How Often Do You Have to Wash Your Dog?

[bahnson]

Just wondering, but if a dog does not smell or look dirty is it still necessary to give him a bath every month or so?

I just realized today that Paddington has not had a bath since he was something like 3 months old (he's 6 months now). He didn't smell and I checked with my roommates and boyfriend to make sure (just in case my overwhelming love for him was blinding me) and he does not look dirty. When he gets a little mud on him it just seems to dry and fall off. We live in a fairly dry part of the country and so he's not often wet and muddy.

Anyway, he got a bath today but in the future, should I make it a point to bath him more regularly or only when I notice that he smells or looks dirty? What does everyone else do?

[jagreen2]

I have to wash Cooper daily but that's because he is having potty training issues and likes to roll around in it.

[SteveR]

I have to say that Sinbad doesn't get groomed as much as he should. I brush him once a week and clean his ears when I remember to do it (just checked, they're spotless). Since his baby teeth are all gone we're starting on brushing his teeth.
He hasn't had a bath in over a month, maybe closer to two but the funny thing is when you hug him and get a face full of golden hair there is no smell at all. It's like squeezing a new stuffed animal. I only bathe the two dogs when they look, smell or feel dirty.

[CanadianGolden423]

My dogs are bathed only when they get really muddy or before a show (and sometimes not even those times!)

Samra

[honeyhunter]

In the winter they are lucky to get bathed the whole winter! Honey hates the blow dryer and I can't let her dry on her own because it takes so long! I also hate to mess with bathing in the bathtub in the winter. In the summer I just use the water hose! She dries fast but usually rolls in the dirt and jumps in the pond immediately after her bath!:p I brush Honey everyday! She loves it so much she goes to sleep while I groom her. I sprinkle her with baby powder or spray her with groom aid if she has gotton into something smelly. Rocky very seldom needs a bath. He only gets them in the summertime. Hunter gets bathed every 3-4 weeks year round because she is small(10 lbs.) and doesn't mind the blow dryer. She seems to get smellier than the other two and baby powder and groom sprays really irritate her breathing. (she is a Lhasa Apso)

:santahat

[bahnson]

All right - I've changed my mind. Paddington felt so soft after his bath and smelled so good that he'll probably be taking them more often.

Of course, he went to daycare the next day and got dog slobber all over him so the bath benefits were short-lived, but nonetheless worth it.

[ChicagoCanine]

I've gotten many comments from people when Ginger hasn't had a bath in a few months, asking me "Oh, did she just have a bath?"
So she doesn't really need to be bathed often at all. As long as she is brushed regularly she looks good.
However, normally I bathe her about once a month. I do this partly because I love the way her fur feels/smells after a bath, partly because she is a therapy dog so they want her to have baths fairly often, and partly because I want her to really BE clean, not just SEEM clean.

[ozwizard]

Oz goes to doggie spa every 3 weeks, for bath etc...But that is because I cannot brush him well, and he needs the grooming by then. And because he is always in the river, and gets a "swampy" smell about him. And since he sleeps beside my bed...

[SweetDaisyDew]

Daisy gets a bath only when she needs it and that's usually when her lighter hair starts to look grayish. She's 80+ pounds, baths are a CHORE !!

I just bought this dog spray from a dog spa place, it's called Crazy Dog Baby Dog. It smells really good, I think. The scent can linger for a long time. You just spray it on, let it dry and brush. The directions are funny....they read "Use any time. Spray and Brush. Take the rest of the day off."

[KatysPal]

Gosh, I don't think Katy gets a bath more often than once every three months or so, unless she gets into something. We wipe muddy/icy/snowy paws as needed, and I brush as much as she'll let me; she almost never smells 'doggy' and her coat's fine, so I don't worry about it. I prefer to hedge on the side of not stripping her coat of natural oils--but it's not a tough decision, truly she's not dirty or smelly.

Anne

[SweetDaisyDew]

I have found that Daisy is "self-cleaning." Not that she cleans herself, but even if she gets really dirty or muddy, I simply wipe her down (sometimes with a wet towel), wait for her to dry and then brush her out. She's good as new :003

[Kodiak Moment]

I bathe Kodi typically once every 3-4 weeks. In between, I just make sure to clean off the mud before he comes into the house.

The one thing I have heard (I don't know this, but it makes sense) is that if you are going to bathe a Golden regularly, be sure to use a cream rinse after shampooing so as not to dry out the skin.

[MaThGr82]

We bathe them every six months or if the get stinky, whichever comes first.
Alot of times what we will do is if we come back from a walk where they might have gotten very dirty, we will just spray them off with the hose. The love going after the hose spray and they don't mind getting sprayed with the water. After they swim, we rinse them off with a hose as well. Doing these two things really helps keep them clean.

[Harshy]

Harley is 17 months & hasn't had a bath yet. She swam in our pool alot this summer but I also do what SweetDaisyDew does and just wipe Harley off with old towels if she gets muddy. Then when she dries I brush the rest out. People ask alot if she has just been to the groomer & comment on how beautiful she is. I feed her Canidae which is supposed to be good for their coats but maybe the mud is good for them too??? Kind of like us humans going for a "facial"! :happy2

[Mike Dempsey]

We've only had our Mickey since June and he's been to the groomer once and bathed twice.

He loves rolling in the dirt and crap too unforunately. So when that happens we sometimes use Baby Wipes to clean him off. He loves it and when we're done is fur is really shiny and smells good. dog9

[hicksof4]

Hi I'm new to the group and a new owner of a Goldie. Hannah is only 5months old and she loves baths but I have no idea on how often I'm suppose to bath her. I don't want to bath her to often so can someone please tell me or give me some advice on this bathing. Also I have bought some shampoo for her but I think she is allergic to her. What is the best kind of shampoo to use on Goldies? I know they have very sensitive skin. Please help. :054

[goldenretrieverdad]

I have no idea on how often I'm suppose to bath her
The short answer is, when she's dirty! :p But too much bathing will strip the natural oils from your dog's coat that give him protection from the elements.

I give my current gr a bath approx every 8 to 10 weeks, in that range. Only because by that time, he really smells from playing outside, etc.

As far as shampoo is concerned, I use a simple, no tears puppy shampoo, that I have been using for years and years. I also use a conditioner cream rinse.
Or you can ask your vet for a shampoo recommendation. If I were you, I would not actaully purchase it from your vet; instead, have them write the name down for you, and then price it out on the Internet, to see if you can buy it cheaper elsewhere.;)

[Chase and His Mom]

I made the mistake of bathing Chase once a week when I first got him because everyone has always commented on his beautiful coat and I wanted to keep that going. Unfortunately, I stripped his coat of the oils and he got really itchy/scratchy. Now, I rake him every day and bathe him once a month and the compliments are even more prevalent. I think the daily grooming is very important. Chase loves it. I bring out the rake and he just smiles! :dogbark

[suzysues]

Abbey has only been bathed once or twice since we had her!! And my daughter did it for me. But I love the way the fur goes all soft & bushes up.

As Abbey hadn't been bathed for a few months & I thought she was looking a bit grubby I decided to bathe her myself for the 1st time tonight......OMG!! I now have soaking wet jeans & t-shirt hanging up to dry, but a beautifle, fluffy pup laying asleep on her towel. :029 She hated it, she was shaking as soon as I lifted her in, so I tried to make it as quick as possible. When I tried to shower the shampoo off, she jumped out!! She is frightened of the hair dryer when I use it on myself, so I didn't even try that, just used lots of towels to dry her.

I think I will wait for the summer, before the next one & hose her down outside!! :laugh2

It was worth is though.....look:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/suzysues/More%20pics/Abbeyafterbath.jpg
She looks very dark here as she is still a bit damp.

[WeLoveBailey]

Bailey goes to the groomer once a month (bath, brush, nails cut, ears cleaned). I also brush her every other day.

[Shaggys family.]

We bath Shaggy quite regulary, for 2 reasons. 1 he has a bladder control problem and wees all over himself! Stinks after that and he's alergic to pollen. Its spring here now and he gets these sores all over him from the pollen.

We have special shampoo for this that the vet gave us. Baths times quite fun he loves the attention and beening in the bath. He offen trys to jump in the bath when the kids are in there.

[Westin]

Westin gets a bath only when he gets muddy and just down right filthy from going to doggy socialization class which is only about once a month. But in between baths or if he's stinky we usually use the Natures Miracle Pet Wipes on his dirty paws and underneath him. These wipes also help with the pet dander.

[CaynCher]

I bath my pup when his light blonde coat looks dingy and feels on the oily side probably every two months. At one time, he liked to roll outside a lot and consequently, I had to bath him once every two weeks. My other dog, Cayenne, only gets a bath if he smells or I think its time. Both are brushed several times a week, nails trimmed every two weeks, and teeth done if needed (use toothbrush/tartar scrapers).

[ajax]

[QUOTE=jagreen2]I have to wash Cooper daily but that's because he is having potty training issues and likes to roll around in it.[/QUOTE

I'd love to wash my dog that often. How do you keep his skin from drying out?

[Jonesy]

Samson gets a bath whenever my wife starts saying, "You're dog stinks". :D

I use Sho-Sno shampoo that I had to special order. Let me tell you...you could give him a bath probably daily and it would not dry out his skin.

Jonesy

[koolkidsklub]

Max get's a bath everytime he just gets downright dirty and smells like he's been rolling around in feces.

-- Do Goldens specifically have that "body odor" that never seems to go away. I don't know how to explain it but its kind of like a baby powder smell mixed with pee. no?

[sunflowergirl]

Bosco has a strong natural odor.I like to bathe Bosco once a week.I have a lot of allergies and after he has been running and rolling in the grass and then rubs on me I am covered in hives and sneezing!I wash his feet off daily with plain tap water.He must think Im a clean freak.My husband does lol.I am allergic to fragrances.I have a fragrance free allergin reducer dye free dog shampoo too.I wish they had that for people!I also use a conditioner/creme rinse.Bosco jumps in the tub and jumps out on command.His favorite part is being dried with a towel.he rolls up in it,its really cute.He tolerates the blow dryer.I try to brush him atleast every other day.I trim his paws before his bath.He has always had gunk in his ears the vet says their fine though,I clean those as needed. :reddogx