by Andrew Garcia
Apr 03, 2022
4 minute read
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Why Is Bathing Your Dog Important?
- What Is the Frequency of Washing Your Dog?
- Bathe Your Dog at Home or Go to the Groomer?
- Tips for Bathing Dogs at Home
- How to Dry Your Dog Properly?
- Conclusion
Your dog’s fur is perfect for trapping dirt, allergens, and bacteria. Therefore, you must bathe them regularly and correctly. Because all dog owners want their pups to live healthy and happy lives, we cannot overstate the significance of bathing dogs.
Why Is Bathing Your Dog Important?
There are several reasons why you need to bathe your dog. If your dog likes rolling in the dirt or grass, it will be dirty. Also, a dog that likes swimming or chasing birds into a muddy pond will always be dirty. You may also have an oily dog breed that tends to smell “doggy”.
Although maintaining a clean and fresh-smelling dog is excellent, there are other reasons for bathing your dog. Fleas and ticks threaten your dog’s health, especially in warm seasons. When you wash your dog correctly, you can get rid of parasites and alleviate itching from insect bites.
What Is the Frequency of Washing Your Dog?
Because dogs are not like humans, they don’t need daily showers or bathing. However, frequently bathing your dogs results in fewer allergens in their coats. Nevertheless, over-bathing your dog could strip their skin oils, affecting skin health.
There are several factors affecting how often you should bathe your dog. These factors include your dog’s coat type, health conditions, and lifestyle. For instance, you have to wash dogs with water-repellent coats less often to preserve their natural oils.
Dog’s Coat Type
A distinguishing feature among dogs is their coat type. Coat type refers to the texture difference, fur length, and if they have a single or double coat. The several dog coat types require different grooming methods.
The typical dog coat types include long, medium, and short coats, double and single coats, curly coats, and silky coats. Wire coats, rough coats, and smooth coats are other common types of dogs’ coats.
Dogs with medium to long coats require a bath every 4 to 6 weeks while maintaining their coats in-between baths. Most dogs need a bath every few weeks to stay fresh and smell great, especially if you brush them regularly between baths.
A dog’s coat type is essential in the frequency of dog baths. However, it is not that simple; dogs with longer furs need to bathe more often. If you’re not sure about your dog’s coat type, ask your vet for assistance.
Dog’s Health Conditions
You need to consult your vet about the frequency of dog baths and the right products to use if your dog has skin conditions like allergies or seborrhea. Your groomer or vet may suggest using medicated shampoo when bathing your dog. Other vital grooming for your dog more than a bath includes monthly ear cleaning, thorough coat brushing, and nail trimming.
Dog’s Lifestyle
Short-haired dogs generally have more active lifestyles than long-coated dogs; you need less energy to keep your dog clean in-between baths. After visiting the dog park, you can clean your short-coated dog by rubbing them down with a damp washcloth and removing dirt. On the other hand, long-coated dogs may need at least half an hour of cleaning before their body and paws are dirt-free.
Apart from the dog breed and coat type, dogs spending most of their time indoors do not require as many baths as dogs that play in ponds or lakes, herd all day, or hunt in dirty waters. So, the basic rule is to wash your dog when they are no longer huggable.
Bathe Your Dog at Home or Go to the Groomer?
Because most dogs don’t enjoy bathing, some wait patiently for the bath to be over, while others give their owners a tough time during a bath. Additionally, bathing your dog can be pretty difficult. Although you can easily wash your small dogs in the sink, bathing your big dogs can turn your bathroom into a flood zone with only one big shake.
Because only you know your dog best, bathing your dog at home can be a good choice. Paying attention to your dog’s skin and coat condition is essential in determining when they do and do not need a bath. It is crucial to remember that you need to train your pup to get used to water pouring over it while the dog is still young.
Unless it is warm outside, in most cases, dogs don’t like getting bathed with a hose in the backyard. Likewise, most big dog owners don’t care about bringing a big dirty dog into the bathroom. Nevertheless, you can always take your pup to a professional. Groomers not only bathe dogs, but they also brush teeth, trim nails, and fur, and express anal glands.
Tips for Bathing Dogs at Home
Although most people love a relaxing bath, your furry companion is not as keen. Most dogs, including the most compliant, often get startled when they are plopped into a bathtub or sink and doused with water. Consequently, the tips discussed in this section can help you make your dog’s bath time as stress-free as possible.
- Using a calm tone, soothe your dog with praise. You can also prepare a few treats, helping your dog associate bath time with a reward
- Always put a collar on your dog’s neck. Also, create a stable surface for sitting or standing to prevent your dog from sliding
- Before turning on the showerhead, use a pet comb to brush your dog’s coat and loosen the dirt
- Always use lukewarm water for bathing your dog. It is better to use a gentle stream of water instead of a powerful and disconcertingly noisy jet of water
- Use about 5 minutes to massage dog shampoo into your dog’s fur to remove matted-in grime. Avoid splashing soap into their eyes and ears
How to Dry Your Dog Properly?
You can shorten the blow-dry process and get most of the water off your dog’s coat by rubbing it down with a towel. However, it is best to avoid rubbing your furry friend vigorously with the towel. Also, press and squeeze the towel, letting it soak up as much water as possible.
Afterward, you can naturally air-dry your dog. However, if you have a thick-coated breed, you can speed up the drying process using a hairdryer. Because heat and noise may scare your dog, you must handle this method carefully.
When using a dryer, choosing the coolest setting on the highest airflow speed is best. A more increased airflow makes your dog’s coat dry faster. Also, if your pet is shivering, you can make the air a little warmer. It is important to note that winning your dog near a hairdryer for the first time may require multiple attempts.
Furthermore, it would be best if you used your hand to brush through your dog’s coat as you go while you are blow-drying because it speeds up the process. Finally, it is essential to be mindful of mats and skin problems during drying, helping you address them timely.
Conclusion
Because bathing regularly is essential in your dog’s life, it is a good way of keeping your dog healthy and happy. Moreover, it will make your home healthier – a clean dog means fewer germs and dirt in your house. Additionally, bathing makes your dog’s coat shine and glossy. Bathing also prevents fleas and, consequently, itching discomfort that nobody wants.
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