Us humans love to take a long and relaxing bath, maybe even with a hot cuppa on the side of our tubs. But that’s not necessarily the same for our dogs, most of our dogs would rather skip bath time.
Why is bathing our dogs so important?
Bathing plays a very important role in the health of your dog’s skin and coat, in aid to keeping your dog free of dirt and parasites.
How often should I bathe my little friend?
When it comes to bathing your dog it very much depends on the dog’s breed and coat type as well as how often your dog likes to roll in the dirt.
Here are some guidelines to help you out:
- Bathing once a month tends to work for most dogs
- Dogs with oily coats like Basset Hounds, may need bathing as frequently as once a week.
- Many short-haired breeds with smooth coats, like Beagles and Weimaraners, will be fine with less frequent baths.
- Breeds with water-repellent coats, such as Golden Retrievers and Great Pyrenees, should bathe less often to preserve their natural oils.
- Dogs with thick, double coats such as Samoyeds, Malamutes, and other Northern breeds, will do best with fewer baths and lots of brushing! which gets rid of loose, dead hair and helps distribute natural oils that keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy.
How do I bathe my dog?
- Brush your dog before a bath. Since matted hair retains the water, and will also irritate the skin.
- Use lukewarm water. Dogs’ skin is different from ours and hot water can easily burn the skin. Keep it cooler for larger breeds who can easily get over heated.
- Talk to your dog in a calm and reassuring manner. This will help teach your dog that you’re not hurting them, will aid in calming them down and will make future bathing experiences much more pleasant.
- Always use dog shampoo! Since it will dry their skin a lot less than using human shampoo. Work the shampoo into a gentle lather and massage it all over your dog’s body, being careful not to get soap in their eyes.
- Make sure to rinse well as any shampoo left and irritate the skin
- Air drying your dog is very important since using a blow dryer will be far too hot for their skin. After giving them a rub down with a dry towel – either air dry or use a blow dryer that is designed for dogs.
- Last but not least always reward your dog! Make sure to give them plenty of hugs and treats.
