How often should I wash my dog?

The answer for “how often should I wash my dog” will depend on the type/breed of dog you have, age and activity level.

Bathing your dog isn’t just good for their hygiene, it’s also an excellent chance to check for unusual scratches, bumps, fleas and other abnormalities. These things are easier to see when their hair is wet and flat against their body. But how often should you wash your dog?

Breed/ Coat Type

Margaret H. Bonham in Dog Grooming for Dummies says:

“Hairless dogs require weekly bathing followed by moisturizers and sun-screen. Remember, they’re as unprotected from the elements as you are, so put them in T-shirts or sweaters to keep them warm after a bath at night” These include; American Hairless Terrier. Peruvian Inca Orchid. Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless Dog) Chinese Crested. Argentine Pila

“Short-coated dogs usually need more baths than medium-coated dogs. Bathe your short-coated dog when his coat gets dirty or feels oily” These include; Boxer, French bulldog, Pug, Doberman, Dalmatian, Grey Hound, Great Dane, Weimaraner, Mastiff, Boston Terrier, Daschund, Beagle.

“Medium-coated dogs need to be bathed when dirty, but they also need to be brushed more, depending on the dog’s skin type and how often the coat gets oily.” These include Akita, the Australian Shepherd Dog, the Border Collie, the Brittany, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the German Shepherd, the Golden Retriever, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, the Pyrenean Mountain Dog.

“Bathing double-coated dog depends a great deal on how dirty he gets and how often you brush and comb him. Most people get by with a bath once a month, but this may vary.” Super thick dog coats may need fewer baths but more brushing to reduce shedding and keep coats shiny and healthy. These include; Finish Spitz, Husky, Great  Pyrenees, ,mountain dogs and most Scandinavian breeds.

Activity level

Does your dog seem to love rolling around in mud, jumping in puddles and basically just becoming as mucky as possible? Active, playful dogs who loved the outdoors will need more regular baths than lazy dogs who prefer to stay indoors. With short and medium-coated dogs, you might be able to get away with giving your pooch a good rubdown with a warm, damp washcloth after getting a little grubby outdoors. But if you’ve got an eager, active medium or long-haired dog, expect lots more bath time!

Tips

It’s best to start your puppy off with a few baths when they are young. This will make it easier for them to get used to the process and help them get comfortable with water in general. A lot of dogs don’t like bath time, but if you can get your pup used to being bathed regularly from an early age, they’re likely to grow up thinking it’s normal and nothing to be afraid of.

As mentioned, the frequency of bathing will depend on the breed, age and activity level of your dog. Some dogs are very clean and can go for a few weeks between baths without needing one, while others need one every week or even more often.If your dog has particularly oily skin or long hair, you may want to consider bathing them more often than you would a dog with normal skin or hair.

However, frankly, most dogs don’t need baths more than once or twice a month – and bathing them every day or twice a week can actually do more harm than good. A dog’s skin contains a host of natural oils which promotes hair growth, keeps the skin healthy and the fur soft. Especially dogs with water-repellent coats such as golden retrievers should be bathed less frequently with a doggy shampoo or medicated shampoo to maintain natural oils. On the other hand, dogs with too much natural oil, such as basset hounds, may need to be washed weekly.

Washing it every day can strip these oils away, leading to dry skin, irritation and rashes. Whether you bathe your dog monthly or less frequently, it is an important part of keeping your dog healthy and happy. By bathing your dog on a regular basis, your dog’s coat will be shinier and cleaner. Your dog will smell nicer too!

How should I bathe my puppy?

Don’t forget to give your pooch a good brush before getting them in the bath. If your dog’s fur is full of knots, they’ll be even trickier to remove after washing and drying. If your pooch is long-haired and prone to knots, it can be handy to brush through with a wide-bristled brush whilst washing, too.

What products are best for bathing your dog?

These are the products that are generally recommended for bathing:

Pet shampoo: Bathing your dog with a dog shampoo is the best option. If your pup has a skin problem, regular shampoo can be uncomfortable, so your veterinarian might give you a special dog wash or puppy shampoo to limit the risk of irritation on your dog’s skin.

Puppy shampoo is recommended for any dog’s breed or coat, including Boston terrier, Golden retriever, Basset hound, or Dachshund. A thorough, sulfate-free, hypoallergenic bathing shampoo made for puppies and dogs with severe allergies can be recommended.

Check our Instagram for the full recipe!

DIY shampoo:

•By making your own dog shampoo you won’t need to worry about harsh chemicals irritating your pup’s skin! Also making your own dog shampoo you’ll be saving money and you won’t have to worry about harsh chemicals irritating your pup’s skin. Some basic ingredients commonly used in homemade dog shampoo are castile soap, lavender essential oil (to help combat fleas), almond oil (to moisturize), distilled white vinegar (to remove smells) and coconut (to moisturize).On top of that, your dog is doing to smell amazing after using the shampoo.Making your own dog shampoo doesn’t have to be complicated.

For dog parents out there, here is our homemade dog shampoo recipe you can try at home.Check out our Instagram for more : www.instagram.com/paws.app/

Check out our dog services  www.pawsapp.co 

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