I usually give my dogs a thourough bath each summer, once a year. But, I have heard that this is wrong. Some people say you should bath them alot more than once a year and others say to bath them a lot less.

The last time my youngest was bathed was when we brought him home...he was filthy!!! (That was in February)

When do you bath your dogs and how often?

If it helps, I have two Siberian Huskies.

K

One of my dogs, who's nearly 6 years old, was bathed for the only time about two years ago.
:)

My show dog is bathed about once a month, sometimes more often during the summer and she has a lovely shiny coat.

My Dalmatian is bathed about four times a year, usually when his coat feels a bit greasy and leaves marks when he brushes against you.

My 2 toy poodles are bathed when clipped every 8 weeks, but obviously if they get muddy when out on walks (mainly in winter when wet) I bath them myself. Oliver hates it but Lacy loves it.

My dogs don't go to the grooming parlour LOL! That's why I'm wondering. They usually come into moult at the beginning of summer each year. As they're a double-coated breed they have to have an excessive amount of grooming at this time of year (as you can imagine). I asked my breeder and she says she baths hers before each show but mine aren't show dogs...

K

hi i have a mal with the same kind of coat as sibes... double and sheds . i was told by my breeder that bathing isnt really neccesary unless very muddy. but when they are blowing their coats a good bath helps to loosen all the dead fur, followed by a really good brush out.
hope that helps :-)

Similarly to JG - only if it's a MUST - one occasionally managed to indulge her preference for rolling in fox poo so after the tomato ketchup treatment a bath was obviously in order - probably had about 7 baths in her 14 years and all down to her personal fetish.  Regular brushing particularly of a double coated breed similar to your own is enough unless they have rolled in something dire or managed to get into something like polluted water.   I hose off muddy legs, feathers and trousers in winter and blast any dry dirt, dead skin etc out - works a treat :)

Did used to give twice yearly soaks in Allugan (anti flea and tick bath which was rinsed off) when it was still available but that's been as much as most of them have ever had.

Having said that my youngest (13 months) joins me in the shower every day morning :rolleyes: but that's a whole different thread :D  Teri :P

Is there anything similiar to Allugen on the markets available today? - Sounds very interesting as my dogs can't stand being sprayed and see it as a punishment!

K

I bath mine every 2 weeks. I used to have a lonhhaired dog and he got bathed once a week :) I seem to always get the dogs who love to swim in mucky water and then roll around in the dirt afterwards :rolleyes:

Not that I'm aware of unfortunately :(   It was a great product but unlicensed so when laws changed re licenses etc it was withdrawn - pity because it was a very effective and simple solution, particularly back then when we used to go camping a lot with the dogs.  We don't do that anymore - not so many nasties (well, hopefully :eek ) in hotel rooms

Teri :P

ps. just noticed my previous post says "which was rinsed off" - missed out the all important word "NOT" - which was why it was particularly useful and easy!  Just mixed the powder into the bath, stood the dogs in, used a large jug to pour it all over them and let them run around until dry!

How annoying! Why don't they sell that anymore?!

To annoy us   :P

Mine get bathed when they decide to roll in something really yucky and they go to the groomers once a year for a deep down clean :D

We don't even bath ours then, they just have to stand outside with tomato sauce over the offending area for a while then we just rinse it off! They are smooth coated and they are meant to have a greasy coat(stated in the standard) which helps keep them warm and dry....to a point, hence why Chloe soemtimes wears a jacket in winter! And also the reason for the wirehaired vizsla ;)
I only bathed Idõ once, at about 10 weeks but it made his coat all soft, at which point Diane informed me NOT to bath a wire....sorry Diane, and Idõ for making your lovely wire coat soft!!

In the winter we just rinse down their legs and belly/ribs with warm water from a bucket. Can't remember the last time I bathed either of the girls, if they smell we have this spray which smells gorge and covers any nasty pongs!

Emily

Yep - we just use a blaster to take out any dried dirt and loose undercoat- brush loosely every day and thorougly once a week and of course before a show they get a thorough beauty treatment but bathing is only done when necessary or it softens the coat too much.

By the way I also have two that join me in the shower given the chance - but then they're convinced that I'll escape from some secret way out if they are not actually in there with me - :D :D :D

Yvonne

Emily Rose....do you have that spray to hand, i would love to know the name of it....i have a german shep x and he hates having a bath :-(  i do sometimes use those bath wipes on him but they dont get rid of any smells :-)
Cheers in advance :-D :-D

The dallies everytime we go to a show especially Molly as she gets disgustingly dirty.  The beagle I have only bathed once but you have got a lot more of a job to do so personally I would opt for when they are either really dirty or really smelly. ;)  This is just my opinion but people who send their long haired dogs to me for grooming very frequently ruin their dogs coats but dont tell anyone or I will be out of a job!!!!

It's called Greenfields Dog Lotion, we got it from Pets At Home but they do have a website http://www.greenfieldscare.com
We have the pear nector one and it smells lush and has lasted ages, but you would obviously use more if your dog has alot of coat, it was around £5 for a 75ml bottle.
HTH
Emily :)

Thanks so much Emily...i will be getting some of that :-)

Mine get bathed if I think they need it.  I take them to the dog jet wash at the petrol station which is fab :D

LOL @ Lara :-)

Mine don't do baths! its a hose pipe job!
One had one bath and that was enough for me :D never again, they have a daily brush out and if the mood takes me they get hosed down during summer although its not normally necesary unless they have rolled in cow carp.

I would only bath them if it was necessary as I think it alters the natural coat texture

Lynn

Mine vary (setters) they can be bathed every week if there's a show and they are feeling dirty however no show, no bath.  Our old boy was last bathed for crufts and will have his next bath for a club show next month!  It really depends on when the shows are.  If you feel your dogs need a bath once a year then thats fine.  You stick to that!

I have just bought some of those wet wipe 'dry baths' thingys from pah because my middle collie is very smelly and has a scurfy coat and I have been banned from sticking him in the bath! LOL I used one on him last night and was very, very impressed. He smells wonderful, all scurf gone and the colour on the wipes was disgusting! Plus he didn't mind coz he thought he was just having a rub down with a towel which he doesn't mind. :-)

My afghans get bathed once a week to keep the knots out....and it doesnt damage them at all, although it would be nice to only need to do it monthly :D

i bath mine whenever she needs it. I normally bath her when her coat feels greasy or really dirty, or if she's been in stinky water and the smell won't budge. I showered her last week for the first time in a few months. She's a gem though, she just stand in the shower cubicle with me and lets me do what i need to do! When i'm washing her belly and the inside of her legs, she lifts one of her back legs up so i can get at every bit. I don't think thats why she does it really, but its nice to think that :-)

nic