Join Mavis Butterfield for vegetable gardening and canning tips, easy recipes, and saving money strategies (Rug hooking, too!). Simple living at its best!
So I have a question for all you dog owners out there. How often do you bathe your dogs? We’ve been giving Lucy the puggle dog a bath about once every two weeks, and let me tell you, it is a struggle.
Am I washing her too much? Not enough? Does it get any easier?
This is my first dog so I’m really not sure.
Thanks for your advise,
Mavis
This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.
Error: No feed found.
Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.
Tawnya says
I had a dog that shed NON STOP. Light floaty hair that was everywhere. The vet told us it is perfectly acceptable to give a dog a bath every week. Just be sure to use a conditioning shampoo. Let them air dry. It took Sophie a while to get used to her bath’s like 6 months. We used warm water to lesson the shock. Before she passed away she was an old pro. Just sat there and let us do it no struggling to get out or anything.
darlene says
Ooh, that’s a lot of washing! My dogs get a bath a couple of times a year unless they are smelly/dirty. I think it’s not so good for their skin to get washed a lot 🙂
Linda says
Mine get washed a couple times a year also, When we lived on the farm they didn’t get bathed at all. They don’t need it.
Lisa L says
We have two dogs and we NEVER bathe them. If they roll in something smelly we will spot clean them but neither one has ever had a bath. Ironically people ask us how much we bathe them because our house does not smell like dog and they want to know what our secret is.
One is a brittany/pug and the other is a border collie/lab.
Crystal says
My dog gets a bath once a month in the summer when we are more active and every other month in the winter when we tend to stay inside more. Unless she gets really dirty, then she gets an extra bath! Which she hates!!! I was bathing her twice a month until my vet told me that was too often. She already has itchy skin from allergies so the baths were making it worse.
Kate says
Our Izzy gets bathed anywhere from EVERY DAY to once a month…it just depends what she has gotten into, what the day held, etc. Lucky for us…she LOVES water. That’s not to say she loves baths, per say, but just about every day she actually jumps into our bathtub and claws at the faucet until we run a few inches for her to play in. She takes a toy or two in there and splashes around for sometimes an hour. It helps cool her off and she is just weird. We also have a kiddy pool outside for her and boy howdy she just lays right down in that she loves it so much. So, if Lucy gets accustomed to water in a way other than baths, it gets a little easier. There are a lot of days we wash Izzy with shampoo and all every day because she rolls in straight mud or poo. She also is a mini-poodle so has very curly hair that we don’t want to get matted. We got a shampoo that is safe for every day use and the vet and groomer both said there is absolutely nothing wrong if she seems fine. We were told that if she got excessively dry skin, not to do it so much, but otherwise– it was perfectly fine! She has never had a problem. Advice would be to just do it whenever she is dirty or smelly or just needs some sprucing up. And to get her more used to it, try out a kiddy pool or something and see if she likes to be in the water at all (just a few inches.) Izzy is probably the same size or a teensy bit smaller than Lucy. Good luck!
Jeff says
OH JEZZE, GIVE THE SMELLY DOG A BATH WHEN IT STINKS, ITS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE…..
Miriam says
Calm down. It’s an innocent question. I know dogs that smell if you don’t bathe them once a week and dogs that don’t after a month and dogs that get into everything. It’s really up to what you can tolerate. I like a clean dog that doesn’t smell, so I’d do it more often, but definitely get the dog used to the water so it likes it. A lot of dogs are afraid of the hose, so try a warm bath with some toys. (Even humans don’t like a cold bath) Or a cold pool outside on a hot summer day. Good luck!
Candice says
Once a month should be enough unless she gets into something messy. Make sure you are using some kind of conditioning shampoo so that you are not drying out her skin.
Beth says
My German Shepherd goes to the groomer about every 3 months and gets bathed and groomed. Dogs dont’ usually need very many baths unless they get into smelly stuff- they should be groomed frequently with a brush or comb depending on their hair type.
Lisa says
I suggest you ask your vet what he or she suggests is best for Lucy.
I have three dogs. One needs a weekly bath due to allergies, in addition to his every-other-month grooming (it could be more often, but that’s what I can afford!). Go too long and he is prone to developing hot spots.
The others? One when he gets grubby looking (probably twice a year). He loves water; pool water, rain water, snow, sprinklers, but he hates baths! The other got a bath a few weeks ago, but I can’t remember the last one before that! She does get brushed though, especially this time a year, as she blows her coat all at once. It isn’t a pretty sight!
I use an oatmeal shampoo.
Mia says
Dogs shouldn’t be washed too frequently because the soap dries out their skin. I would say only if she gets into something really stinky. If she just had dirt on her from being in the garden, you can hose her off. Otherwise 2 baths per year is about average.
Our dogs hate the bath, but love swimming in lakes and the ocean. We also have a kiddie pool in our yard that they like wading in.
amy says
Only when they roll in something stinky.
Cee says
My dogs get bathed about 2x a year. I have a double coated breed and then a short haired. The short haired is a Great Dane/boxer mix and I use baby wipes to wash the wrinkles on her face periodically (~1x a week) but that’s about it.
I do have a tip for bathing dogs. All the dogs I have had have all done better in the tub if I put a towel down first that they can stand on. One of the biggest issues I’ve found is that the dogs don’t like the slipperiness of the tub, the towel gives them better traction and can really reduce their distress during bathing.
Good luck!
suzanne says
Poodle by groomer 4 times per year. Boxers almost daily, no soap, just to rinse off pond mud. Doxy gets soaped maybe once a month or as needed and brushed or towle rubbed daily but he sleeps in our bed. They need their natural body oils to distribute the flea/tic protection according to my vet.
Susan says
Don’t have a dog, so no suggestions….but the look on her face says it all! 🙂
Veronica says
Ive been known to febreeze the dog! if they are just smelly and not dirty, you can just mix baking soda and warm water and rinse the dog with that.
Aurelie says
Never….our vet told us it was silly to do so…just brushing. Mind you we have an outdoor dog
.
Megs says
I wash my Golden when he needs it – about once a month. I take him to a groomer about every six months to get him a really good brushing. I also have dry shampoo for times he is kind of smelly but doesn’t need a bath. It is great! Just rub it in his fur and then brush him really good. Like a brand new dog!
Jen says
My dog gets bathed frequently, since she’s a therapy dog. Could be up to 3 times a week. Usually, though, it’s once a week. My advice? Use a gentle aloe and oatmeal shampoo. I use Vet Solutions, and buy it from Amazon. Her skin is fine being bathed that often. She hates baths, but it does get better with time. Now she’s just resigned to it. You might try following the bath with playtime using her favorite toy. She’ll soon associate the bath with special playtime. Good luck!
Preppy Pink Crocodile says
I think it depends on the breed. But that does seem like a lot to me. My dog gets washed ever few months, which is a lot more than most dogs, but she has skin issues and needs it. Ask your vet is my advice but that much washing might be drying out her skin, which can be itchy and uncomfortable. Than again, if she’s dirty, I fully understand! No one wants to live with a stinky dog.
KK
kcb says
I agree w/the “ask Lucy’s vet” responses. Our dog has some yeast thing on her paws, so we’re washing the paws only with a special shampoo 3x a week right now. She gets a full bath & clip monthly. Frequent brushing will also help cut down on the need for frequent baths. Brushing also keeps down the dander & shedding.
Vicki says
Check with your vet. If Lucy has itchy skin, she may need a bath more or less frequently, depending on whether or not the itchies are coming from allergies or dry skin. I have two long-coat Chihuahuas. One gets bathed every time he’s in the car (he’s prone to carsickness, and he gets nasty stuff all over his coat). The other gets bathed whenever he gets stale smelling, which is about three or four times a year. They both get brushed several times a week to prevent mats and tangles, and that helps distribute the oils in their skin along the fur, which helps to keep it clean and shiny. Diego knows he’s getting a bath whenever we get where we’re going (usually my son’s house or home – I don’t take him too many other places because of the carsick issues). He heads directly to the bathtub in each house when we get there. I think he enjoys getting all the sick off him. Skippyjon is resigned to his baths. He doesn’t fight them, but he doesn’t relax in them the way Diego does.
kelly says
This is our first dog, too- and we bathe her when she starts to stink (which can be weekly, as it turns out in the summer), and many of our friends have said that we bathe her too much, but I asked the vet & he said that as long as her skin isn’t reacting (some dogs are sensitive to shampooing too often), we didn’t need to worry about it.
For the record, though, I make my own doggie shampoo with oatmeal, castille soap, and herbs, so it is more gentle than the stuff you buy in stores.
Kristina says
We live on a farm, so our dog gets dirty, but seems to clean up pretty well with no help on our part. Once in awhile, when we’re having an event at home, we’ll take him in to be groomed (he’s 90#, so we don’t even try here). I must say, I like the slight smell of “dog” he emits most of the time better than the (ahem) “cheap bordello” scent he sports after a trip to the groomers. He does shed a lot, which more frequent bathing might alleviate, but I’d rather vacuum than bathe that gigantic spaz.
bobbie says
Once a month is more than plenty….dont bathe her too much, it will dry out her skin and she will start to flake. You can buy doggie wipes to spot clean her if she rolls in something or starts to stink.
Rita says
My Shiba gets a bath once and month and when I asked the vet she said sounds good. She did not want a bath when we first began. I had to give her a bath when I felt kind, patient, and determined. After a year or so she knew when I grabbed her up for a bath she would get a bath. Now, she likes them. But she is nearly 13 so maybe she just has given in. : )
butterfly weed says
I have never been able to figure out why dogs hate baths so much. They love water and swimming, and they love to be rubbed and petted but put the two together and its a wrestling match!
Jen says
It’s good to get them used to baths as a puppy, it will make it easier as an adult.
My dog has allergies, and her dermatologist has me giving her a bath once a week with a special shampoo that costs $50 a bottle! It’s pretty insane, but has helped her so much! But her being about 80lbs, it’s a job in itself!
I would ask your vet. Only they would be able to tell you what is best for your animal. They can recommend a shampoo that would be best if you do decide to bathe her more often, one that won’t dry out her skin, like an oatmeal based shampoo or something like that.
Lucy is adorable! Love seeing her in your posts!
Ellen in Clackamas says
Different dogs have different needs. I agree starting as a puppy is best to get them used to it. I have a Newfie/lab mix, long hair, big dog with skin issues. I take him to the “doggie wash” as he is too big to get into my tub. He gets stinky every couple of weeks so I give him a bath with anti-itch, soothing shampoo. He loves water, likes the bath but wouldn’t get near the kiddie pool I got him to help him keep cool in the summer. Who knows???!!!!
Sandy says
We bath our corgi once every week to 10 days. She sheds like a mother! So we need to, also she has a part white coat. I gets dirty. She likes her bathes so its never an issue. I brush her teeth and clean her ears at the same time. The vet says this is fine. I use a shampoo from the Costco pharmacy (oatmeal ) and she has no skin issues. We also give her Alaskan salmon oil on her food.
Corgis will shed so much that we should just attach a sniffer to her…
Sandy says
Swiffer-silly spell check!
Geraldine says
My dog used to hate having a bath when I washed her in the bathroom. I now wash her outside (with a garden wand sprayer) and it’s no problem at all! Can’t believe how much easier it is. It used to be high drama to try and get her just to go in to the bathroom (since she knew what that meant). Now, outside, I just use an old leash and collar – stand on the end of the leash – and wash away. I only wash her if she’s smelly or looks dingy – once every 2 or 3 months.
Teri Kruse says
We have 2 Rhodesian Ridgebacks. They have been show dogs and now family companions and do Agility. They rarely get a bath if they get dirty or sandy, it brushes off when dry. Even before showing, maybe a bath every few months.
You may not like hearing this, but we find feeding a raw diet has made a huge difference in their body odor. They do not smell!!
Linda says
I love that you feed a raw diet. I do too. To my Newfie. He doesn’t smell either.
Madam Chow says
Same here.
Mr_Yan says
I’ve a Boarder Terrier that has a wire coat. He gets a bath yearly. Last one he got was when he rolled in deer pellets.
Caroline says
You’ve gotten a lot of good advise here, Mavis. Essentially, you should be bathing your dog when you notice an odor. Now, nails & ears are another issue, especially with a drop eared dog like Lucy. As a former professional groomer, I’d recommend snipping the ends of her nails once a week (actually teaching her to accept a nail file and filing them would be even better) and flushing her ears with a vet approved ear wash at least every other week to prevent ear infections…
Now, I show my dogs, so they get bathed a lot more frequently – so I use a less harsh soap than you’d find in the pet stores. If you want to bath her every two weeks to keep that fresh doggie smell, look into a very good, very soothing shampoo.
Caroline
Adam says
We bath when stinky. After each bath, and sometimes when she just smells a little bit too much like a dog, we use this hippie oil stuff with avocado oil to give a subtle scent and to give her skin a boost after drying out from soap.
susan says
a few times a year. I always think I will bathe her after a stay at the vet while we are on vacation. Once we get her home and she “airs out”, she is fine. She stays still during the bath but goes crazy while drying off….it is play time!
Dana says
My two get it once a month. Some dogs will be better than others in the bath.
becca says
We have a 7 month old lab who is learning using crate training. Sometimes things don’t go as planned. We probably have to bathe her twice a week, but we use oatmeal shampoo to avoid irritation.
If you see dandruff, you’re doing it too much. If they seem itchy, you’re doing it too much. If they smell good and you’re washing them, it’s you who has a problem and not the dog!
We’re lucky she loves water, but Lucy should learn over time that if she just stays still it will be better. A nice treat afterwards wouldn’t hurt!
momengineer says
I have found that if I offer treats, it creates a positive experience getting bathed. While I can tell its not her most pleasant experience, my dog will jump into the tub when asked now…might want to try that. Plus, I praise her the whole time she is getting bathed…
ann says
ask your vet how often is safe, and which shampoo or soap to use. every dog is different, so you can’t go by what people do with their own dogs…. my dog needed a bath twice a week with a mild medicated shampoo because of skin issues (bath frequency and shampoo prescribed by vet!) so just because one person says not to do it too much, or another says do it often, it all depends on your dog, your environment, and what your vet recommends. and if its a matter of your own personal choice (you think she’s too dirty or too smelly if you don’t wash her often) that’s ok too, as long as your vet doesn’t think it will harm her. =)
Linda says
As I read all these posts I am really saddened by all the comments of ‘ask your vet’….and use this and that shampoo….oh never mind.
Lisa says
Just to add my two cents, I would concur that a short haired dog does not need a bath unless it gets into something yucky. From everything I’ve read, it’s not natural to bathe your dog, especially with shampoo, on a regular basis. Is Lucy showing any signs of skin irritation? Why are you bathing her so often? Is she getting into stuff? I would say to take those things into consideration. We currently have a lab, who loves water, and like others mentioned, loves her hose and her kiddie pool in the yard as well as our stream. I find when she gets really muddy on a walk, just throwing a stick in the stream a few times cleans her up. But then again, labs have “raincoats” 🙂 I’ve never met a “Puggle” but she looks much like a regular pug and I’m thinking the fur is the same.
If she gets into something or starts to get smelly, then I’d say it’s time for a bath, though! Other than that, relax, Mom… 🙂
Daniel says
Every other week, which my wife say’s is too much. He wasn’t too stinky this time so I’ll hold off longer next time, after reading all the comments here, thank you all. Sometimes he just gets a little more rancid than I can handle, and she won’t bath him, so I put him on a little schedule with some mild pet shampoo. He’s a good boy for me in the kitchen sink, with one of those pull out spray faucets. I make sure I thoroughly get all the soap out. He seems to like the warm water massage spray.
He is a 8 lb Yorkie/Shih Tzu.
Johnny Shi says
At our house we have a pitbull. We bath her about once or twice a month. Usually we just wait until she starts to stink before we bathe her. It would be nice to have a regular bathing schedule but, right now once or twice a month has worked for us.
Shesom206 says
I have a pugzu and we bath him 3 times a week.