These coats tend to be longer, softer, and oilier than short-haired breeds. In between bathing, brush and wipe your pet to eliminate loose fur and odor. The smaller the dog, the less baths they need. How Often Do You Bathe a Dog? How to Bathe a Dog: Frequency. Oilier breeds might need a stronger shampoo, however, and any dog suffering from a skunking or a flea or tick infestation will require specialty products. Dogs with an oily coat, like Basset Hounds, may need bathing as frequently as once a week. Wire hair and curly coated dogs, while they only have a single coat, require clipping on a schedule to prevent matting. Or, maybe your dog’s breed requires that they be bathed more often as we mentioned above. Dachshunds produce a special hair oil that helps to insulate them from the elements. Whether you’re a new pet owner or not, knowing when it’s time for a shower isn’t always obvious. Left to dry, things like mud can trap bacteria and fungus against the skin, causing an infection. These breeds are bred to keep warm and be fluffy, but their thick coats are still full of oils essential for healthy skin. Avoid bathing your dog too often. How often should Whippet take a bath? And while a good bath every now and then is a great way to keep your furry buddy from becoming overly smelly, be mindful of overbathing. While a dog with a medium-to-long coat of hair may require baths as often as every four to six weeks, many short-haired breeds can go well over a month before it’s time to take a bath. Dogs with water-repellent coats, such as Golden Retrievers, Irish Water Spaniels, and Otterhounds, should also be bathed less often in order to preserve the natural oils o their coats. A little research can save time, money, and headache in the long-run. How often you should give a dog a bath depends on a few things, but the short answer is: probably less often than you think. You cannot make excuses to skip washing your dog. In general, the longer your dog’s hair is, the more frequently you’ll need to wash them (with the caveat that you must brush or shave them first, since water makes mats worse). So long hairs do not always mean regular baths. Even if your dog gets a little smelly within those 30 days, try to resist giving them a full bath. How often should you bathe short haired dogs? Breed: Some certain breeds of dog can actually go for a long time without a bath; others can’t. These oils help the dogs maintain a sleek, soft, cuddly coat. For the majority of short-haired dog breeds, bathing once a month is often enough. Different dog breed s have different types of … According to Dogtime.com, however, there’s an exception to this rule: “Dogs with an oily coat, like basset hounds, may need bathing as frequently as once a … You know, the kind that gets all corny-chippy smelling after a few months. Step 1 Brush out your dog's coat before the bath. It keeps the hair in good condition without drying out the skin. Science Proves They Dream Just Like We Do, How to Show Love to Your Dog in Their Own Language, Telling Your Dog “I Love You” Increases Their Heart Rate by 46%, Study Finds. Generally speaking, a healthy dog with a short, smooth coat and no skin problems doesn't need to be bathed often. The feel of an oily, dirty coat on a dog is nothing to be happy about when petting him. When the dog relaxes and remains still, praise him. Some breeds, including certain water dogs, and short-haired dogs may stay looking and smelling fresh longer without a bath. The natural oil stripping that can occur from over-bathing can be especially problematic for double-coated dog breeds. Unfortunately, there are almost as many types of coats as there are dog breeds, and the fur, hair, or skin of some breeds can be particularly sensitive — even when it comes to being washed. Some breeds, such as the Shar-Pei and some cocker spaniels, can have very oily, greasy skin that requires frequent shampoos to control." Perhaps they are just one of those breeds that smells a bit doggy after a while. Properly maintaining your dog's hair coat by brushing and combing can help you keep your dog's coat clean between baths. He adds, “For dogs with medium-to-large coats, a bath could be needed from weekly to every 4-to-6 weeks, as long as the coat is properly maintained in-between baths.” But a … In the case of particularly skittish or misbehaving bathers, it might be best to call in an expert. A general rule is to bathe your dog once a month — but the specific answer depends entirely on your dog's breed and habits. Find Grooming Products for Your Dog at Pampered Paw Gifts, ** Covid-19 Shipping Updates in Our FAQ Section** ALL SALES HELP ANIMALS IN NEED SINCE 2004 ** They require brushing more than bathing, which will help distribute the oils more evenly without wicking them away. Here's a bit more insight into how often dogs should be bathed, based on breeds: Short-haired dog breeds like dachshunds, German Shorthaired Pointers, etc. They might smell clean, but they are bound to be pretty uncomfortable. Dogs with long hair like the Afghan Hound, wire hair like the Scottish Terrier or curly coats such as the Poodle require more in depth grooming to keep them healthy. In most cases, dog baths are more for the benefit of their pet parents than for the dogs themselves. We, as dog owners, know this and take steps to keep our pets clean, smelling fresh and feeling great, both for their comfort and for us when we pet them. If your dog has been outside a lot recently and is carrying a bit of a funk, it could signify bath time. Many short-haired breeds with smooth coats, such as Beagles and Weimaraners, do just fine with less frequent baths. No matter what the reason may be, your dog isn’t going to tell you when you need to bathe them. There are many reasons why you might need to give Fido a bath — for example, if your dog got into the garbage, rolled in some mud puddles, had an unfortunate encounter with a local skunk, gotten fleas, or contracted a nasty parasite. Shorter-haired dogs, on the other hand, generally require a lower frequency of baths. A general rule is to bathe your dog once a month — but the specific answer depends entirely on your dog's breed and habits. The environment is a factor too. These pooches benefit greatly from puppy bath wipes or waterless shampoos in between washes to keep them smelling fresh, but a daily brush through all that hair will be the number one beneficiary in keeping their skin and coat comfortable and clean. Certain short-haired breeds of dog have very sensitive coats and skin that can require as much as weekly baths. In short, it depends. No matter what kind of dog you own, the frequency of bathing it is hinged on a lot of factors. How often should I bathe my dog and other key issues answered when it comes to bath time with your best friend (Image credit: Getty Images ) Have you found yourself wondering, "How often should I bathe my dog?" If you go hiking, take your dog to the dog park, or anything else in which he can get dirt, mud and other outside substances on him then he should be washed more often. Double coated dogs are rumored to keep cleaner fur and healthier skin when there is more brushing and less washing. While there is no exact science that will apply to every single dog, it is generally advised that you should do so once every three months at least; although it’s not uncommon to wash your dog up to once a week, provided that you’re using a gentle shampoo and you’re not overcleaning your dog. Luckily for you, we have done all the dog-diligence needed. How often to bathe a dog depends on his breed, coat quality, skin needs and activity level. Breeds such as the Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute are good examples, along with the Akita, Chow Chow and even the sheep herding Australian Shepherd. These are usually northern breeds, or dogs who were bred for a specific working purpose that required them to have some extra fluff for protection. As a result, the answer to the question “how often should you bathe your dog?” is not as cut and dry as you might believe. This is because all of their protective natural oils that coat each strand of fur and protects their skin is being washed away. Most dogs need once a week bathing. Take your time, be patient, and make it fun for both of you in order to ensure that future bath times are a breeze. I recommend you bathe a dog with normal skin once a month with dog shampoo or human baby shampoo. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, most pups need bathing about every three months. Most dogs only need a bath every six to eight weeks. Short haired dogs: once every six to eight weeks. There can be some exceptions, though. Coat: The length and type of your dog’s hair is a major factor in determining their bathing schedule, but even some short-haired and hairless dogs need regular baths. Skin health, odor issues and your dog’s coat can all have an impact on how often you need to bathe your dog. Dogs with oily coats, like Basset Hounds, may need bathing as frequently as once a week. Do short-haired dogs need baths? Your dog’s coat length doesn’t really affect how frequently a dog should be bathed. If you want to bathe more often than once a month, use a soap-free or moisturizing shampoo to prevent the skin from becoming dry. Bathing removes dirt, yes, but it also washes away essential oils on a dog’s skin, oils which they need to maintain a healthy coat. So unless your weenie dog got into the garbage can, you can probably hold off on a bath for a while. The thing about rules of thumb is that they don’t fit every dog, every lifestyle and most certainly don’t fit every skin and coat type. Generally, dogs benefit from a once a week bath. Bathing a short-haired dog is a relatively easy task as long as your pup doesn't fight you. You just may be surprised at just how little you really need to fully bathe your dog! Do not bathe your dog more than once a week, unless recommended by your vet. That said, it all depends on the size of your smooth coated dog! Factors to Consider . Some don’t even have fur at all, they have hair. Bathing will wash away your dog’s natural oils, while a simple brushing every few days should keep them clean. So, how often should you bathe your dog? It’s an easy rule of thumb. Dismiss, {"cart_token":"","hash":"","cart_data":""}, 15 Inch Embroidered Personalized Pet Christmas Stocking Cat or Dog Paw, Organic Catnip and Tuna or Chicken Cat 2 Tier Purrfect Princess Birthday Cake, The Importance of Keeping Your Dog Well Groomed, Benefits of Organic Treats for Dogs and Cats, how often should you give your dog a bath, Luxury Valentines Day Gift Baskets For People, Valentine's Day, Easter, Hanukkah, Christmas All Holidays For Dogs, Valentine's Day, Hanukkah, Christmas and Easter Treats and Holiday Gifts For Cats, Face Masks and Hand Sanitizer 75% Isopropyl Alcohol, Send Thank You Gifts Treats To Essential Workers. Because whippets are short haired dogs, they don’t need to bathe as often as other dogs, because their fur is better maintained. 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