Hi I was just wondering how often I should bath my dog.She is a black staff nearly 5 months old,I bathed her the day after we bought her home, then when she was 3 months old because she had a great time digging in the garden whilst it was raining lol! And this morning,I was just wondering if every couple of months is too often she really enjoys the bath and has a nice long sleep afterwards (like my kids when they were babies.)But I know if you bath them too much it takes the waterproofing out of their coat.xx

They say to only wash them when they need it but my dog gets washed at least every 6 weeks when he goes to the groomer and his coat is fine. Its good to get them used to the bath when they are younger aswell.

Unless there is a specific need to bath your dog - such as it having rolled in something disgusting - most breeds do not need many (if any!) baths   Some longer coated breeds (such as Afghan for eg) need particular coat care but even in my own breed which has a long, double coat, baths are strictly to remove nasties and so thankfully rare.  It can alter the natural ph balance of the skin and coat, oils etc.

In a short/smooth coated breed such as your own, I'd not bath at all unless as described above.  A hose off for mud if necessary on legs but even then when dry it can be easily brushed.

Regular grooming is of greater benefit to the coat, skin, examining for lumps, bumps, bruises, parasites etc and an excellent method of bonding with your dog - much more so than bathing is.

regards, Teri

The first time I bathed her was because she came from the kennels and was a bit smelly,the second time was because she got all muddy and I gave her a bath today because she was filthy.Her coat looks lovely so I think I might give her a bath every couple of months as long as it doesnt do any harm.xx

Every couple of months should be fine colls but too often can strip the coat from the oils that help protect the skin and cause sensitivity and dryness. Mine probably get bathed 4 - 6 times a year and I usually just do this myself at home but I'm thinking of taking them to a groomer during their twice yearly moult to help remove the undercoat. When mine moult they seriouly moult!

To pinkbrady, Huskys - right?  (tiny piccy - poor eyesight LOL)

Better to invest your hard earned cash in a blaster and do them yourself   It removes all of the undercoat and debris from the coat (dust, dander etc) and you'll find your home distinctly cleaner for it too!  They don't need to be kept for baths only - simply spray the coat with water and blast it.

My breed has a similar, although longer, double coat and it's been a life saver (as well as preserved furnishings, vacuum cleaner, personal friendships and general family sanity et al )

regards Teri

Yes Teri I've got 2 huskys so I'm sure you can imagine how much hair comes off them particularly if you have a double coated breed. Thanks for the advice, is there a particualar blaster you would recommend or are they all pretty much the same?

I've got the air commander - around £200 from memory.  Nice size, portable, easy to store, doesn't require heat or a stand.

I think there are probably some cheaper ones on the market these days as I've had mine a lot of years and they're more common now  

Thanks Teri I will get searching.

I still plan to get one just can't seem to allocate the funds, other things keep getting priority.  Got to get youngster Hip scored, and they are all due boosters, pup her first and the others their three yearly.

Keep an eye on ebay Barbara - you might be able to grab a bargain

Teri

Just googled mine and seen this one advertised on THIS forum! recently - may still be available or worth posting in the searching section in case anyone has one surplus to requirements

With my breed, it says once a year or when they need it.. BUT i do tend to do it every 10 weeks.. Never had any problems!!

> Keep an eye on ebay Barbara - you might be able to grab a bargain
>
> Teri

Never bought anything on Ebay just don't like or trust it somehow.

I have a bitch that hasn't been bathed for a couple of years She is regularly swimming though so the coat gets wet every day I just brush her when she is dry. The others get a bath when I'm getting htem ready for a show, but they don't always need it. Unless they have found that horrid smelly dead trout/salmon thingy on the bank of the local stream

I have 2 20 month old deerhounds that have never been bathed, they don't smell at all, even the groomer who popped by last week to assess my girls commented on the younger one, and even my older girl has not actually been bathed since having her pups least summer, and again she is clean. I won't consider bathing mine til summer as I do it outside, so they will prob all get done in a few months time, unless it's close to a show in which case I won't bath them at all! Just let the rainwater keep them tidy etc and has already been said, regular brushing to keep on top of general condition

I usually bath mine every 6 months- depends if they smell or not or I wait till summer- sometimes they lay in poo outside or my male pee's on one (cross fingers has not happened for a long time). Mostly T-Bone (female) and Dozer (male) tend to smell from rolling around and playing outside and end up in some fresh poo Since they are short haired I can just wipe them down with a warm wet cloth unless they are stinky then I have no choice. I do find the males always pee on their front legs cause they are always licking them when they come ina nd I think thats why they tend to smell...

Baths are for dire emergencies.

Keeping a coat clean and smell free can be done with appropriate diet, and good brushing. If the diet is lacking or has too many additives or unsuitable ingredients, skin and coat are usually the first thing to suffer and a whiffy dog is a dead giveaway that something internal is not going so well (ie food,. digestion and i mean a general pong, not farts!).

My dogs stay 'doggy whiff' free with frequent and proper brushing (getting right down to the skin) and good food... they get bathed in fox poo/human poo/cat poo rolling incidents, ie with soap. If they are VERY muddy they get showered off with just water and no rubbing at the coat.

human poo?!!!  'puzzled smiley' LOL

My dogs tend to get muddy and as it drys, dusty, this makes the coat difficult to brush. Sometimes this means a bath every 6 weeks or so. 

I always dilute the shampoo in an old washing up bottle about the same ratio as if making squash. This is strong enough for a sudsey rinse, takes out all the dirt whilst leaving the oil in the coat and you never have to worry about globs of shampoo hidden in the coat after rinsing

>human poo?!!!  'puzzled smiley' LOL

Oh believe me,it IS out there,especially behind tree's/bushes in the woods,and if it's there my dogs will find it,gross,gross,gross!!!!!

As for bathing, mine get done around once a month. Some long coated show dogs get done once or twice a week

Must admit my dog is bathed every 6 weeks at the groomers and more often than not he's bathed once or twice inbetween becuae he gets covered in mud or comes in smelling of poo. Not sure where from as he doesnt roll in it but his coat can stink.