How often is too often for bathing a dog?

[alibob238]

I usually bath sparky a couple of times a month as in this sort of weather she gets muddy and dirty on her underneath from walking in rainy parks and whatnot. I think people will say that's too often, but she gets so dirty and tatty looking I prefer to do it more often............how long do their coats need to regain their oils from a washing? Does it do any harm to wash them that regularly

[MyDogShelby]

Bathing too often will dry them out. I would say a full bath can be given every 2-3 weeks...depending on who dirty the dog is. If your dog is outside a lot, then bathe her every 2 weeks, if she isn't outside so much, then maybe every 3 weeks would be adequate.

I understand that your dog gets pretty dirty often...when I walk Shelby the streets are dirty sometimes from leftover rain/snow, and when we get back home her underside is pretty dirty...so I take a watering can and fill it with warm water, and water down her legs and use one of my hands to go up and down them as I do, to sort of give her a "half bath", and then I continue to do her belly and such. Then I bring her in and dry her off. I wouldn't consider giving her a bath every time we go for a walk and she gets a bit dirty...it would dry her skin out way too much, and I don't think I would have enough energy to give her a bath everyday:D

I also recently bought a container of "doggie bath wipes"...it makes it easy to grab one and wipe her down for those occasions where her paws may be a little dirty, after visiting the vet, etc. Use them for anything....of course they aren't a "replacement" for a full bath;)

[skunkstripe]

Hey as often as Sophia goes swimming water alone cannot be too bad for them. She even went swimming when it was 10 deg and then rolled in the crunchy powdery snow last week!

But seriously if you can remove the mud without soap then there should not be that much of a problem.

[Amber23]

I have to give my dogs a bath every few weeks. They are always swimming, digging, playing the mud....

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/Ambieruns23/Katie%20and%20Bruce/mudbath.jpg (http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e400/Ambieruns23/Katie%20and%20Bruce/mudbath.jpg)

I use oatmeal shampoo, it seems to help with not drying their skin.

[KatzNK9]

I'd think that a stringent schedule of every other week year round with shampoos would be too much but I doubt that's what we're really looking at here.

For the winter & rainy, muddy months, you're more likely to bathe more often with the full-blown works. I'd use a good dog conditioner on the coat during those times.

When it is warmer, I'd skip a few baths & switch up to a good hose-down and towel dry (unless you have a breed that really needs to be blown dry).

The 1/2-bath & bath wipes ideas are good ones when you just don't have to get a really good clean, but I wouldn't worry too much if we're talking about seasonal increases in the bath schedule.

Also, when the coat appears dry to you, you might consider some coat supplements to add some luster back into the coat.

[golden-lover]

Kira and charlie love to swim n mucky ponds, but besdes that they get a bath 1-2 a month. If I can, I brush mud out, and use doggy wipes.

[rottnalex]

I guess I'm lucky. My dogs are wash and wear and usually clean up just fine with a good brushing. If they don't get into something stinky or muddy I only give them baths every few months. Willow likes to roll in stuff so I use spray-on waterless shampoo for just those occasions.

[KCat]

a lot depends on the dog. Bayta had skin problems and was bathed at least 2x a week for a good while until we got the skin calmed down. It was critical with staph and yeast growth and allergies giving her fits. Once we stabilized some of that she got a bath about every 2 weeks though the vet prescribed once a week.

Ming gets a bath about every 2 weeks. The biggest issue with bathing is the shampoo used (if any). Consider that many dogs, like Ming, will get in water almost daily if allowed. So while soaping them up every day may not be a good idea, a rinse is perfectly fine assuming all else is well with the dog. It's probably healthiest not to use any soap if you can avoid it if you have to bathe often unless, like with Bayta, there is a condition demanding it.

Neither of my dogs have liked being brushed. grrrrr... Bay started liking it - but that turned out to be a weird symptom of her brain disease. :( Ming turns around to get away from it like it's something that might bite him. between baths I rub him down with a microfibre towel which really draws the loose hair and dander out. Gotta go easy on dry days though :) though he's gotten used to the crackle of the static. Never use these towels around their eyes or mouth/nose. They're great for shorthaired dogs though that just need daily rubbed downs to keep the shedding and dander down.

[Gaby]

We bathe our dogs MINIMUM twice a week. Granted they are show dogs and have to be bathed the day before every show and then each morning when they are showing, but we haven't had any problems with drying out the skin or coat. You must use a top quality shampoo that is meant for frequent bathing, but we have had no ill-effects from frequent bathing.

My one dog who I'm campaigning as a special has gotten 2-5 baths a week from the time he was 5.5 months old and is now almost 4 and has had no issues at all from it.

[MyDogShelby]

...I use spray-on waterless shampoo for just those occasions.

Can you post the name of the product please? This may be something I would like to look into, to use alternatively with the doggie wipes...thanks! :)

[rottnalex]

Can you post the name of the product please? This may be something I would like to look into, to use alternatively with the doggie wipes...thanks!


I use Miracle Coat Spray On Waterless Shampoo. They also make a foaming waterless shampoo, but I have not tried it.

[MyDogShelby]

I use Miracle Coat Spray On Waterless Shampoo. They also make a foaming waterless shampoo, but I have not tried it.

Thank you rottnalex:) I'm going to look on the internet for it...maybe PetSmart carries it?

[deacon2112]

Harley is usually washed every 3 weeks.But more often when he's like this:angrysmiley:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/deacon2112/Harley%20jr/Photo-0050.jpg

[janwill]

Hi - I'm so glad to hear that other people need to bath their pooches frequently as I have to bath my Dane at least every two weeks as she gets pongy quick and I'd been told you should only bath every 3-4 months - we couldn't live with her in the house if she was left that long!!
I have found though that most dog shampoos don't really keep her smelling fresh ... which shampoo do other owners recommend?

[deacon2112]

We used a bottle of johnsons bought on ebay.Its now finished so will look about for something else.:)

[skunkstripe]

Harley is usually washed every 3 weeks.But more often when he's like this:angrysmiley:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/deacon2112/Harley%20jr/Photo-0050.jpg

Looks like he would be a good buddy for Sophia.
But how did he get to that clean spot on the floor without leaving any muddy pawprints? :confused:

[BratBoxers]

I bathe ever 1-2 weeks in the summer months and every 2 weeks in winter depending on how dirty they get. I use a detergent and soap free shampoo called Kenic and it is super gentle.

[deacon2112]

Looks like he would be a good buddy for Sophia.
But how did he get to that clean spot on the floor without leaving any muddy pawprints? :confused:
My wife told him to stay and she wiped the marks away."if your posting a pic of our floor for everyone to see it has to be clean":kookoo: :D

[Jake2006]

Jake swims a lot (he's an irish water spaniel) - but in the winter I have to resort to bathing if his coat is full of sand, mud, etc. I was recommended a product by the Irish Water Spaniel Association of Great Britain, its used by their gun dogs and other working spaniels, its Neem, apparently they've done some research with a producer and come up with Neem 40 - I can recommend it for frequent washing. Anyone who's seen Jake's photo knows he has a good coat.

I think its only available in the UK

http://www.neemgenie.co.uk/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PE03&Category_Code=007&Product_Count=5

[nikki_alaska]

i'm a dog groomer, and we suggest bathing every 3 weeks or longer. Shorter haired breeds can have more regular baths than long haired, as long haired take longer to build up enough oils again.