can anyone tell me if it is ok to get a pup (5 months) bathed and groomed once a month without damaging her coat?she is getting to big now to do ourselves,and we are taking her for the first time to a proffesional groomer next week,would once a month,if it is needed,be ok?

You dont mention the breed. I am sure once a month is ok. I have shih tzus that require bathing every 5 to 7 days. They are in full show coat. My Schnauzers are also done on a regular basis (about every 4 to 6 weeks) so I really dont see a problem.

hi,suki is an akita-inu,so she is quite large even at 5 months.

Would imagine she was quite large. Dont see any reason not to have her bathed and groomed every month. Though you will have to maintain her in beween. Good luck with her.

I know exactly what you mean billybob we have had a white gsd longcoat pup for 6 weeks now and have bathed him as many times i think,lol.I too was worried about this but how else are you supposed to keep them clean??Especially when the other dogs just love to roll him around in the mud!!You can get away with it a bit longer with the darker short coat dogs with a good brush and a few baby wipes.

I know a lot of people bath their dogs before shows, but since I got my first dog 8 years ago, I've heard quite a few people say that bathing loosens the coat. And I've noticed with our collie, though she doesn't get bathed that often, when she does, the next day for about a week all her undercoat comes out in handfuls. My younger dog has been bathed quite a lot of times, with none of that, until last week that is! Bathed him on the Sat, then Sun and all this week - lost nearly all of his coat! I just don't know whether it's co-incidence or not!
Hilda

It depends on the breed and its particular coat. My smooth-haired dogs, although predominantly white, generally only get bathed before a show. The one who has never been shown has never had a full bath, and he's 4 years old! When mud dries it simply brushes off.
:)

with suki being mostly white wih some red she tends to get grotty fairly quickly,which is why i would like to get her done once a month,but i don't want to damage her coat in any way,i have heard that too much bathing can do this.

I have 2 white GSD that get baths about every 3 weeks due to them looking gruby especially now the wether is getting horrid. They ten to kick up the mud onto there chests and belly once dried it can be comed out but after a bit the do look gruby and smell.
We have never had probs with the coats condition with regular baths

Cordelia

thank's for that cordelia,i will be taking her next tuesday but i will probably have top wash her myself before then!!!!!!!!

talking about baths...I own a Shih Tzu for about a year now. I was just wondering how other Shih Tzu Owners Wash their dogs Heads and faces particularly with this breed, their eyes are quite vulnerable. Also I have heard that we have to be careful not to get water into the dogs ear, is that true? Thanks!

I have 3 Akitas.
I do all the grooming myself. If you were to train her properly to take a bath you would manage it. It takes about 90mins to do the full works, nails included.
My Two adults only need to be done every three months. The 3.5 month old pup is done once a week, without shampoo, to keep her used to the routine to stop any problems cropping up later, no shampoo so as not to strip the coat of its natural oils.
Pro-grooming can be very expensive and will probably take longer than if you did it yourself.
Bath time with my three is a time spent bonding. They love being brushed and combed and the two bitches love the dryer (strange i know).
If you simply do not have the time to spend on a thorough groom then the pro will be fine. Take her a few times for a good brush first so she can get used to the groomer handling her though. Like i said, once every three months should suffice.

my afghan gets bathed weekly to prevent tangling...i use conditioner to moisturise and protect the coat.

American Cockers destined for the show ring, are bathed once a week as puppies just to establish the routine. Standing on a grooming table and tollerating the dryer are all training requirements. By the time they are in full coat, they can get bathed twice or more a week, depending upon the weather, and the type of exercise they get. Bathing doesn't damage their coats, but allowing the accumulation of grass cuttings, pine needles, twigs, moss, leaves and Lord knows what other debris, will wreck the coat in a couple of days. Apart from all that they'll stink anyway, dribbling urine on long hair and , well.......whatever else.
Dawn R.

I as well do all me own grooming, i think i will be much kinder to my dogs than my local groomers, my older GSD loves the hair dryer and when i trim her nails she has them fillield (not spelt right)to get rid of any sharp bits, and i must say she loves it. Cycled past them last week and this poor collie was being combed in such a hard way i look like as if she was hitting the dog as she combed it, another occasion was that she had a westie in the cage waiting to be groomed and because if was whinning she shouted at him to shut up.

Cordelia

I am currently training my Akita pup to stand for a good wash, dry, brush and manicure/pedicure. I enjoy spending the hour and a half with each of my my dogs, i think its just lazy sending them to a groomer when you can do it at home. My puppy loves to lay on the sofa for her nails done with the wee sander, with my husband stroking her head. Its her time on the sofa with mummy and daddy. Our older bitch is just as good, enjoying every minute of brushing, bathing drying etc.

Fair enough, they do get to meet new people and other dogs at the grooming parlour, enhancing their social training. However they are not learning that if you say stand still that that is what they ahve to do. It is furthering the training you do while out in the field or garden.

Personally i could not be bothered trimming a westie, bichon or poodle and would send them to the grooming parlour, but an Akita! i ask you. One of the easiest breeds to groom if you ask me!