How often should you bathe your dog

All dog owners probably wander how often they should give their dog a bath. Clearly, not every dog likes baths. If you were to bathe your four-legged friend every week, you could harm it. Unfortunately, dogs do not care and get dirty while on a walk. They simply run through every puddle, mud and even roll in garbage or faeces if they feel like it… Can you give your dog a bath after each walk (especially if your dog lives with you in your apartment or house)?

How often?

It is rather hard to determine how often you should bathe a dog. It also depends on the fact whether you have a short-haired or a long-haired dog. A dog with long hair will require much more work and more frequent cleaning but you may not need to shampoo the entire dog. For example, if dog has mud on paws only, wash the paws and that is it. If you have a dog with a short hair and the dirt is on the surface only, wipe the hair with a damp towel and that is it. If your dog got very dirty or smells bad (rolled around in something bad), you need to bathe the entire dog and you need to do it well. So, the answer to the question how often may be quite simple. As needed. But try to give a complete bath to your dog once every three months. No more that, unless absolutely necessary.

Photo: Pixabay

Bathing a puppy

A puppy that grows up with its mother does not need to be bathed as its mother will take care of that. The bacteria living in puppy’s hair are beneficial for building immunity. However, once the puppy is separated from its mother, you need to do some cleaning but do not bathe just for the hell of it. You need to have a reason. Obviously, if your puppy is very dirty you have no choice. When your puppy is about 4 months old you can do thorough washing. During this time you probably need to do some vaccinations too.

How to bathe a dog?

Water should be around 37°C. It should be warm enough so you can keep even the most sensitive parts of your skin under it and still feel comfortable. A good idea is to place a non-slippery mat on the bathtub bottom or where you wash your dog to make him feel safe and to prevent scratch damage to your bathtub. Pour enough water in and gently place your dog in. Before you start washing, give him a moment to get used to the new environment. When the dog seems calm you can start. Wet the entire coat and apply a special dog shampoo. If your dog is not scared of a shower, you may use it. If your dog is scared you just pour water over the coat.

Source: https://porady.interia.pl/…362

Preview photo: Pixabay