How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog?

In general, you should bathe your dog at minimum of once a month. However, the frequency in which you should wash your specific dog depends on many different factors. Here are just a few things to consider when planning a bathing schedule for your furry friend.

The first step to deciding how often your dog should have a bath is to determine its coat type. Their coat plays a considerable role in how little or often they should be bathed. If your dog is in the dirt often or swims in lakes, ponds or brackish water, frequent bathing may be necessary. If your dog is a couch potato, lives a sedentary life or is older than maybe once a month or even every 6 weeks works just fine.

I personally feel that most dogs should be bathed every two weeks with a gentle moisturizing shampoo followed by either a white vinegar rinse or a cream rinse (dogs that shed or have long hair). I know it's no fun but if you have a Sheddy breed or one with long hair, then you will also need to comb/brush through his/her coat to remove that hair or the tangles. Don't forget to comb/brush the arm pit area and behind the ears (on hangy/floppy eared dogs) because that is where the mats begin!

In Posh Pet Salon a bath always includes cut/sanding the toenails and clean the inside of the ears and express the anal glands (more on glands in a separate posting). And trimming around the paws, eyes and privates.

As long as you don't use a harsh soap, you should not have issues with this frequency. And it is perfectly fine to just wash your pet with cream rinse (if he/she isn't dirty/smelly) but ALWAYS wash the paws with soap! Paws are ALWAYs dirty.

The most important thing to remember is to rinse, rinse and rinse again. Don't leave any soap residue.

Please Pease Please do not put the shampoo or cream rinse full strength on your pet's skin/coat. Always dilute it in a bucket or pitcher of water and sponge it on.

It's no trouble to book a bath appointment with me between regular groomings/haircuts If you can't find an available appointment thru my online booking for just a bath appointment than text me 707-538-8886 and I will happily squeeze you in. Baths don't take much of my time and are very necessary.