How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog?

They say a dog is a man’s best friend but truly a clean dog is a man’s best friend. It’s the end of April, the snow is melting and the muddy season is here so what could be a better time to write about this topic. How often should you bathe your dog and can you bathe your dog too many times? Yes you can but the frequency depends on a few factors either way, let’s get into it!

A good indicator of whether you should bathe your dog or not is if the dog is visibly dirty or if you notice the grimy dusty feeling in your hands after petting the dog. Don’t bathe your dog “just because”. One shortcut is to just wash the paws and underbelly more frequently. Overwashing is a real thing. If you bathe your dog every week chances are that you are just stripping the natural oils out of your dog’s fur and doing more harm than good.

How Often Should I Bathe My Short-Haired Dog?

This is the easiest case. Owners of short-haired dogs are blessed with little less work. The general rule for bathing a dog is that you should bathe your dog once a month. 

A short sleek coat repels dirt quite well and doesn’t require frequent conditioning. Therefore you as a dog owner can get away with bathing your dog every two months. If your dog has coarse hair, like for example terriers, schnauzers, and some dachshunds tend to, you can likewise stretch the time between baths to two to three months. 

How Often Should I Bathe My Long-Haired Dog?

This is the trickier case. Long-haired and floppy-eared dogs tend to get dirtier a bit faster. I have a lot of experience of this because I own two spaniels with long silky coats. I wash my dogs every two weeks when it’s shedding season or bad weather. It gets muddy in the spring when snow is melting. And in autumn the particularly muddy and rainy weather comes back again.

If it’s not spring, autumn, or the shedding season, you can bathe your long-haired dog once a month. Using conditioner for a long-haired dog is crucial so don’t skip it. Conditioning the coat prevents knots and matts from forming.

How Often Should I Bathe My Double-Coated Dog?  

Thick fluffy double-coated breeds need more maintenance. Generally, they need more frequent brushing than bathing. At best, the double-coated dogs need to be bathed 3-5 times a year. But as I mentioned at the beginning of the post, it all comes down to the fact of how dirty the dog is. Owners of golden retrievers know how their dogs like to swim and run around in the mud so bathing only 3-5 times does not apply.

What If My Dog Has a Skin Condition?

If your dog suffers from skin conditions keeping your dog clean and healthy is very important. Skin conditions and sensitive skin should not be an obstacle to bathing. There are many medicated high-quality shampoos on the market. It has been shown that regular bathing can actually improve a dog’s skin health by balancing the bacteria and rehydrating the skin. The key is not to use hot water and to find the right products for your dog’s needs: 

• Dogs that are prone to skin infections should use antibacterial and antifungal shampoos. 
• Dogs with atopic dermatitis should use mild hypo-allergenic shampoos that preferably don’t have added scents or colors. 
• For parasite infestations, there are many antiparasitic shampoos.

Using conditioner after shampooing is recommended. In these cases, the conditioner’s job is mainly to soothe itchy and irritated skin whereas usually conditioner is used to make the dog’s fur more manageable. 

Please always read the product instructions because sometimes medicated shampoos are used more as a treatment for a certain period and are not meant to be used routinely. It’s best to consult your local veterinarian before using medicated shampoos.

Bathing Your Dog In Winter Time

You can apply the same rules listed above. If you live in a cold climate like I do over-bathing is really harmful in the wintertime. It dries out the skin and strips off the natural oils that protect the skin and fur. I actually bathe my dogs less frequently in winter because it’s only snow and no mud outside. Keep in mind my dogs don’t have any skin conditions and therefore don’t need a regular bathing regimen. 

Conclusion

Bathing is essential to dog grooming, but how often you should bathe your furry friend depends on their coat type.

Short-haired dogs can typically go longer between baths, while long-haired dogs may require more frequent bathing to prevent matting and tangling. I have long-haired dogs so I’m a victim of weather conditions.

Double-coated breeds require less bathing and may only need to be groomed less than once a month.

Remember, over-bathing can strip your dog’s coat of natural oils, so it’s important to strike the right balance. Understanding your dog’s unique coat and grooming needs can keep them looking and feeling their best.