We as humans usually take a Bath once a day; it can be either in the morning before we get to work or at night before we go to bed. And sometimes, it can be more than once, especially if we get involved in sweaty activities such as working out in the gym. As a dog owner, this might make you wonder, does the same concept applies to my dog? How often should I bathe my dog?

How often should bathe a dog?

Here’s the quick answer: Once a month. Yes, if your dog is perfectly healthy and doesn’t have any skin conditions, there is no need to give him a bath every week. In fact, vets agree that over-baths will lead to more harmful effects than benefits as it may cause skin dryness and infections.

However, there are more factors that affect your dog’s bathing routine. Here are three things you should consider to determine how often you should bathe your dog.

1. Coat Type

You might think that the basic rule of thumb for this is the shorter the hair, the less bathing requires, but it’s not actually that simple. Hairless Dog Breeds like Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless Dog), Chinese Crested, Argentine Pila Dog, and American Hairless Terrier actually requires more bathing. Experts recommend giving these dogs a weekly bath. On the other hand, long-coated breeds like Shih Tzu, Maltese, Yorkshire terrier, and Collie requires bath every 4 to 6 weeks. However, like mentioned before, it doesn’t always depend on fur length. Breed like Puli which is considered as long-haired dog requires less bath compared to similar types since Puli doesn’t develop that typical dog smell.

How about dogs with water-repellant coats? Dogs that are trained for water retrieval like or cross-country sled hauling have developed natural oily coats to repel water and survive the cold weather. Breeds such as Labrador retriever and Great Pyrenees are fine with less frequent baths to preserve their skin’s natural oils.

2. Activity Level

Some dog breeds are more active than others especially if you have an older dog. If you own a dog who is a home buddy and enjoys watching TV on the couch with you than digging holes outside, then they are probably cleaner and smells better. On the other side of the spectrum, there are outdoor dog breeds like Labrador retriever, and German shepherd who loves to play in muddy waters, and needs more bath to remove all those mud. In doing so, always use a mild shampoo to prevent skin dryness.

3. Health Conditions

If your pooch has skin allergies or other health problems consult with your vet to know exactly how often you should bathe your dog. Chances are, the vet will recommend using a special medicated shampoo to treat the problem. Aside from baths, combing and brushing their fur is also an essential part of the grooming regimen to ensure your dog’s health.

Now that you’ve finished reading the article, you might have realized that the real answer is it depends. There’s no exact frequency on how often you should bathe your dog since it is influenced by various factors. We do hope that this article has enlightened you somehow, but if you are still unsure, the best way is to ask your vet.

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