Dogs are part of our family and we share with them our life, home and sometimes even our bed. This is one of the reasons why it is essential to maintain the hygiene of our pet. In addition, it is important for your personal health, since a dirty dog can develop a multitude of skin problems, catch fleas or simply smell bad.
Due to a widespread fear that bathing a dog could harm their pH and coat, many people wonder how often do dogs need baths? Keep reading this Animalwised article to discover when and how to wash your furry friend.
Myths about bathing dogs
There are many myths about bathing dogs, some more believable than others. It is said that during a wash they lose the natural oils of their skin and this damages the pH, for example. This is not entirely true, as it can only affect their health if you wash them excessively or if you do not wash them at all. Dogs get dirty and we need to bathe them every so often to preserve their health.
It is also not true that if they get water in their ears they will develop otitis. If we wash them with care we can avoid this.
Another of the most believed myths is that if they smell of perfume or unnatural sweet scents, other dogs will reject them. Remember that dogs have a very strong sense of smell, so they are capable of detecting their natural scent under the shampoo barrier. Thus, there will be no problem with socialization.
This means that bathing your dog is not bad for their health and will not scare away others if you do it as often as necessary.
Long hair and short hair
The frequency bathing is highly dependent on the hair of your dog. Do they have short or long hair? The latter needs more care and you will have to be more observant. Long hair is able ot hide more dust and dirt. So, how often should you bathe your dog according to the length of their hair? Here are some guidelines:
- Longhaired dogs: once every four weeks.
- Medium-haired dog: once every four to six weeks.
- Short haired dogs: once every six to eight weeks.
Remember that you should wash them with specific shampoos for dogs, although you can also use natural products that do not damage their skin or hair. You cannot make excuses to skip washing your dog. If you cannot bathe them at home, you can always take them to a dog groomer.
Maintaining hygiene
To prevent our dog from smelling badly and staying clean longer it is important to brush them frequently. It is preferable to brush their coat for a few minutes each day than once a month for one hour. By brushing it you will eliminate dead hair and dust and you ensure your dog stays cleaner for longer. Although, of course, brushing does not replace bathtime.
And what if you bathed your dog but they decided to have a mudfight a few days after? You'll have to bathe them again. Do not worry about having to give them a bath a few times in a row in a timely manner, you will not harm their skin or fur.
If you use dry shampoo, do you save water by avoiding the bathroom? No way. Dry shampoo is used for very specific occasions where we cannot bathe them. For example, when our dog vomits during a car trip. The bathroom is essential to maintain their hygiene and health so alternative remedies are not worth it.
If you want to read similar articles to How Often do Dogs Need Baths?, we recommend you visit our Basic care category.