Want to give your dog a special day of pampering and coddling? You know how Rover loves to get your one-on-one attention, so why not give him a Spa day at home. It’s a great way to spoil your best friend. Oh, I know you could take Rover to an upscale doggie parlor, but creating the royal bath time right at home will be so much more soothing when the treatment is coming from you.

So, if you think this is something you’d like to try, let’s get started by getting together the grooming supplies you’ll need. It’s a good idea to always have a supply of these on hand anyway, but if you already have them stashed, you can be more spontaneous about spa day.

If you go online you can easily find some top-notch products to help you get a professional result. Specially formulated dog shampoos, conditioners, finishing sprays for detangling, combs, brushes and doggie towels - they're all out there readily available on the web. Make sure to choose products suitable for your dog's coat and skin type, because each dog breed is unique. There is one cool product that contains a mixture of organic pet shampoo and animal-safe skin treatment, molded into a solid form. You can just toss it in the bath water, eliminating the need to hold onto both your dog and a bottle at the same time.

Next, set the stage for relaxation by misting the grooming area with a lavender aromatherapy spray. Lavender is a well-known natural relaxant and is also useful as a deodorizer and insect repellent.

A calming massage is a good beginning to Rover’s special day. Among other things, a massage is soothing to your dog, can ease areas of soreness, and will definitely enhance the bonding between you and your dog. The basic massage routines are easy to learn, but if you are not familiar with pet massage, there are some excellent guidebooks on the subject written by experts in this field. It will be well worth your while to learn about the benefits of massage not only for spa day, but for the lifetime of your pet. The next step is to prepare Rover for the bath with a good brushing to remove loose hair and dirt. Tangles are more difficult to deal with when the coat is wet. One great brush to use for this task is somewhat like a rubber glove. In fact, this tool not only does a great brushing job, but also gives a gentle massage at the same time.

Moving along to the bath itself, get everything you will need close by: shampoo, conditioner, detangling spray, cotton balls to keep the soapy water out of Rover’s ears (ears should be handled later) and of course doggie towels. You won’t want to start reaching for things after Rover is in the tub!

Have the water warm, but not too hot – just about the way you’d like it yourself. If you have hard water, try adding some Epsom salts to soften it up. Use a bath mat in the tub to help your pet remain stable and feeling secure. Then put on your rain gear…. you might get just a teensy bit wet otherwise!

Lather up your pooch real well in a massage like fashion, then give a thorough rinsing, followed by a conditioner. Wrap Rover up in a highly absorbent doggie towel and give him a good rub down which he’ll really enjoy. You can finish off with a hair dryer on low setting. Comb and brush out using a conditioning dog coat spray to achieve a lustrous and healthy look. Now’s a good time to carefully clean your dog’s ears (dog’s ears are very fragile) with some cotton balls (not swabs) and a high quality dog ear wash. A doggie pedicure would be a great finale to the day, but only if you have done this before and have the necessary skills for the job.

And you’re done! No doubt your dog is looking good and feeling great from all the attention.

"Paws" for thought: If you enjoyed this experience with your pet and would like to do it more often, you might want to consider purchasing a special dog bathtub and hose, a grooming table, and a commercial pet hair dryer.