If you have a large older dog with mobility issues, a dog bathtub with a ramp or stairs can help your dog easily navigate an indoor or outdoor bath without you having to lift. When it comes to how much to fill the dog bathtub, the water should be about as high as your dog’s knees to ensure it’s not too close to their face. This is important to ensure a proper fit. Your dog should have enough space to stand comfortably, but not too much space to slide around. Be careful around the ears. Wendy Weinand, services training and education manager at Petco and a Certified Master Groomer (CMG) and Master Pet Stylist (MPS) says to avoid getting water into your dog’s ears or letting it build up in skinfolds. Not keeping these areas dry can lead to secondary skin issues.

Dry your dog thoroughly. “Make sure you have towels handy to thoroughly dry your dog after a bath,” says Weinand. “Let them shake first and then try to remove as much water as possible with towels.” Sturdiness: Durability is key when it comes to dog bathtubs, so we chose options that would hold up for the long haul. No matter the type of tub you’re looking for, you want to think about the safety features included, whether it’s an integrated collar or non-slip bottom. A reliable bath mat is more than just a cozy underfoot accessory for your bathroom floor. These mats absorb excess water and prevent slipping when climbing out of your tub or shower. Plus, they add style to your bathroom if you're in a pinch with a smaller hall bath. Of course, finding the right bath mat for your space and style requires more consideration than simply selecting the softest option at your local home store. "Make sure your selections are washable, and always buy the best quality your budget will allow," says textile expert Saana Baker of The Textile Eye. "After that comes the fun part: aesthetics!"Safety: We looked for tubs that included safety features to help prevent your dog from slipping, sliding, or jumping out mid-bath. Price: Because dog tubs range from basic models to professional grooming stations, the prices tend to be all over the map. And since everyone has a different budget, we included a selection of tubs at a variety of price points. Lastly, you should never leave your dog alone in the bath and always utilize any safety features that come with your tub.

When shopping for a bath mat, one of the most important things to consider is size. Make sure you get a design small enough to fit comfortably in your bathroom but also large enough to be functional and not just decorative. "Think about your space and how you'll use it," says Baker. "Would a long runner be nice in the space, or perhaps two smaller mats?" We spent 20 hours researching the most highly rated bath mats available in various styles and interviewed experts in home and bathroom design to gather a great understanding of standout bath mat designs. Based on this research, we selected 13 options to try firsthand in The Lab. Each mat was evaluated for how it looked, felt, and held up after multiple showers and laundry cycles. We then rated each bath mat based on design, comfort, ease of washing, and overall value. Those with the highest scores were selected for this roundup. Remember to consider where you’ll be bathing your dog and where you’ll be storing the tub when it’s not being used. If bath time will always be outside, your options are pretty open, but if you’re planning on bathing indoors, the tub you select should reflect that. Also, make sure you have storage space available, or that you choose something that folds or collapses. Tips for Using Dog BathtubsWe spoke to veterinarians, professional dog groomers, and pet owners to find the best dog bathtubs on the market. Whether your dog regularly enjoys baths or is always skittish about the whole prospect, you’re going to want to line up some safety measures to keep bath time safe and secure.

Whether it’s a hose or shower head, make sure water pressure is low and the water is lukewarm,” Freeman says. Frontgate's Bath Rug is our favorite bath mat design we've tested. It offered the best of both worlds with a visually pleasing design and high-end construction. Earning perfect scores in all of our testing categories, it stands out because of its appearance, absorbency, feel, and care requirements.Jae Hyung Lee, Seong Hun Kim, Kwang Ju Lee, Dae Young Lim, Han Yong Jeon. Determining the absorption properties of split-type microfiber fabrics by measuring the change in color depth. Textile Research Journal. 2004;74(3):271-278. doi:10.1177/0040517504074003