If you’re like the majority of people, you probably shower or bathe every day. But what about your dog? How often should you give the Dog a bath? That depends on several different factors. Dogs aren’t self-grooming like cats are, so they do occasionally need to take a Bath.
Most dogs will do fine with having a bath every one to three months. It all depends on your dog’s skin and coat type…if your dog has allergies or a skin condition, you may have to bathe her more often. Of course if your dog has been rolling in garbage or has an unfortunate encounter with a skunk, you’re not going to wait before he gets a bath, that requires immediate attention.
No two dogs are alike, which is certainly true at my house. Chuey, my Chihuahua-Jack Russell seldom needs a bath. First of all, he doesn’t have much hair to begin with and he never really gets into anything stinky. So he only gets bathed about once every three months or so. Even then he probably doesn’t really need it, I just like the way he smells so good and his coat feels so soft after a bath.
Then there’s Cash, my Schnauzer, who requires regular grooming and also has allergies. He has some skin problems and so I use a hypoallergenic Shampoo and bathe him about once a month. It’s not a fun experience for either one of us, but we get the job done.
Basic Bathing Guidelines
If your dog has normal skin, a bath once a month using either a good quality dog shampoo or even baby shampoo is quite sufficient. Bathing too frequently can dry out her skin and should only be done if your vet has recommended it for some reason. You shouldn’t use flea shampoo regularly either unless it’s been vet recommended, as it contains harsh chemicals. Just a regular dog shampoo is fine.
Don’t bathe your dog using the hose outdoors, as they don’t like the cold water any more than you would. Besides, rinsing off with cold water is not going to sufficiently remove all of the shampoo from his coat and shampoo residue can be very drying and harmful to your dog’s skin. The only time it’s okay to spray your dog from the hose is when you are playing on a hot summer day. And also, be careful when first turning on the hose in the summertime because if it’s been lying out in the hot sun that first blast of water can be scalding hot. This is especially true here in Arizona. Last summer a child suffered third-degree burns from water out of a hose.
A professional groomer is not necessary for giving your dog a bath, unless the dog is particularly hard to handle or you have a physical disability that makes it hard for you to do the job by yourself. But maybe your dog would enjoy a day at the spa. I occasionally like to take my dogs to the groomer because they also get their toenails clipped and come home smelling really good, but usually I do it myself. I just hate clipping their nails because I’m afraid of hurting them.
If you have a bath/shower combination with a handheld shower head, it’s a great and easy way to bathe a dog. The handheld shower is great for hitting all of the right spots and rinsing thoroughly, while keeping the water out of your dog’s eyes and ears. If you have a small dog, then the sink with a sprayer is another great option.
Maybe you think that your dogs needs to be dried with a professional dryer like the groomer uses, but it’s really not necessary. Those dryers can be loud and scary. If you towel dry your dog and then let him run around in the house to finish drying off, it will be just fine. I know my dogs both do the crazy dance once they are released from the towel. They run around and rub up against the furniture, and they wrestle with each other until they are dry in no time.
Why do dogs act crazy after a bath?
No one knows the real answer to this, but it certainly seems to be a common occurrence. I know after a shower I always feel better. So maybe my dogs just feel so good to be clean that it makes them extra energized. Or maybe they’re just glad the whole experience is over. Naturally rolling around and rubbing up against stuff helps them get dry faster and maybe they know that.
Here’s a great little video that shows you the basics of bathing your dog. Enjoy!
Do you have a dog that loves baths or one that avoids them? Either way, please feel free to share your experience.
