How often should I wash my dog?
Most advice you find on the internet recommends washing your dog just several times per year!
Either these people have outdoor dogs or the articles were written a long time ago when the quality of pet shampoo was very poor! Times have changed! Today, dogs enjoy shampoos and conditioners that are on par with the best human shampoos- that don’t have harsh chemicals and that don’t strip the hair of all of its oils.
The arguments against washing your dog too often are generally about stripping the coat of natural oils. The more often you wash something, the more often the sebum (oil) is going to be removed. Think about your own hair. If you don’t wash it, what happens? It gets oily. Is the oil good for your hair? Probably, but we wash our hair everyday anyway so that it’s clean!
There are several factors you should consider when deciding how often to wash your dog which include:
1. Does your dog live indoors or outdoors, and does your dog sleep in your bed?
If your dog lives in your house with you and more importantly, if he/she sleeps in your bed, then you are probably going to wash your dog regularly–depending on the breed anywhere from once a week to once a month. I know this is radical thinking, but, if your dog sits on your sofa, you probably don’t want him dragging in dirt, poop, insects and other grime onto your sofa. So, the trade off is that your dog’s coat ~might ~ be marginally drier but you will have a fresh smelling dog that you can cuddle without the fear that gross stuff is getting into the sheets.
2. Breed of dog
Dogs that have dry skin can be bathed less frequently than dogs with oily skin. Harsh-textured coats repel dirt pretty well so they don’t get as dirty as a soft-coated dog. Dogs like Maltese, Yorkies, Afghans and Shitzus should be bathed once a week. Harsh-coated breeds, like Shelties and Collies, can be bathed once a month. If you’re not sure, remember, a clean dog is a happy dog!
One of my dog’s is a Maltese and I can’t imagine washing her less than once every week. Little white dogs pick up lots of dirt and by weeks end they are looking brown instead of white. Also, I hate to mention it but long-coated dogs get those famous cling on poops stuck to their bottoms.
My other dog, a Westie, who has a thicker coat, doesn’t get so dirty, but, I have to wash her every week due to the next point– allergies.
3. Is anyone in your household allergic to dogs?
If so, you SHOULD groom & bathe them as often as possible. According to the American Lung Association, doing so will help remove the dander that accumulates on a pet’s fur.
I am allergic to one of my dogs and when I don’t wash her once a week I get wheezy and sneezy.
4. What activities does your dog partake in?
Do you take your dog to the dog park? Does you dog play in the sand or dirt? Does your dog roll in the grass or go swimming or hiking? What about sniffing butts, eating poop or drooling?
Well, if you have a normal dog, she probably partakes in several of the above activities– all of which warrant regular bathing. Again, you have to think of the trade off. Your dog’s coat may be marginally drier HOWEVER, he will be cleaner, smell better, and most important you will be more likely to give a clean dog lots of love. Those smelly dogs we tend to keep at arms length.
5. Does your dog suffer from itchy skin?
Unlike humans who absorb most environmental allergens through their noses and mouths, dogs tend to absorb allergens through the skin. Weekly bathing can prevent itchiness , washing allergens away before they get a chance to penetrate the skin.
So at the conclusion of all of this — the answer for MOST dogs is to wash them once every week to once a month, depending on the above circumstances.
But remember, use a gentle pet shampoo and conditioner. Do not use your own shampoo. Click here for an article of why you should not use your own shampoo on your dog.
Also, if you simply can’t wash your dog for a prolonged period of time you can use a dry shampoo, like Dry Dog Instant Clean - This is a really effective spray on bath replacement that helps to get rid of bad odors. Also, if you feed your dog a non-commercial, all natural and organic diet chances are your canine companion will be less smelly. Our favorite is a dehydrated raw pet food from the Honest Kitchen
June 5th, 2008 at 12:49 am
this is an all too important question. Many bathe their dogs too much, this is a big problem. Breed is also something some may not look at, i have a Golden, so he cannot be washed too often
June 7th, 2008 at 11:18 am
[…] Comment on How often should I wash my dog? by komodo dragonthis is an all too important question. Many bathe their dogs too much, this is a big problem. Breed is also something some may not look at, i have a Golden, so he cannot be washed too often.Comments for Ruff Ideas by Happytails - http://happytailsspa-blog.com […]
June 17th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I bathe my dog once a week - she is a runner (non-stop) & with all the sand from the beach, she needs it!
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:16 pm
i love my dog
November 16th, 2008 at 3:32 am
I have a maltise & cocker spaniel and I wash my dogs once every two weeks. They sleep in my bed so they tend to start smelling after the two week mark hits
November 20th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
[…] If you didn’t take a bath for 3 months you might be smelly too! There are lots of opinions on how often you should bathe your dog but if you’re like me, I sleep with my dog, so I prefer to wash my dogs weekly. Many people […]
January 7th, 2009 at 1:55 am
i have a shitzu and i wash him every other day. his coat is dry but clean enough to get into my bed.
January 13th, 2009 at 1:00 am
[…] Wash Frequency If you wash your dog often (more than 1x per month) you should definitely condition you dog to close that hair shaft so the coat retains moisture. To read more about how often to wash your dog, click here […]
March 1st, 2009 at 6:11 pm
How can I link to this site on my blog?
March 30th, 2009 at 1:07 am
[…] There’s no one best way to bathe your dog. Some people like to take their dogs into the shower with them. Other people put their dog in the bathtub. If you have a small dog you may prefer to use the kitchen sink although I have found that I end up as wet us the dog! Do make sure you use warm water — test the water on yourself before using it on your dog. And, make sure that you rinse the lather thoroughly from your dog. Soap residue can be a skin irritant and cause your dog to itch and to scratch at his skin. It can even result in hot spots that make his skin break out. If you’re not sure how often you should wash your dog read this article. […]
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
I have an adventurous choc lab who is an indoor/outdoor dog. I wash her every 1 to 2 weeks with an earth friendly oatmeal dog shampoo. She prefers the shower to the tub. Remember to wash their bedding and plush toys every time they get a bath!!
April 7th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
[…] people like to give their dog a bath at least once a month (to learn how often to wash your dog click here .) That’s fine for most dogs and most breeds. It’s often enough to keep a dog clean and yet […]
April 22nd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I just wanted to say thanks for the advice given in this article I have a pugshire and she itches a lot. I bathe her once a week but Im going to get the above mentioned shampoos and conditioners
thanks
May 7th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Thanks for the help! I’ve been trying to figure this one out for a while, but this article has cleared up everything for me. Again, thank you.
September 10th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
September 10th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I love your site.
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September 23rd, 2009 at 9:27 pm
[…] less likely to need to reapply the flea control more often than the manufacturer recommends. Click here to read more on how often you should wash your […]
October 4th, 2009 at 1:34 am
This didn’t answer my question at all. I still don’t know when to wash my dog.
October 5th, 2009 at 12:15 am
i have a Jack Russell mixed with a french bulldog about 4 months now
how often should i wash my puppy… she is a inside dog but goes outside quite frequently… what should i do
October 5th, 2009 at 12:15 am
sorry my dog is about 4 months old
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:54 am
i have a puddle dog it wieghs about 7 pounds i dont know how often i should wash her she sleeps on my bed but on my bed i have her little bed and she sleeps on it oh and i also want to know how often should i feed and how much i shoukd feed her???????????????????????????????????????????????????
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:27 pm
[…] 1. Wash your dog with an all natural shampoo every week or every month depending on the type of dog you have and your lifestyle. Click here to read more about how often you should wash your dog. […]
January 10th, 2010 at 11:50 pm
what a great site and informative posts, I will add a backlink and bookmark your site. Keep up the good work!
I’m Out!
July 11th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
i wash my dog once a month he is a wiered haird datson but he gets realy dirty:)
July 12th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Thanks for the info. I have a Bernese/Lab cross who is one of the family, mostly indoor but he gets to the park 2xdaily for 1-2 hour playtimes, in the bush, goes in the pond daily, rolls in the grass and romps with many of his friends, tirelessly. He gets smelly, slobbered on and muddy daily and we were holding off those baths because we were told every three months! So I was just hoseing him off on the deck. Now, during the sumer months he will be getting the “spa” treatment every couple of days. Thanks again.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
I have a Black Lab mix. She loves to ride next to me in my pick-up truck. When I have to roll the windows down, it’s time for a bath
January 15th, 2011 at 1:58 am
my dog is a chihuahua and i don’t know if i should wash him once a week or oncce a month so, can you help me?!
January 26th, 2011 at 11:49 pm
I wash my 3 dogs once a week. I use a mild organic shampoo. The dogs and the house don’t smell like dirty dogs.
February 3rd, 2011 at 12:58 am
i hve a cocker spaineil and i rarley take her a bath but now ill do it once a week
February 6th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Hi :o) I have a Shiba Inu and some of the websites say that they should only be bathed one or twice a year because of the type of fur they have. I gave him a bath three weeks ago and he smells so bad right now I have to wash my hands every time I pet him…any suggestions to improve smell or can I increase the amount of baths?? Thanks!
February 10th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
My concern when bathing my dogs was the comfort of the dogs after the bath, many times they were scratching like crazy after every bath, I tried every shampoo on the market and have found the solution, it’s called Wen a human hair cleansing treatment that washes and conditions at the same time, it is all natural-no phospates added.
My dogs have never looked or felt better, their skin is not over dried and their hair is brilliant.
I have 2 shelties and a black lab and all have benefited from this, my children and I also use it.
I buy it on QVC, it is cheaper there then on the Wen website, it has no lather so you really have to follow the instructions to use it properly, there is a video on QVC on how to use it.
The owner of the company bathes his 3 labs every Friday but he’s rich I go for every month to every other according to smell and looks of the dogs.
I hope that anybody who has a dog that scratches or has hot spots will try this, I can’t recommend it enough.
March 3rd, 2011 at 7:57 am
I wash my dog twice a week. Thanks.
April 15th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
I wash my pit mix (hunny) every two to three weeks. I agree it’s definitely important not to over wash. Especially short hair dogs like my pup. I have over washed in the past and it dried her skin out and made her very itchy.
May 14th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
i have a springer and i bath her every 4 weeks is that ok???? xx
June 3rd, 2011 at 2:49 am
My puppy sleeps with us and we wash him three times a week.
June 3rd, 2011 at 2:51 am
By the way, I and my puppy normally go to park every weekend for a walk and of course to play.
June 21st, 2011 at 2:52 pm
I have 2 chihuahua mixed with an unknown breed. Both are short haired but one’s hair is just a tad bit longer. I try to wash them once a week but their activities consist of indoor/outdoor play, however, they are inside dogs. I’m considering washing them 2 times a week because they often sleep with me and they track dirt into the house. Even though I wash them once a week now, the house accumulates more dust because they bring dirt into the house from their dirty coats. Hope that helps with coming to a conclusion on how often to wash your dog.
July 6th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
i have a affenpischer. it is a german toy dog and they are tiny. THEY ARE THE BEST DOG EVER
July 29th, 2011 at 11:23 pm
thanks I have not bathed my dog in about 6 months, I think I will bathe her every month now with bob martins shampoo. I was worried about her coat and she hates water, but I think my house is starting to smell of dog. She is a small staffordshire bull terrier. Thank you everyone. I hope her coat stays looking nice and shiny.
July 31st, 2011 at 8:58 am
Was very concerned about bathing my rescue staffie, aged 7. Washed her last night for 1st time, had her 3 weeks now and she was rubbing into all the furniture trying to dry off more than i could dry her with towel. Used 2 in 1 bob matrins dog shampoo and she smells and looks great, was the behaviour normal??? Do i need to reaply flee drops after bathing her??? She goes to dog park when it is empty and has between 2-3 walks a day. Many thanks…
October 25th, 2011 at 5:09 am
[…] pet dog. Keep your dogs clean to keep them away from fleas or ticks. By: steph.jones2261@yahoo.com Most of us love our dogs; sometimes we treat them as our own family. We bought them things they nee…we even give them the best facilities that they can have. More often there are many people who are […]
November 30th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Hello,
We need help right now. I have 2 lahso’s. They are 2. I also have a Tibetian terrier who is 5. We was them once a week. But it seems that night they smell funky. Please help. I have bought expensive shampoo and not so expensive nothing works. Oh, yeah our tibetian has a tendensy to be itchy all the time?
January 22nd, 2012 at 1:55 am
[…] Each dog is different. Some have dry skin; some don’t. Some have sensitive skin; some don’t. Some dogs spend more time playing outdoors and getting sweaty than other dogs do. Some dogs have coats that require more grooming than other dogs do. […]
February 2nd, 2012 at 10:10 pm
I love my dog so much!
February 2nd, 2012 at 10:11 pm
February 2nd, 2012 at 10:14 pm
I have two shitzu puppies…THEY ARE THE BEST DOG YOU CAN EVER HAVE!
February 8th, 2012 at 12:40 am
I have a three year old maltese and she get bathe every two to three months. I was told by other dog owners that excessive bathing lead to dry and itching skin which can cause severe problem in the future. My maltese Zoey is an inside dog who goes for a walk occassionally. She sleeps on my bed but she does not smell i brush her regularly and wash her paws and her behind when she goes out for a walk. Do you think i should bathe more often?
February 9th, 2012 at 8:18 pm
get your self a real baby not a dog if so wash it every 2 months
February 16th, 2012 at 3:26 am
I have a 40-lb mixed breed, mostly pit bull. She is primarily white….an inside dog. I never bather her. No problem to me!
March 2nd, 2012 at 4:34 pm
[…] and hygienic – for the sake of their health and your furnishings! Here are some handy cat and dog washing tips to help you keep your pets squeaky […]
March 21st, 2012 at 11:43 pm
I havea puppy pitbull how often show I bathe her? She sleeps with me
And like beeing in the sofa.
March 28th, 2012 at 10:35 pm
I ate my dog, but before that I shampoo and conditioned her.