Baths should be given more frequently when they are puppies, just because they tend to walk through the areas they just pooped or peed.
Once a week is good for general bathing, and spot clean-ups (such as their feet) can be wiped clean as needed.
To Begin Wet your puppy down from neck to tail (note: I did not include the head) I'll discuss those areas a little later in this chapter.
Using a puppy shampoo (human baby shampoo is not recommended for dog/puppies) and most pet supply stores are stocked with all kinds of puppy/dog shampoos, creams, conditioners, and sprays.
Unless your puppy has a medical condition, or is itchy, then any of these products are fine.
Work the shampoo into the coat making sure you include the bottoms of his feet - massaging around and between the pads of each foot, his tummy and tail.
Rinse well, remembering not to get any water in his ears or face.
Face and Ears Once his body is clean, you can use a damp wash cloth to wipe his face clean.
If your puppy has a lot of white around his eyes there are a few products on the market that will remove any "tear stains" that might be present.
Some dogs have more wrinkles on their face than others, so be sure to gently wipe between the folds of the wrinkles where moisture can get trapped.
Dogs have different ear canals than humans, which makes it harder for water to drain out.
Trapped water, in the ear canal, can lead to such problems as yeast infection.
This is why I do not recommend getting water inside the ear.
Instead, use a clean wash cloth and clean as inside the ear as far as possible - don't worry you won't be able to go deep enough to cause any damage.
Making sure you clean between the folds of the ear.
Finishing Touches After bathing my puppies, I like to use a finishing spray that smells like baby powder just because that what I like.
Go wild, get fruity, or omit the spray altogether it's up to you - your puppy really doesn't care one way or another.
Once your puppy is house broken, I recommend bathing him once a month, unless he spends a lot of time outdoors or otherwise gets dirty fast.
Just remember that a dog's skin is different than human skin and bathing too frequently can cause a dull coat, and icy skin.
Dental Care Most people don't brush their puppy's teeth after each meal, but once per week (at bath time) goes a long way in reducing tooth decay and saving you money in costly dental work.
There are lots of products on the market for dog dental care, but the one I like most is made of a medium soft plastic/rubber and fits on the tip of your finger.
This allows you to run your finger along the teeth and gums fairly easy.
Keep in Touch If you make is a habit of massaging your puppies feet, ears, and touching his gums each day - when you are playing or just holding him and watching TV together - he will get use to the feeling of you touching these areas and he will be less resistive when it comes time to trim his nails, cleans his ears, bush his teeth etc.
Make bath time a fun time.
It's also a great time to examine your puppy up close for things like "foxtails" which are stickers that can cause harm, fleas, etc.
For information on nail care view my article titled Puppy Pedicure