How often do you bathe your dog?

[Tulip]

Let me start by saying I don't like bathing dogs. If I can avoid it, I will gladly pay someone else to do it. If I am forced to do it because of some unexpected incident, then I will but I still don't like to do it.

The most frequent I have done is around once a week but not for a long period of time. My general schedule is between 2 to 4 weeks. Sometimes it is every two weeks and other times it may be closer to a month (usually in winter). I have a poodle, her coat is lovely, and she smells good so all is well.

I had a co-worker tell me that she has never gone longer than 3 days without shampooing her yorkie. She said because she keeps him in the house (as I do my dog as well) that she is uncomfortable with going longer. Hmm. Her dog doesn't have the best looking coat in town but I've certainly seen worse.

Am I being a slacker by not shampooing more often? Should I? Do you?

[jamaica_dreamin]

Re: How often do you bathe your dog?

When Barney was having skin problems the vet said not to bathe him more than once per month.

I try to send him to a pro groomer every 3-4 months (they cut the nails and express the anal glands)

[kia027]

Re: How often do you bathe your dog?

every 6 weeks Clancy goes to the groomer fi maintain im mohawk & get a good cleanup He goes more often because he has old man hairy ears and they have to be plucked or all heck breaks loose

He likes his bracelets and mohawk when he is done though

imho I think weekly is too much but am deferring to the dog experts

[Nanook]

Re: How often do you bathe your dog?

There are certain shampoos you can get that are more gentle than others but to bathe a yorkie every 3 days is excessive, and not good for the yorkie! Once a week is pushing it. Every two weeks is better it she is into often bathing, but I don't know too many dogs that get a weekly bath. Actually, I can only think of one...a little lahsa apso that gets herself dirty enough to wash weekly! By day 7 she is a mess.

Dogs as a rule don't need bathing very often, I think once a month or 6 weeks like Kia does is great and of course it depends on their environment. It depends on time of year around my house too. And then you have the skin problem dogs like Rosebud, who on occasion I have washed every couple of days for a week or so while she's having a bout of allergy related dermatitis, but otherwise I wash her every 3 to 4 weeks with Euca Luca Lime which is the only shampoo I will use on her.

Paris gets a bath every 10 days to two weeks because of the show hair and we use mostly Pantene shampoo and conditioner!

[Tulip]

Re: How often do you bathe your dog?

So I guess I'll just stick with my current every 2-to-4 week schedule.

Butterfly's hair is curly and I find it easier to maintain if it is well conditioned. Once she gets a tangle, that is it! No amount of gentle combing from tip to root gets rid of it.

[Nanook]

Re: How often do you bathe your dog?

That's why we keep our poodle hair stick straight. It will brush out easily and regular, no less than once a week... brushing will do. Paris hair might end up brushed out and dried straight even more often if it is humid or rainy.

I think that Paris is probably going to end up with the big haircut in early September. She did 4 shows in Minnesota in July and is on her way to Topeka Ks for 4 more. After that time we will decide what to do but I think we already know...then we will start obedience training.

(she puts her tail down very submissively when she stops after going around the ring and I don't think any amount of training is going to stop her from doing that, as she is very soft.)

After the big haircut the washing will be mostly up to me, along with learning to sculpt the shorter hair...Paris will probably have baths every week or two depending on the weather.

[Tulip]

Re: How often do you bathe your dog?

Her coat is BEAUTIFUL Nanook. I assume she is a standard sized.

Butterfly is a miniature. I tried the blow-out once but she looked like she weighed 50 pounds. I think it was the cut; it just sort of stuck out. I keep her face, feet, and body close, but her coat definitely leans more towards curly than wavy. She has a tangle at the hair at the bottom of left ear right now but you can't visually see it. I'm just gradually getting it clipped away lol because I like the hair on her ears at this length.

I did not brush her often enough to become accustomed to it when she was a puppy. Now every time is a hassle because she wants to play with the brush. She doesn't give the groomer any trouble - just me. Maybe that can be our next project.

[Nanook]

Re: How often do you bathe your dog?

Do you have a small grooming table? If you use an actual grooming table your little one will probably stay still for brushing easier as the table will be something familiar like at the groomers for her to associate with...

You can get a small one pretty inexpensive:



link to this and more

If you were closer I'd give you my small one! I don't use it anymore. I was lucky to get two tables from friends. One is a fold up one and the other is swivel hydraulic, but the hydraulic broke. I LOVE the swivel though, as I can groom Paris sitting down and just turn her.

I would have a hard time to groom Paris on the floor, or anywhere but her table, but she lies on her table like she's dead when brushing her, dwl..

To get the matts out use a slicker brush and just separate the matts out one way then the next...they will eventually come out.

This was my trial by fire school of grooming that I attended, lol...Paris's breeder had a parent in hospice and I ended up with a poodle in show coat with no idea what to do with it..then winter came, lol...it was a disaster.

[Tulip]

Re: How often do you bathe your dog?

I don't have a table and yes, we fight on the floor. . Getting one is not a bad idea at all.

Also, I'm going to try the back and forth with the slicker brush. I've always just tried to get it out in one direction. Considering I brush in both directions, I don't know why that never crossed my mind. That was one hot tip there!

[Peasie]

Re: How often do you bathe your dog?

Boomer gets shampooed outside in the back yard every 2-3 weeks. Shampoo, rinse, repeat. Then coat conditioner, leave on for 3-5 minutes, then rinse. He will air dry outside. I use the Furminator on his coat about once a week.

Boomer. Lab-collie mix

[Tulip]

Re: How often do you bathe your dog?

Peasie, Boomer is looking so dapper;. I'm going to have to go back through the threads. This the same dog who wanted to bring the rib bone in the house? I might have him confused with someone else.

[f0rTyLeGz]

Re: How often do you bathe your dog?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tulip</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Am I being a slacker by not shampooing more often? Should I? Do you? </div></div>
Hmmm my dog Pepper hasn't had a bath in the five years I have owned her. She looks and smells great. But you got me worried that I was a slacker so I Googled and found this...

&quot;Most dogs usually never really require a bath. Baths can be given as often as is necessary (i.e. if your dog gets dirty or has an offensive body odour), although regular grooming, by way of combing and brushing, is often all that is required. Two or three baths a month is not considered excessive. However, if bathing is required more often than this, a special medicated shampoo, readily available from your veterinarian, should be used to prevent the hair coat and skin from drying out.

Human skin differs significantly from a dog's skin. A dog's skin is much thinner, has no sweat glands, has a different pH compared to human skin, and as such, a pet's skin is much more sensitive than human skin. Shampoos intended for human use, even baby or pH balanced brands, should never be used on dogs. Heavily perfumed shampoos should also be avoided, since they may cause an allergic reaction. For best grooming results, your veterinarian can advise you on which shampoo is ideal for your pet.

The frequency of bathing rarely causes any significant problems in dogs, provided that the appropriate shampoo is used. In fact, the major cause of problems tends to be due to improper rinsing afterwards. A shampoo residue can cause skin irritations if left on sensitive dog skin, especially around the ultra-sensitive scrotum or vulva. If there is any doubt as to whether the shampoo is entirely rinsed, rinse one more time.&quot;

http://www.my-dog.info/dog-care/dogs_bath.asp