Washing A Dog (too Often) Good Or Bad?

[ArnoJaco]

Hi there,

We have three dogs, one is 10 monts, the other two are brothers and just 3-4 monts old.

My wife likes nothing more than to shower them. She would do so on a near daily basis.

Now I have always been told that it is not very good to shower a dog, so I find myself in a conflicting situation.

Is this an old wives tale or is there really something to it not being very good to shower a dog/puppy?

Thanks.

Arnaud.

[daveb1]

Bad idea, I dont think you should wash a dog more than 2 or 3 times a year max as it takes the natual oils out of there coat

[villagefarang]

Our dog is in and out of any water she can find, all day long. Mostly swimming in our pond. When it is time to come in, we clean her up. Sometimes just water, sometimes dog shampoo. No ill effects so far and her coat is beautiful. Right or wrong, I don't know, but I would rather have her in the house and clean, than leave her out with all that stuff on her coat.

[sceadugenga]

Agreed, a house dog has to have a regular tub.

If it causes a skin problem you'll see it from incessant scratching and can take what ever steps necessary then.

My mother and sister showed dogs for years and theirs were bathed regularly without ill effect.

[deprogrammed]

Whatever applys to people applys to dogs. It is complete nonsense to say that all the natural oils will be washed away. Thats what the victorians thought

[sceadugenga]

As a South Australian let me assure you that there are still plenty of people from the state of Victoria with an aversion to soap and water.

Possibly because they are of convict descent, unlike us South Aussies who are all descended from free settlers.

[bina]

just water is fine; shampoos can be harsh, but if u use a mild ph shampoo (doesnt have to be for dogs, jsut without perfume and stuff, like baby shampoo) then its fine, but shouldnt really be neccessary unless the dog is white, or getting in to the cow shit... a good brushing can do wonders, and going over a coat with a damp cloth (even a baby wipe) also works well, w/o the water and shampoo... our lhasas go hiking, play outside and are cream coloured, but dont get bathed often, about once a month (but they need conditioner left on the coat to be brushed out while wet-- summer so are clipped back halflenght) and they climb in the bed with us etc.. they get brushed everyday /two days... and their faces get washed with a wash cloth (mustaches and beards get filled wtih thai food.... ). behinds are clipped short and baby wipes do a good job here also when needed (not often thank god!!! )

bina

israel

[Cuban]

I consider washing the dog everyday is not a requirement for a dog to remain healthy, clean and smelling good but more of a need your wife has for the process of washing the dog or rather the role of caretaker. It's not a huge leap to ask does she really seek children to take care of? Sorry it crossed my mind as I read your OP.

For the dog I would suggest that unless you are in rural Thailand and the dog is covered in mud or similar on a daily basis and you encourage your dog inside the house you really should be looking at a once a month all over bath/shower.

As mentioned above a soft brisled brush used when the dog is at rest and the dust/mud has dried is fine most of the time. If a particular part needs cleaning because your dog has found something really smelly to roll in, I would then wash that part.

I'm currently up in the wilds and our smallest dog (light tan colored) thought a roll in some fresh cow dung would help remove her fancy city smell and be more fashionable among the other farm dogs, I waited until it was dried then combed and brushed out her fur then a minor wash as she is allowed inside the house as my wife's 'pet'.

My two larger outdoor dogs were washed prior to our drive up here for Songkran and treated with Frontline as an anti-tick precaution, after about a week or so now of regular walks across the open farmland including a few former fish pond that are a bit mudy and a few swimming sessions in freshly dug ponds that are filling with water they smell dog like and a little mudy around their paws (due to digging) but I have only brushed out the mud that remained after they have groomed themselves and much of the dirt has already fallen away.

Some shampoos can be too harsh for a young dog's skin, dilute it with water 50:50 or greater. Even though mine are no longer pups, I use an old plastic coke bottle with a hole drilled in the top. It's easier to use and gets the fur clean just as well - also it's easier to administer: Get the dog wet first then sprinkle all over, lather up, rinse a few times, then hang out to dry on the line.

One area to look at more often will be their paws, you should be checking paws for injuries daily anyway. Again a soft brisled brush, used along the leg with the lay of the fur to remove any build-up of mud etc.

Many people can't train a dog to hold onto a washing line for long so being kept in a dry dust/mud free enviroment for a few hours in the warm also works well. Because the dog has lost 'his/her' personal smell they will roll in something smelly if possible ASAP.

Long haired dogs are best clipped around their rear end, having once had to deal with a long haired dog whose fur was matted in that area and was also suffering from an 'upset stomach' I can assure you it is better to be clipped before rather than having to deal with the two issues at the same time.

HTH