How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog?

Since your dog is of course a very important member of your family, you want your canine friend to look and smell their best at all times. However, your dog may have other ideas. Whether it is running through a puddle, rolling around in the grass and dirt, or getting into something that it should have left well enough alone, the time will come when it’s time to give your dog a bath. How often should you bathe your dog?

Here are some suggestions to keep in mind.

Once Every Three Months

For most dogs, getting a good bath once every three months usually works out just fine.

This is especially true for dogs that stay inside most of the time, have very short hair, and tend to not get into too much that may get them into trouble.

However, you should always use your judgment about when it’s bath time.

Should your four-legged family member start to smell, it’s time for a bath.

Once a Month

If you think only having a bath four times per year isn’t quite enough for your dog, you can instead choose to bathe them once per month, assuming your dog has a healthy coat and normal skin.

If they do, you can look at a variety of pet grooming tables, select one you like, and have it all ready to use after your dog’s bath to make it easy to get them looking their best.

Once Per Week

If you and your dog spend lots of time playing in the great outdoors, you may want to give them a bath once per week.

However, if you think this will be necessary, it is best to speak to your vet first.

Even if your dog gets a bit dirty, bathing once a week can lead to drying out their skin, damaging their fur, and possibly interfering with any external flea or worm treatments you may be using on your dog.

No Baths at All?

Finally, just as you should not bathe your dog too much, you should also not do the opposite and never give them a bath.

After all, bathing will help keep their skin and coat in great shape, help them smell good, and make them feel better once the bath is finished.

Even if your dog does not appreciate your efforts to give them a bath and help them stay clean and healthy, they will likely give you a kiss and wag their tail once they realize just how much better they look and feel.