The short answer: It depends mostly on the coat. A short-coated dog manages with a bath a few times a year, a wire-coated dog does well with a bath every three to four weeks and a dog with a long coat may need bathing as often as every four to ten days to avoid matting1. Between baths the brush does most of the work. Beyond that, you bathe when the dog is dirty, has rolled in something or has swum in water with algae. Dogs with allergies or skin disease follow their vet's schedule instead.
Why not every week, just to be safe
Dog skin has a different pH from ours2. It is protected by a layer of oil that the sebaceous glands keep topping up and by bacteria and yeasts that belong to the normal skin flora. Shampoo removes dirt, but also some of that protection. If you bathe more often than the skin can recover, it becomes dry, flaky and sometimes itchy. That is also why human shampoo is not suitable: it is made for different skin.
At the same time, bathing a dog is not dangerous. Healthy skin tolerates a bath when it is needed and with a mild shampoo and thorough rinsing the margin is wide. The problem arises when bathing becomes a habit rather than a need.
Guidelines by coat type
The Swedish insurer Agria gives the following rules of thumb1. Treat them as a starting point; your dog's lifestyle moves the figure one way or the other.
| Coat type | Examples | Bath roughly |
|---|---|---|
| Short, smooth | Labrador, beagle, boxer | A few times a year |
| Medium-long | Golden retriever | Once a month |
| Wire | Terriers, schnauzers | Every three to four weeks |
| Long | Afghan hound, poodle | Every four to ten days |
| Corded | Puli, komondor | When dirty |
The long coat is bathed that often for practical reasons: a clean coat mats less than a dirty one. So it is the coat rather than the skin that sets the pace there, which is also why the choice of a mild shampoo matters more the more often you bathe.
When your dog needs an extra bath
1. After a summer swim in a lake or the sea. If the dog has swum where blue-green algae may be blooming, rinse the coat with clean water as soon as possible and do not let the dog lick the algae off. You cannot tell by eye whether a bloom is toxic5. Rinsing with clean water is usually enough; no shampoo is needed.
2. When it has rolled in something. Carcasses, manure and fox droppings. Here a proper bath is the right answer.
3. When someone in the family is allergic. One study found that a bath cut the amount of dog allergen in the coat by more than 80 per cent, but levels were back after three days. The researchers concluded that the dog would need bathing at least twice a week to keep levels down4. That is a lot for the skin, so check with your vet and use a very mild shampoo if you go down that route.
4. With allergy or skin disease. For dogs with atopic dermatitis, the international guidelines include bathing with mild shampoos during flares and more frequent bathing as part of everyday skin care3. How often and with what is decided by the vet, sometimes with a special shampoo for a period.
Key insight: It is not the number of baths that matters but how the skin responds. If the coat turns dull, the skin flaky or the dog itches in the days after a bath, you are bathing too often or with the wrong product. If the dog smells bad again two or three days after a bath, the problem probably does not sit in the coat and more baths will not help.
How to bathe the right way
Brush first. Mats tighten when wet and are harder to remove afterwards.
Lukewarm water. Roughly as for a baby. Water that is too hot dries the skin and is unpleasant for the dog.
A mild dog shampoo. Massage it in right down to the skin and leave it for the time stated on the bottle.
Rinse longer than you think. Shampoo residue is a common cause of itching after a bath. Rinse until the water runs completely clear and the coat no longer feels slippery.
Dry thoroughly. Towel first, then a warm room. A dense undercoat that stays damp for a long time turns musty and can cause skin problems, especially in skin folds and between the toes.
Avoid the ears. Water in the ear canal can contribute to ear infection. Dry the outer ear with a towel.
When to see the vet
Urgently, the same day, if after swimming in a lake or the sea the dog vomits, drools, becomes wobbly or weak or has trouble breathing. It may be algae poisoning, which needs a vet immediately5. Rinse the coat and go straight away.
Within a few weeks if the skin becomes dry, red or itchy after every bath even though you have switched to a mild shampoo, if the dog smells bad again soon after bathing or if you find redness, sores or a greasy coat while washing. Bath time is an excellent chance to feel over the whole body for lumps and ticks.
What you can do yourself between baths
Brush. It removes dirt, loose hair and dandruff and spreads the skin's oils. For most dogs, regular brushing does more for the coat than more baths.
Wipe paws and belly. After muddy walks a damp towel or a quick rinse with plain water is often enough.
Wash the bed. A clean dog in a dirty bed soon smells like the bed.
Related product
ANNU ALOE Pet Shampoo. A mild shampoo built around aloe vera, for regular washing when the skin is healthy and the coat just needs to be kept clean. It can be used as often as your coat care routine requires. Read more about ANNU ALOE. Covered by our 42-day guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you bathe a puppy?
As rarely as possible, but when it needs it. Puppies often get dirty and a bath with puppy shampoo or a mild dog shampoo is no problem. Use the chance to make bath time positive with treats and calm; it pays off for life.
Can I just shower my dog with water?
Yes. Lukewarm water without shampoo removes mud, sand and lake water and affects the skin much less. For everyday dirt it is often enough.
Can I use my own shampoo on my dog?
No. Dog skin has a different pH from human skin2. Use a shampoo made for dogs.
Should you bathe a dog in winter?
Yes, when needed, but indoor air is dry and the skin dries out more easily. Bathe a little less often and brush more and make sure the dog is completely dry before it goes out into the cold.
That was the short answer. If you have a question about your own pet, email us at info@herbiovet.se. We reply within one working day.
Read more:
Sources
- Agria Djurförsäkring, Coat care for dogs (in Swedish).
- Matousek JL, Campbell KL (2002). A comparative review of cutaneous pH. Veterinary Dermatology, 13(6), 293 to 300. doi:10.1046/j.1365-3164.2002.00312.x
- Olivry T, DeBoer DJ, Favrot C et al. (2015). Treatment of canine atopic dermatitis: 2015 updated guidelines from the International Committee on Allergic Diseases of Animals (ICADA). BMC Veterinary Research, 11, 210. doi:10.1186/s12917-015-0514-6
- Hodson T, Custovic A, Simpson A et al. (1999). Washing the dog reduces dog allergen levels, but the dog needs to be washed twice a week. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 103(4), 581 to 585. doi:10.1016/s0091-6749(99)70227-7
- AniCura, Algae poisoning in dogs (in Swedish).