Dogs are part of our family and we share life, home and even, sometimes, bed. This is one of the reasons why it is essential to maintain the hygiene of the animal. In addition, it is important for your he alth, since a dirty dog can develop a multitude of skin problems, have fleas or simply smell bad.
Due to the widespread fear that bathing a dog can damage its pH and its coat, many people wonder How often do I have to bathe my dog? ? Keep reading this article on our site to finally find out when to shower your furry friend.
Dog Bath Myths
There are many myths about bathing dogs, some more accurate than others. It is said that by bathing them they lose the natural oils of their skin and damage the pH, for example. This is not entirely true, as it can only affect their he alth if we wash them too much or if we never wash them Dogs get dirty and need to be cleaned. let's take a bath from time to time precisely to preserve your he alth.
It is also not true that water gets into their ears and causes otitis if we bathe them carefully. This can happen, of course, but being careful we shouldn't have any problems.
Another of the most accepted myths is that if they smell like perfume, other dogs will reject it. Remember that dogs have a very powerful sense of smell and under that rich smell that the shampoo leaves, the others will continue to smell the dog and there will be no socialization problem.
This means that bathing your dog is not bad for his he alth nor does it scare him away from others if you do it frequently necessary. It is also not bad to bathe a puppy, although in this case it is important to know from what age it can be bathed. We leave you more information in When can I bathe a puppy for the first time?
How often does a dog bathe according to the type of hair?
The frequency of bathing is very different between short-haired and long-haired dogs. The latter need more care and you have to be more aware of their image, it is normal, they have more hair where dust and dirt can hide. So, how often do I have to bathe my dog depending on the length of his hair? Here are some approximate times:
- Long-haired dogs: once every four weeks.
- Medium-haired dog: once every four to six weeks.
- Short-haired dogs: once every six to eight weeks.
Remember to wash them with specific shampoos for dogs, although you can also use natural products that do not harm their skin or hair. You can't make excuses to skip washing your dog if you can't bathe him at home you can always take him to a dog grooming center.
Other care besides bathing a dog
To prevent our dog from smelling bad and to keep it clean for longer, it is important to brush it frequently. It is preferable brushing for a few minutes every day than once a month for an hour. Brushing it will remove dead hair and dust and keep your dog clean for longer. Although, of course, brushing is not a substitute for bathing.
And what happens if you have bathed your dog and after three days he rolls in mud? You'll have to bathe him again. Don't worry about having to bathe him a couple of times in a row in a timely manner, you won't damage his skin or his coat.
If you use dry shampoo, do you save yourself a bath with water? No way. Dry shampoo is used for very specific occasions when we can't bathe it, for example, when our furry friend vomits during a car trip. The bathroom is essential to maintain your hygiene and he alth, so alternative remedies are useless.
