Do you know how to wash your dog? This actually isn’t a one-answer-fits-all situation. Different dogs have different grooming needs, and we’re here to break it all down for you so you know exactly what’s what with your fur baby’s bath routine.
What factors affect how often you should wash your dog?
Hair types
We’re sure you’re aware that different breeds of dogs have different hair types. From your short-haired Staffy to your long-haired Pekingese, your pup’s hair length plays a big role in how to wash your dog. Generally, a dog with short hair needs to be bathed less often than those with long hair.
However, hair length isn’t the only factor here. Did you know that some dog breeds have double coats? They developed these types of coats to keep warm in the places their breeds originated from. Some examples of pups with double coats are Siberian Huskies and Labrador Retrievers. These dogs’ coats naturally insulate them during colder seasons and overbathing them could strip too much oil from the skin and disrupt this process.
Dogs with longer coats tend to have more dirt and grime cling to their fur, which makes them prone to getting dirtier faster than their short-haired counterparts. Because of this, long-haired dogs need to be groomed more frequently.
Lifestyle
Another major factor in how often you need to wash your dog is their lifestyle. Is your pooch an adventure-seeker who thrives on outdoor walks and splashing in puddles? Or perhaps they’re a couch pup-tato who would much rather spend their days indoors on a comfy cushion or snuggled in bed.
Of course, if your pup is part of the outdoors gang, they’ll need to be bathed more frequently as they will get dirtier faster.
Read this: Can My Dog Run or Jog With Me – Safety Considerations to Keep in Mind
So, how often should your pup get a bath?
It is recommended that short-haired dogs be bathed every two to three months, so long as they don’t get into any dirty situations or smell unpleasant. Longer haired dogs may need to be washed as frequently as every four to six weeks, with brushing in between to maintain their coats and avoid knots or matting.
How to wash your dog
Products to use
There are a few things to consider when choosing grooming products for your fur baby.
Shampoo
Do you have a puppy or adult dog? Puppies should be washed with puppy-friendly shampoo to make sure their young, sensitive skin is nourished and doesn’t get irritated. Some adult dogs may also have sensitive skin, so they might need shampoo specifically formulated for their particular skin type.
It’s also important to consider whether your dog has a single or double coat.
Double-coated dogs, for example Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds, have a shorter undercoat and a dense, longer outer coat. This means that they need a shampoo which can penetrate through to their undercoat and skin to get a proper clean.
It is also an option to buy shampoo formulated especially for dogs who shed a lot, to help with de-shedding.
Some dogs may need a medicated shampoo for a variety of reasons, including anti-itch, anti-fungal, hot spot relief, and allergy relief, to name a few.
You can also buy tick and flea treatment shampoo, which is ideal for pets in areas with high prevalence of these critters, or pups who love to adventure outside.
Related: The Easiest Way to Do a Dog Health Check at Home: 6 Steps
Tools
Different coats need different types of brushes.
Slicker brushes have brush heads with short, tightly packed wire pins that are angled to go through the coat and avoid your pup’s skin. They can be used on medium-coated, long-coated, wire-coated, and curly-coated dogs to remove mats (and prevent them from forming in the first place, if you brush frequently enough) by removing loose hair.
Bristle brushes have lots of natural or synthetic bristles, and they’re best used on short-coated dogs to remove loose hair and dander and stimulate the skin. They can also be used on double-coated breeds as a finishing brush to smooth their coats and add shine.
Pinhead brushes look similar to human hairbrushes, with medium-spaced wire pins that often have rubber tips to prevent scratching the skin. Although these brushes are used quite commonly, they aren’t the most versatile. They’re best for finishing brushing long-haired coats to smooth the fur and remove dirt. You can also use these brushes to brush out tangles on dogs with wire coats.
Undercoat rakes have one or two rows of metal pins designed to penetrate through to the undercoat to remove loose fur and remove and prevent mats. You can use them on double-coated breeds of all fur lengths. However, you need to ensure that you choose the right pin length for your dog’s coat length.
Rubber brushes have short, flexible rubber bristles that work best on dogs with short coats, as their bristles won’t penetrate through long or thick coats. They massage the skin and help bring loose hair or dirt to the surface, so you can remove it with a bristle brush
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How to wash your dog
Regardless of their coat type, it’s pretty much the same deal when you get down to washing your pup.
Step one is brushing your dog to remove any dead hair and dirt and get rid of any matts or knots. For the tough knots, hold the tangle at the root and gently brush it out to avoid painfully pulling at your dog’s fur and skin. Keep our info about brushes in mind, and use the right brush for your dog.
Step two is wetting your dog down with lukewarm water. This is most easily done by filling a tub (test the water with your elbow to make sure it’s not too hot), gently placing your pup in the tub and pouring water over them.
You can then use a suitable dog shampoo to lather up their coat. Make sure to rinse twice to get rid of all dirt and soap. If your pup is especially dirty, you may need to shampoo them twice. Make sure that when you’re washing their face, you avoid getting any suds in their eyes, as this could cause them discomfort.
Once your pup is rinsed off, you can give them a good rub down with a towel to dry them off. If they tolerate it, you may also use a blow-dry on a warm or cool setting.
To make the experience less stressful and negative for your pup, be sure to give them lots of praise and even a couple of treats during the process.
It is recommended to start bathing your pup while they’re still young to get them used to the process. If you don’t feel comfortable washing your pup at home, then you can look into getting them professionally groomed! This is especially a good idea if your pup has longer hair which needs to be trimmed (lets leave the scissors-handling to the professionals). Professional groomers will also be well-equipped to handle bad tangles and matts, and have experience dealing with more fussy pups that don’t enjoy baths.
We hope this guide has given you all you need to know about how to wash your dog. Happy bathing!
Yours In Not-So-Average Pet Advice,
The PetInsurance.co.za Team
#NotYourAveragePetAdvice