How often should a dog be given a bath?  My puppy is inside most of the time and I find that baths cut down on the amount of hair she sheds around the house.  I have recently been told that bathing them to often isn't good for them, so I thought I'd gather some facts.
Drai

Like so many things- depends on your breed. There is no need to bath your dog regularly unless you have a reason. Like it's stinking or moulting! Bathing does get rid of loose hair, the only time my dogs get bathed is when they are moulting. Bathing cleans the coat but also gets rid of the natural oils in a dog's coat which is why it shouldn't be done too often. Apparently, if we humans didn't wash our hair so often, after about 6 weeks it stops feeling dirty because the natural balance means the oils (grease!) can do it's job properly & your hair feels clean. Haven't tried it myself though :D . Many breeds are not bathed immediately before a show because of this. The coat feels much softer than it should & some breeds with a close lying coat "fluff up" because of the lack of oil, making them look like an explosion in a mattress factory :D . Bathing also takes away the natural water-repellant properties many double coated breeds should have.
HTH

Kirra is a short haired puppy.  She seems to shed an excesive amount and the baths help curb that.  As long as it isn't bad for her.  Maybe I'll change my plans and bathe her twice a month instead of as often as I was.
Thanks

My dalmatians (short-haired, enormous amount of shedding) hardly ever get bathed. In fact one, who's 4 and a half, has never been bathed in his life, as he's purely a pet and doesn't need that 'deep-down clean' look a showdog needs. His coat is beautifully shiny and waterproof, his skin soft and supple with no hint of scurfiness, and he doesn't smell remotely doggy.

When I have bathed them they seem to shed even more for a few days then go back to the normal amount.

I give them each 5 minutes brushing with a rubber brush then a wipe with bristle brush every couple of days, and that's it.
:)

I have five Dobes, the oldest is 10 today (Happy Birthday Hazard) and she has been bathed only once in her life.  The others have never been bathed but they do get well brushed (with a rubber brush) and rubbed down with a chamois leather if I feel it is necessary.

Christine

Must admit, I never bathed my dog, he was a black lab and his coat was always really glossy, he was never 'dandruffy' and as we spent a fair amount of time outside he never smelled musty.  I had tried to bathe him once when he was an 'old' pup but he was so terrified I gave up and never tried again.

so how much exactly IS too much ?

my supposed white dog is a grubby little thing who likes to lie in dirt waiting for people to tickle her belly. she also like to dive along the ground goalie style. we often leave the mud to dry so we can brush it off but she usually still looks like the mucky little pup that she is ! she needs a bath at the moment because she is a bit pongy and im taking her to my parents with me for her first christmas :)

she absolutely adores baths, which ive never had with a dog before ! the only problem is that she tends to drink most of it and then pees for england afterwards ! :D

sarah

I bath my Afghan once or twice a month, her coat would become unmanagable otherwise, my beardie x twice a year but the rest, mostly collies, rarely, if ever, get bathed.  I do take them swimming though and they have to take a compulsory shower (no shampoo) before they're allowed in the pool.  Sally

Where do you take them swimming?

My Sam would love to go swimming with us and it's such good exercise but it's too cold this time of year to let her into the sea :(

We have a doggy swimming pool not far away and the added advantage is that it is owned by a friend.  It's the real thing.  30' x 15' indoors and heated.  Hot showers for dogs and owners as well if they want to go in with them.  Hubby does - I don't,  not keen on water.  Sally

Hmmm, I wondered this.  My dog smells of dog.  All the time!  I don't have an aversion to this but other people tell me I smell of dog.  Should I bath him?  When he sees me in the bath he runs a mile .........................