Experts Answer: How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog?
As a house pet, your dog's hygiene not only concerns his own health but also those around him, that is, the whole family. Is it necessary and is it good to take daily baths though? The answer is absolutely not! According to the vet, too much bathing may cause skin problems, and increase the risk of bacterial fungal infections. So to know how often to bathe your dog matters.
How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog?
Now, all dogs are different, and so are their needs. So it is a case-by-case matter, but in general, dogs need to be bathed at around every 3 months, according to the ASPCA. How often you should wash your dog depends on flowing factors, including his health condition, breed, coat, activity level, and where these events take place.
What Kind is Your Dog?
Dogs with harsh-textured coats aren't as easily dirtied as soft-coated ones, such as Shelties, Collies, and Labs; so they can be bathed once a month. Dogs without undercoats like Maltese, Yorkies, Afghans, and Shih Tzus should be bathed once a week.
Does Your Dog Live Indoors Or Outdoors?
A dog that lives outdoors would need fewer times of bathing, but that doesn't mean to leave them smelly; after all, a clean dog is a happy dog. In most cases, when a dog lives indoors with you, especially if it sleeps in your bed, you would probably wash it more regularly.
What Activities Does Your Dog Partake In?
When you take your dog outside, does he play in the sand or dirt? Or roll in the grass, eat poop, or drool? All these dog-natured activities are indicators that regular bathing would probably be a good idea.
Is Anyone In Your House Allergic To Dogs?
Is anyone in your household allergic to dogs? If so, the American Lung Association suggests that a regular groom & bath is necessary to effectively help remove the dander that accumulates on a pet's fur.
If Dogs Are Suffering From Itchy Skin?
Dogs tend to absorb allergens through the skin, so weekly bathing can prevent itchiness by washing allergens away before they get a chance to penetrate the skin.
In conclusion, it's better to wash your dog every 2-4 weeks in the aforementioned circumstances.
Here is a sheet with the recommended frequency (in weeks) of wash and groom (which can be done simultaneously) for some of the most common dog breeds:
| Akita: every 8–10 weeks | Havanese: 4–6 |
| Alaskan Malamute: 8–10 | Irish Setter: 8–12 |
| American Eskimo: 6–8 | Irish Wolfhound: 8–12 |
| Australian Cattle Dog: 6–8 | Kerry Blue Terrier: 4–6 |
| Beagle: 8–10 | Lab (non-hunting): 8–10 |
| Basset Hound: 8–10 | Lhasa Apso: 4–6 |
| Bearded Collie: 6–8 | Long-Haired Dachshund: 8–10 |
| Bernese Mountain Dog: 6–8 | Maltese: 4–6 |
| Bichon: 4–6 | Newfoundland: 6–8 |
| Border Collie: 4–8 | Norfolk/Norwich Terrier: 8–10 |
| Boxer: 6–8 | Papillon: 6–8 |
| Bulldog: 6–8 | Pekingese: 4–6 |
| Cairn Terrier: 6–8 | Poodle (all breeds): 4–6 |
| Chow Chow: 6–8 | Pug: 8–10 |
| Cocker Spaniel: 4–8 | Rottweiler: 8–10 |
| Corgi (all breeds): 6-8 | Rough Collie: 6–8 |
| Dalmatian: 10–12 | Samoyed: 6–8 |
| Doberman: 8–10 | Schnauzer (all breeds): 4–6 |
| English Setter: 8–10 | Shetland Sheepdog: 8–10 |
| German Shepherd: 8–12 | Shih Tzu: 4–6 |
| German Shorthair: 10–12 | Siberian Husky: 6–8 |
| Golden Retriever: 6–8 | Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier: 4–6 |
| Gordon Setter: 10–12 | West Highland White Terrier: 4–6 |
| Great Pyrenees: 6–8 | Wire Fox Terrier: 6–8 |
| Greyhound: 12 | Yorkshire Terrier: 4–6 |
How To Wash Your Dog?
If you think it's a piece of cake to bathe a dog and skip reading this part, then you might miss out on some important details to take heed of during this bonding time.
Start 'Em Young
Dogs aren't scared to death of bathing like many cats. Instead, they enjoy this activity. Incorporate it into their routine when they are young and you wouldn't find much trouble when they are grown. If you miss this stage of your dog, bathing may be a possible challenge. Be patient, dear friend!
Choose The Right Shampoo
Never use human shampoo to wash your dog, because human shampoo will disrupt the pH balance of dogs, and disturbed pH balance can foster bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Use shampoos for dogs.
Here are the best three sellers of dog shampoos on Amazon:
1. FURminator deShedding Ultra Premium Shampoo
2. SynergyLabs Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic & Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo for Dogs
3. Douxo Chlorhexidine PS Shampoo
Like A Reborn Dog You’ve Rescued From Mud
Heed the precautions mentioned above; now start washing your dog with the correct procedure: Choose a location and get the water temperature right; remove any tangles on the coat; trim your dog's nails; gather all the supplies you'll need (like cotton balls, shampoo, a towel); put cotton balls in your dog's ears and remove your dog's collar. Finally, wash your dog the way you wash your hair.
Last but not least, "remember to groom your dog for a short period, maybe 5 or 10 minutes each day. The Combination of the groom and an occasional bath will make your dog look healthy and glossy," says Stephen L. Zawistowski, Ph.D., an animal behaviorist and science adviser to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
