Most of us think about bathing dogs in one of two ways. Either we believe that dogs nearly never need bathing, or we fall in with the people who feel a dog should be bathed once a month or even more often. The truth is somewhere between the two.

Bathing is good for dogs, but it can cause problems if you do it too often.

Just like us, dogs naturally have oils in their fur and skin. Bathing your dog too often will cause drying of the skin, which means itching, scratching and possible sores and injuries. Remember that the natural oils have some benefits, since they provide protection from bacteria and other elements.

You can make bathtime fun for both you and your dog. Just be sure to take care about a few things and your chances of success go way up.

1. Take care of your dog's ears. Infections can occur when soap and water are able to enter the ear canal. This may be temporary, but it could also do some real damage. Infections harm the ear drum, leading to possible deafness. Not sure if your dog has an ear infection? He might if you see him shaking his head a lot, or if there's a discharge from the ear.

If you want to be sure that this doesn't occur, you can gently block your dog's ears. Use cotton balls, and don't force them into the ear canal. Place them gently but securely at the entrance to your dog's ear to keep water out. Once the bath is done, make sure you dry the ears carefully, since moisture can still get in. A cloth around your finger is a good way to do this, but you can also choose a cotton swab if you use it carefully.

2. Use a shampoo intended for dogs. These are made to protect your pet's fur and skin. Soaps meant for people can be irritating and harsh. There's also a chance your dog will be allergic to the perfumes in human products.

3. How often you bathe your dog should depend in part on what breed he is. Longer haired dogs need more washing than shorter haired breeds. If you have a hairy dog, like a spaniel, baths should be scheduled once every two months or so. Different breeds may go as long as six to eight months. If your dog spends lots of time outside, he'll get dirty more quickly, so pay attention to this.

Start your dog off the right way when it comes to bathing - patience and compassion are extremely important. Scaring your dog will make the entire process more difficult. Dogs enjoy being wet, and may enjoy running into lakes and rivers or having water sprinkled on them.

Set the bath up outside when you can, and encourage your pet to run through it. Distract your pet from the water with a toy or two, and once your pet calms down, you can start the bath. Some people use a leash to keep their dog from running off.

Have everything ready first, including soaps towel, a bowl for pouring water, and brushes. Water coming out of the tap might be a little cold, so let water in the bath warm up a little.

If you teach your dog that bathing is to be enjoyed, you and your pet will enjoy the next session.

It's also important to look into the best dog training tools to ensure that your pooch behaves like you want him or her to. Click Here for a proven dog training program that you can start using today to improve your dog's behavior!

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Written by Cliff Stone using tags: bathing a dog, best dog training, dog agility training, dog training, dog training program, dog training tools, Dogs, how to bathe a dog, how to train your dog, Pets