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 very good for dogs, but it shouldn't be done too often or it could cause some real health problems.
This is because dogs have natural skin and fur oils, the same way that people do. If you bathe your dogs too frequently, their skin will become dry and itchy. This creates a risk of scratching and breaking skin. Remember that the natural oils really are beneficial, and that they protect your dog from many things.
With care, you can make bathing entertaining for you and your pet. Just watch for a few things.
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.
To make sure that this doesn't occur, all you need to do is use cotton balls to stop your dog's ears. Never force these into the ear canal - just place them securely at the entrance of the ear, keeping water out. Once the bath is over, dry the ears to keep moisture out - a finger wrapped in a cloth works well. If you decide to use a cotton swab, make sure you don't put it too deeply into the ear canal, since it could damage the ear drum.
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 frequently you'll need to bathe your dog will depend on breed. Dogs that have longer hair need to be washed more often than dogs with short hair. Spaniels and other hairy dogs may need to be washed as often as every two months. Some other breeds can go as long as eight months. Outdoor dogs get dirty more quickly and will need more frequent bathing.
Starting your dog off right with routine bathing is important. Be compassionate and patient, since scaring your dog makes it a lot harder to bathe him. Make bathtime fun if you can, since lots of dogs enjoy swimming or being sprinkled with water.
If you can, set up your bath outside. Encourage your pet to run through or sit in it. Use toys to distract your dog from the water. Once he's calmed down a little, start the bath. Some people put their pets on leashes to keep them from running away.
Collect everything you'll need for the bath well in advance, including soap, towels, and a bowl for pouring water. Hoses usually are full of water that's too cold - use water from the bath instead.
If you teach your dog that bathing is fun and enjoyable, he'll be excited about the prospect.
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