Do You Need a Warm Water Dog Shower?

Do You Need a Warm Water Dog Shower? Here's How to Decide

If you've ever rinsed a shivering dog down with a freezing hose in January, you'll already have a hunch about the answer to this one. But warm water isn't always necessary, and knowing when it matters (and when it really doesn't) will make wash downs quicker, kinder and a lot less dramatic for everyone involved.

When a cold rinse is absolutely fine

Let's start with the good news. For a quick rinse of muddy paws and legs on a mild day, cool water is perfectly fine for most healthy adult dogs. Dogs with thick double coats have impressive built in insulation, and plenty of dogs happily swim in cold rivers and seas all year round. Vets note that most dogs can comfortably swim in surprisingly cool water, though every dog is different and you should always follow your dog's lead [1].

So if it's June, your dog is a bouncy Labrador, and you just need to get the beach off their belly before the drive home, a cool rinse is job done.

When warm water genuinely matters

There are four situations where warm water stops being a luxury and starts being the right call.

1. Winter and early spring wash downs. The muddiest months are also the coldest, which is exactly when your dog needs washing most. A cold rinse on a cold day pulls a dog's body temperature down fast, and smaller dogs, thin coated breeds, puppies and older dogs feel it most. Prolonged cold water exposure can lead to shivering and, in extreme cases, hypothermia, so a chilled dog should be dried and warmed up promptly [1].

2. After cold water swims. If your dog has been in the sea or a winter river, they're already cold. Rinsing the salt out with more cold water just extends the shiver. A warm rinse gets them clean and starts the warm up at the same time.

3. Older dogs and nervous bathers. Groomers and vets consistently recommend lukewarm water, around body temperature at 37 to 39 degrees, because it's what dogs find most comfortable [2]. If your dog treats bath time like a hostage situation, water temperature is one of the easiest things to fix. A comfortable dog is a cooperative dog.

4. Proper shampoo washes. An occasional full wash with dog shampoo works better with warm water, which helps lift dirt and rinse product out properly. Most dogs only need a full shampoo every month or two depending on coat type, with quick rinses in between [3].

The muddy season problem

Here's the awkward bit: the wash that matters most is the winter one. Vets and the RSPCA recommend washing all mud off your dog after wet, muddy walks, particularly through woodland, as a sensible precaution during the colder months [4]. So the season when you should be rinsing your dog most thoroughly is the same season when a cold hose is at its most miserable.

How to get warm water anywhere

You don't need plumbing, gas or a heated dog shower gadget. The simple trick is to take the warmth with you. Fill a portable pressure shower with warm water from the tap before you leave home, and the insulated sleeve keeps it at a comfortable temperature until you're back at the car. Eight litres is plenty for a full leg, belly and paw wash down, with pressure you can control so it's a gentle rinse rather than a hose blast.

Test it the same way you'd test water for a baby: it should feel comfortably warm on the inside of your wrist, never hot [2].

The quick decision guide

Warm water if: it's cold out, they've been swimming, they're old, small, short coated or nervous, or it's shampoo day. Cool water if: it's warm out, it's a quick mud rinse, and your dog genuinely doesn't care (some truly don't).

Either way, dry them properly afterwards, especially the undercoat, and especially in winter. A good towel down before they get back in the car keeps both the dog and the boot happy.

For the full rundown of wash down kit that actually works, have a look at our guide to the best portable dog showers, or browse everything on the dog owners page.

References

1. Dogster (vet reviewed), Do Dogs Like Cold Water? Drinking, Swimming and Bathing Temperature: https://www.dogster.com/dog-health-care/do-dogs-like-cold-water/
2. PetsCare, The Perfect Dog Bath Temperature Guide: https://www.petscare.com/news/post/perfect-dog-bath-temperature-guide
3. American Kennel Club, How Often Should You Wash Your Dog?: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-often-should-you-wash-your-dog/
4. RSPCA, Alabama Rot: Symptoms and Prevention: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/diseases/alabamarot