How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog?

Many dog parents find that giving their canine a bath can be quite a challenging activity. Often a messy task, giving your dog a bath tends to take time and patience. Thankfully, dogs don’t need a daily washing like their human counterparts. With that being said, it is a logical question to wonder “how often should you bathe your dog?” Let’s take a moment to answer that question.

How Often Should I Bathe My Dog?

Unfortunately, the answer to this question isn’t written in stone. The quick answer to this question is, “it depends.”

One factor to consider is how your dog spends their time. If your dog’s favorite activity is rolling around in every smelly thing they can find when you let them outdoors, your dog is going to need a bath far more often than if your doggie is a couch potato. The bottom line is this. If your dog walks into the room and you are able to smell them, it’s time for a bath.

The length of your dog’s hair is another factor in determining when it’s time to bathe him or her. If your dog has long, thick fur, chances are that they have more dirt and debris trapped inside of its hair. Short-haired dogs may need to be bathed less often.

With all of these factors into consideration, at a minimum, it is recommended to give your dog a bath once every 3 months.

The Importance of Doggie Bath Time

Giving your dog a bath is more than just about making them and your house smell squeaky clean. It is a great way to bond with your pet, and show them how much you care. Some dogs find it relaxing to feel the repetitive motions of being washed and brushed. Keep in mind that the more often you bathe your dog, the more likely they will grow to enjoy it.

Bath time is also the perfect opportunity to check your dog for any abnormalities. Pay special attention to their ears, teeth, skin and nails. Check to make sure that your dog doesn’t have fleas, ticks or lice in their coat.

Do you have clumps of dog hair all over your house? Regular bathing, followed by a nice brushing can help remedy this common problem. As a side note, when you use a nice moisturizing doggie shampoo and/or coconut oil, your dog’s coat will feel silky smooth for you to pet.

Do you or your dog suffer from allergies? Inside dog fur, you will often find dirt, bacteria and allergens. For this reason, you will find it beneficial to bathe your dog more often if you suffer from allergies.

Tips for Bathing Your Dog with Ease

• Gather everything that you need before you begin washing your dog.
• Only use a therapeutic shampoo that is designed specifically for dogs.
• Place a cotton ball inside each of your dog’s ear canals while bathing to keep the water out.
• Brush your dog before and after their bath.
• Use a piece of steel wool to block the drain in your bathtub so that your dog’s hair won’t clog up your tub.
• Provide a non-slip surface on the bottom of the tub. This can be something as simple as a bath towel.
• Fill your tub with warm water before bringing in your dog, as some dogs feel stressed out by the sound of running water.

When bath time is over, be sure to reward your dog with plenty of praise, petting and playtime.