Washing a dog

[meladeso]

Out of curiosity (non dog owner) / just for fun...
How often do you wash your dog?
I'd like one, but I've only had outdoor pets before.
I am pathetically squeamish about "dirty" animals in the house / on the furniture.
Would it be out of the question to wash a dog with similar frequency to a human???!!! maybe every second or third day?

[olivetor7]

My dogs only get washed once every few YEARS. Washing a dog strips it’s coat of all it’s natural protection, and you end up with infected stinky skin. However, I do groom my dogs every day without fail and I handstrip them 4 times a year.

[Aprilshowersinaugust]

Once or twice a year but our ddogs don't have free run of our house!!
One is too big for the bath and we use a huge flexi tub and wash her outside, others in the bath which they love!!

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

Whenever he comes home caked in mud, which can be daily in winter, he gets a plain water bath (no soap) to get it off.

An actual shampoo comes around every few months; very frequent shampooing wreaks havoc with their skin and fur.

[FairfaxAikman]

Only if they've rolled in fox poo.
Washing too often actually makes them smell worse IME as the coat tries to compensate for the oils being stripped.

[elastamum]

Whenever I decide they stink - usually about every couple of months unless they have rolled in something horrid

[Accountant222]

Probably 4 times a year

[meladeso]

Oh heck. It's just not going to happen then. I can't cope with unwashed fur!

[VioletCharlotte]

As often as needed. Which can be 3/4 times a week in winter when it's muddy. I have a springer who is a mud magnet and likes to roll!

[Blondie1993]

Whenever I think he is smelly . When he was a ‘show dog’ it was basically weekly depending on the time of year and shows! He has had 3 this year at the groomers but i’m going to try and increase it to once every 4 to 6 weeks as he is getting pongy quicker now he is getting a bit older . My dog is a large, very very hairy breed though! You would maybe be better with something little that you can towel dry easily and brush everyday plus you get lots of nice doggy ‘colognes’ these days

[olivetor7]

I think if the house being clean is important to you, then I probably wouldn’t get a dog, they really are dirt magnets. Even cats are pretty dirty and they moult everywhere. I certainly have had a cleaner house during the times without a dog, I wouldn’t be without them but it is a big job keeping the house reasonably hygienic.

[BiteyShark]

BiteyDog goes to the groomers every 5-6 weeks so unless he rolls in something smelly he only gets rinsed off with water when muddy.

[Floralnomad]

Mine gets bathed at the groomers every 2/3 weeks , he is also clipped every 5 weeks so that he needs minimal washing in between his baths . He has the run of the house and sleeps on the beds so needs to be clean . He is 8 and has never had any skin problems , if it’s really cold or wet he wears an equafleece when out to minimise the damage .

[fairgame84]

Only if he is dirty or if he smells. He hates being washed and has been bathed twice in 12 months. Once because he rolled in fox poo and the second time because the kennels put 'pawfume' on him and the smell was making me feel sick.

[AgathaF]

Roughly monthly. You don't have to let dogs on furniture though, ours doesn't go on it, nor did our last dog.

[tenbob]

The warnings about stripping the oils etc depend on the type of coats the dogs have
Coats which are more hair than fur tend to be ok with more frequent washing

We have a labrador who spends half her life in water, which is what they were originally bred for
Since that first heatwave we had in about April, she has been in and out of pools, ponds, rivers and paddling pools on a near-daily basis, and that's supplemented with a clean bath when she has found a nice stinky water source

She is raw fed so has a lovely coat and perfect skin so it hasn't caused her any ill effects

Also bear in mind how sensitive a dogs sense of smell is, and how important it is to them for navigating through life
Therefore scented shampoos are a really bad idea and will nearly always lead to a dog trying to find something gross to roll in to get rid of the smell

[DramaAlpaca]

Mine have a proper bath only when they've rolled in fox poo. I don't like using fragranced shampoos on them. After a muddy walk they get a quick hose down, unless we've gone by the river & they've had a swim. They don't much like being washed but they put up with it for the rub dry, which they love.

[WheelyCote]

Melad I love hoovered, washed floors...,hate seeing bits around.

My standards have relaxed somewhat. And it's worth it!

The cuddles, love....the happy dance when I come in...little faces...it's worth it.

[BellBookandCandle]

Every 6-8 weeks when they are professionally groomed. Only more often if they've rolled in fox poo.

They are brushed daily though and in winter paws washed with warm water (no soap). They wear equafleeces in winter which protect their body legs and belly from the mud.

I'm not sure a dog is for you, they are wonderful pets but can be messy! I know someone who wipes her dog's bottom every time it toilets! She also wipes paws constantly and is always wiping/cleaning the floor.

[princesstiasmum]

About every 3 weeks, shes a small dog, so gets a dirty tummy easi sometimes she gets an allergy rash so has special shampoo for that
Just got her out of the bath 10 minutes ago, she is really good sometimes just a rinse will do,

[Lucisky]

OP, as you say, I don't think a dog is for you at all. In fact I can't think of any animals that don't involve a degree of dirt - even rabbits and budgies need cleaning out.

[BiteyShark]

My standards had to slip when I got my dog but I was prepared for the dirt and mess as the benefits outweigh having dirty kitchen floors plus I got a cleaner to help keep on top of things

[Pompom42]

3-4 times a year. He doesn't smell I don't think

[CherryPavlova]

If he’s muddy or sandy or been in the sea he gets hosed off. That can be daily.

[Hoppinggreen]

Ours is 2, he hasn’t been washed since he was a small puppy and covered himself in his own poo

[SureIusedtobetaller]

Once a half termish. Short haired dog. He does whiff a bit but it’s a comfy sort of whiff.
The hair is driving me nuts at the mo- he sheds loads but it’s like velcro and gets everywhere. Last dog had a fluffy undercoat and it was easier to vacuum up!
Love him though.