requirement for their cleanliness is to get groomed and brushed everyday. If the dog or puppy gets mud on his coat, you can clean it off by using a towel with soap and warm water.
If the puppy is very young, you can bathe him in the kitchen sink.Place a clean wet wash cloth on the bottom of the sink so the pup won't slip.Buy a dog shampoo from a Pet store.Human shampoo is not good for bathing puppies or dogs because the pH of dog skin is different from the human pH.

CAUSES OF DANDRUFF IN YOUR DOG

There can be may causes of dandruff - poor diet, low humidity, and too infrequent grooming to distribute the oils.
A very thin layer of fat and waxes, called sebum, normally prevents the moisture in the skin from escaping into the air. Some animals do not receive enough dietary fat, or cannot absorb the fat, to form a good sebum layer. Diseases that cause an excessive loss of body water in the urine or bowel movement, such as diabetes mellitus, kidney failure, or chronic diarrhea, will cause dryness of the skin and dandruff.
Any chronic irritation of the skin will speed up the skin reproduction rate and cause dandruff.

Flakes from the surface of the skin may not be skin cells. Substances applied to the skin which dry and flake may mimic dandruff. Shampoos, conditioners, and other skin cosmetics should be thoroughly rinsed after application to the skin. If your dog has white skin flakes around the neck, or back, he's probably got dandruff and there are some things that you can do.
Do not use shampoos made for human beings on your pet, especially not baby shampoos or medicated shampoos. A dog's skin has different ph level than human skin, so the chemicals in people shampoo can actually harm your pet's skin.

Make sure that you thoroughly rinse your dog after shampooing. The shampoo residue can cause your dog to itch and scratch. The presence of dandruff can sometimes indicate that the onset of serious health problems such as skin infections, allergies or an invasion of nasty parasites.

Best shampoo for your dog

Selecting the best dog shampoo-

Well, before you grab your favorite human shampoo, remember that your dog's needs are a little different from yours. Since dogs dont need to be washed every day, selecting a high quality shampoo is worthwhile. The primary issue is pH, which should be lower than your typical human shampoo, in order to qualify as the best dog shampoo.

Ingredients - It is always a good idea to read the ingredients list. The best dog shampoo should include natural ingredients. The best dog shampoo should not lather up like foam, instead it should lather lightly and rinse easily to leave your dog clean.

Scent - Be careful of heavy artificial scents as they may cause skin or respiratory irritation.

The main difference between your shampoo and the best dog shampoo will be the pH levels. A lower pH is more suited to dogs. Leaving a soapy residue can be irritating to your dog's skin, so the best dog shampoo will rinse thoroughly and completely without leaving a residue.