The Wet Dog Reality: How I Turned Shower Time from a War Zone to a Bonding Session

If you’ve been following my journey, you know that building trust with Ace didn’t happen overnight. We’ve tackled potty training battles and dietary experiments, but there is one activity that truly tested our relationship early on: Shower Day.

I am definitely not a professional groomer. In fact, the first few times I tried to shower Ace, it felt less like a spa day and more like a wrestling match. He was terrified, I was soaked, and my wife had to step in just to help hold him down.

But fast forward to today, and shower time has become something else. It’s become a bonding ritual. I’ve realized that since I have to handle every part of him during the wash, it requires a massive amount of trust on his part. I am lucky he has a short coat, but the process still takes work.

Here is my routine, the products I swear by, and the lessons I’ve learned washing a Singapore Special in an HDB flat.

1. Timing is Everything (The "Tired Dog" Strategy)

I never shower Ace when he is fresh and full of energy. That is a recipe for disaster.

• My Rule: Shower time happens after the evening play session.
• The Logic: A tired dog is a calm dog. After running around the dog run or wrestling with his friends, his resistance is low. He is too exhausted to argue when I lift him into the tub.

2. Location: The Bathtub vs. The Floor

I initially tried showering him on the toilet floor. The Verdict: Bad idea. On the open floor, Ace had too much space to panic and scramble. I switched to the bathtub, and it changed the game.

• Containment: The tub walls limit his movement, making him feel more "held" and making it safer for both of us.
• No Bathtub? If you don’t have a tub, I advise using a small, enclosed shower stall with the doors shut. You want an enclosed space with no sharp objects or edges for safety.

3. The Gear: What Actually Works

I admit, I love good gear. Here is what I use to get Ace clean and smelling amazing.

• The Scrubber: Kong ZoomGroom I don’t just use my hands. This rubber tool acts like a magnet for loose fur and massages the shampoo down to the skin. Ace actually leans into it—it feels like a massage!
• The Soap: Dermcare Aloveen Oatmeal Shampoo & Conditioner I started using this because Ace has sensitive skin (classic Singapore Special trait). It is gentle, soap-free, and the conditioner makes his coat incredibly shiny. Plus, the smell is fantastic.
• The Towel: Super Absorbent Microfiber Pet Towel Do not use your old human towels. They aren't fast enough. You need to get 80% of the water off—especially from the ears, neck, and underbelly—before you even touch the dryer.

4. The Process: Slow and Steady

I shower Ace roughly once every two weeks. I read online that doing it too frequently strips their natural oils and dries out their skin.

• Step 1: Warm water only. Cold water shocks him.
• Step 2: I rinse him to wet him completely, then apply the soap by hand first. I find using my hands helps get the soap deep into the coat.
• Step 3: I go in with the Kong ZoomGroom, frequently applying more soap directly onto the tool as I scrub.
• Step 4: Rinse. Then Conditioner.
• Step 5: Dry with Towel
• Step 6: Dry with blow dryer

Pro Tip: In the early days, my wife was essential. She stood by to help hold him while another person offered high-value treats to distract him.

• Reality Check: This is easier said than done. When Ace was terrified in the beginning, he lost all interest in food. But we persisted, rewarding him whenever he was calm. By the 3rd time, it got progressively easier.

5. The Nightmare: Drying the Dog

Showering is the easy part. Drying is the pain in the ass. Ace hates the blow dryer. I used to dry him in the living room, but he would run around, and the aftermath of the fur flying was another pain to clean up.

My "Hack" for Drying:

1. Stay in the Tub: I now keep him in the bathtub for the drying phase.
2. Extension Cord: I run an extension cord to the bathroom door so I can plug the dryer in safely outside the toilet.
3. Use a Pet Dryer: High Velocity Pet Dryer I stopped using my human hair dryer for two reasons:
   • It is more efficient and effective.
   • The hair clogs the filter. If you use your human hairdryer, the inlet filter will get clogged with dog hair.

Safety Note: During blow drying, getting someone else to give treats is a great help to keep them calm and still.

Final Thoughts

Showering Ace is still work. It takes effort, and I usually end up sweating. But looking at him afterwards—shiny, fluffy, and smelling like oatmeal—makes it worth it. It’s these little caretaking moments that tell our dogs: "I’ve got you."

Do you have a shower ritual? Or does your dog hide the moment they hear the water running? Let me know in the comments!

Watch the Routine

I filmed the whole chaotic process so you can see exactly how we do it (and how much fur actually comes off!).