How Often Should You Bathe a Dog

If you are a new dog owner, it must be confusing for you to determine when to bathe your dog. One obvious answer is when he smells. But, in reality, the frequency of bathing a dog depends on a couple of factors and not just the fact that your dog smells.

In general, an active dog needs a bath every 4-6 weeks, but the frequency may differ depending on some factors.

•    Health

Bathing a healthy and active dog is fine once a month. But, if your dog suffers from some health condition, your vet may suggest you use a medicated shampoo. For example, a dog with thyroid issue may have hair that becomes brittle and fall out too much. A product specific to address the shedding problem will be advised for bathing the dog then.

•    Coat Type

The type of coat your dog has an impact on how often he may need a bath too. Naturally, dogs with thick and long hair will require more grooming but be careful about too frequent baths that may make his coat lose its natural oils and luster.

•    Activity

If you have an active dog, the one who likes to run around and gets dust on his fur will need to be given baths frequently. But again if you have a dog with medium or short fur, you may get the dust out by a damp cloth and a thorough brush too.

What to use for bathing a dog?

As the pH levels of a dog’s skin are very different to humans, you can’t bathe them with human shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap or body wash. You should bathe a dog with dog shampoos available on the market. The products you use can be specific for certain coat types or problems such as odor.

An alternative to using dog shampoo in case it is not available is using baby shampoo. It is not as good as dog shampoo but better than the shampoo for adults.

After Bath Care Tips

For a very active dog or better yet a hyper puppy, staying put for so long can be a hard job. But you need to perform these after bath steps anyway to ensure proper care of your furry buddy.

•    Squeeze water out from your dog’s hair and then dry him off with a cotton cloth or a towel. Vigorously at first with the grain and then from head to tail.
•    For dogs with thick and long hair, comb out their hair first to avoid any tangles during drying.
•    Keep your dog indoors and warm until his fur dries.
•    Blow-dry long and thick haired dogs with warm air not hot while brushing against the grain.
•    For a less fluffy look brush with the grain after you are done blow drying.

Was this article helpful? Let us know in the comments below.

Have you enjoyed this article? Check more about dog Grooming! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive other interesting blog posts delivered directly to your inbox! 

Please note: all dogs should be treated as individuals. The Actijoy blog is for educational and entertainment purposes only. In the case of emergency, always seek qualified health care from a local veterinarian or emergency facility. Actijoy blogs are not designed to treat, diagnose, or prescribe medication for your pet.