should you bath your dog?

Dobergirl

my dad says you shouldn't bath dogs at all. my mom says the opposite which is correct?

fawkese1

it really depends on the dog, and your lifestyle... i don't believe that my dog ever really "needs" a bath, but i need him to be clean, as in not tracking mud in all over the place... so i've given him i think 4 baths in the last 10 months since i got him??? not sure, but they were all because he was too dirty to be in the house, not because it was bath-time, if that makes sense. also, my roommate is allergic so i brush him with a furbuster regularly to reduce shedding... and i wipe him with a baby wipe or damp cloth to help with dander... but i don't think he "needs" it...
some dogs, like poodles do need regular grooming tho... because of they way their hair/fur grows. i am sure that there are individual dogs with health or skin issues that actually need bathing...

ScentHound

My two hounds get baths quite often because their noses find really nasty stuff to roll in. I have never had issues with bathing my dogs regularly, but Fawkese is right about it depending on the individual dog.

HurdyGurdy

I don't know how it is with other breeds, but I have a Stafford. They are prone to various skin problems so I've always been advised to bath him as little as possible because it strips the coat of the natural oils and has a drying affect. I usually bathe him every 2 months or so (unless we get back extra muddy) and wipe him down regularly with a baby wipe.

MySoulmateEmmy

it depends on breed, the dog itself, preference and your situation. I don't think they should get bathed more than once a month (unless it is needed) to allow their natural oils to be in working order. I bathe my dog once a month in summer and less in winter or not at all unless it is needed.

so both your mom and dad are right in their own ways

~MSE

tankstar

I think this falls in to owner preference.

I somtimes bathe my dog 2 times a week. and sometimes like now, havn't bathed him in about 1.5months. I like to try and keep a clean dog.

You could bathe a dog as much as you want. The problem you hear most is ripping the coat of nautral oils. and drying skin. but the myth with that is, as long as you use a good shampoo and conditioner and rinse REALLLLLLY well. you will not have a issue

AngiKaye

Someone once told me you should only bathe your dog every 6 months. So I think it depends on the dog. Mine get baths whenever they start to stink....stink like dogs as my husband puts it! I give them baths once a month if that....but I just go on how dirty they are/if they need it

Coco Joey

It really depends on the dog breed. Coco, my silky terrier, needs a bath once or twice a month and needs to be brushed daily.

Mikey

I have to ditto that-it's up to you. Dogs don't need them-but they aren't harmful so long as you don't do it too often. And you cannot cannot use human shampoo-their skin is far more delicate then ours.

Mikey is having daily baths right now given that it's spring and we allow him to dig and roll on his romps. We use shampoo only once a week maximum but he is getting rinsed-all that dirt is not good on the skin.

So I guess it's not only owner preference but also what is the dog doing. A chi in a purse hardly needs it-my dirtbag mutt who digs up animal homes, and romps and swims in puddles-yeah it's pretty necessary.

natenqen

I only bathe when needed or necessary. (Especially since we are on haulted water and sewer.) We don't have pipes, but 1000 gallon tank both for sewer and water and only get water two times a month. (I usually have to explain this because many people are confused when I say we get delivered water and sewer sucked out of our tank.)