— Dog Care —

How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog?

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Author: Serena Law

There’s no denying the fact that some of our canine companions seem to enjoy creating mess. Many dogs find it fun to walk around covered in dirt after splashing in every muddy puddle, or even rolling around in poop!

As well as a solution for smelly breath, there’s also a solution for messy pups. Bathing dogs every so often can protect your nose and home.

So how often should you bathe your dog? Scroll down to find out more!

How often should you bathe your dog?

How often a dog should be bathed depends on a dog’s breed, lifestyle and habits.

Double-coated breeds, such as Labradors, should only be bathed every three months or even less. An exception would be if they get particularly pongy. This is because bathing will dry out the natural oils that protect their skin and waterproof coat.

Dogs that tend to spend more time indoors and barely get dirty will inevitably need less regular baths. Aim to bathe them every two to three months.

If your dog enjoys spending their time exploring the outdoors and playing in the dirt, you would typically expect to bathe them around every four to six weeks. Rinse your dog with water if they become smelly in between full shampoo and conditioner baths.

Dog conditioners are highly recommended in keeping your dog’s coat and skin in top condition. They are also great for brushing out mattes with ease and leaving the coat super soft and silky.

REMEMBER: You can harm your dog by using a product not specially formulated for them. For example, the use of human shampoo or conditioner on a dog can break down their skin layer, causing them to be more vulnerable to bacteria and parasites. This is because a dog’s skin pH levels differ from ours (dogs tend to be more alkaline while ours are more acidic). Also, dogs have more sensitive skin because their skin has fewer layers compared to humans. We always recommend using dog products – but if you have to bathe your dog with human products in an emergency, choose a mild formulation used on babies and children.

What will happen if I bathe my dog too often?

Excessive bathing will quickly lead to a dog’s hair losing its natural shine and become dry. This could lead to irritation and itching.

It will increase the likelihood of the hair becoming brittle and damaged. 

What will happen if I don’t bathe my dog often enough?

 Not bathing a dog often enough will put the health of their skin and coat at risk.

All of the dirt, debris and bacteria your dog may have picked up on their travels will hang onto the skin and hair until they’re absorbed. This can result to irritation, itching and eventually lesions – ouch!

So it’s important to bathe your dog regularly to keep them clean and prevent discomfort and harm.

How do I bathe my dog?

eHow have created a useful video to demonstrate how to bathe your dog. Simply use a conditioner in the same way as you would when applying shampoo.