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The doghouse

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Original poster

How often do you wash your dog?

65 replies

turtletime · 09/04/2018 20:56

I have a 2-year-old GSD who probably gets washed once every two weeks. I just had a friend lecture me that this is way too much as it strips is natural oils etc (which I am aware of). However, he gets EXTREMELY muddy on his walks and will take a dip in a muddy puddle any chance he gets. His coat is lovely and he often gets complimented on it. Should I cut back? We've tried just using a washcloth/brushing but that doesn't help with his coat clumping up with mud which he then chews at. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

OP posts:
shushpenfold · 11/04/2018 07:55

I had no intention of bathing ours as v short haired (ridgie) but he gets really smelly after a few days at the dog sitters if she has lots of dogs there (esp. drooly ones) We’ve bathed him twice recently therefore but he doesn’t seem to be particularly averse to it and drinks the bath water when first in. He’s only 4 months old and hates being cold do the bath is nice and warm and he’s pretty chilled about it Smile

MissWilmottsGhost · 11/04/2018 07:57

If she has rolled in something smelly or every couple of months if she hasn't.

She is a terrier so usually more often than every couple of months Hmm

I put her in the bath and use the shower attachment on her. She also gets a blow dry and brush afterwards Smile

If it was just mud I would hose her in the back garden, but she hates mud and avoids getting her feet wet as much as possible.

I have only needed to hose her when she has rolled in something so disgusting that I won't even bring her in the house to wash.

Fieldsrus · 11/04/2018 07:58

Goes for a haircut every 4 months - so then and anytime he rolls in something dead - weekly !

purplegreen99 · 11/04/2018 10:58

If mine get muddy I rinse them off with the shower when we get home, but only use shampoo if they've rolled in fox poo or similar.

Lkjem · 11/04/2018 11:07

Every week. She has an amazing thick glossy coat that is always admired. Small dog though she is 7 ( adult years old ) people assume she’s a puppy because of her soft coat.
So it hasn’t done any harm exactly the opposite and no dog smell in he house.

Tika77 · 11/04/2018 11:09

Twice a year, if anything. Mud just brushes off. A german shepherd is not a lapdog, hasn’t been bred for frequent washing. I agree with your friend. Giving him eggs will also make his coat look shiny.

Guinefort · 11/04/2018 11:11

My dogs have never had a bath. Greyhound cleanest daintiest creature would practically skate on top of mud or carefully pick his way round the cleanest route and would never dream of going anything so unbecoming as rolling on anything other than warm, clean soft grass!

Gigantic lurcher has require a hose off once after rolling in a cow pat Grin but clearly found the hosing so disagreeable he has never done anything to warrant a repeat since. He is generally very clean (I'm guessing the greyhound genetic influence) but not quite as dainty as greyhound so does occasionally get his paws muddy. In which case I just walk him through long grass til they are clean again.

Darklane · 11/04/2018 12:47

My Skye Terriers get washed about once a month depending how grubby they’ve got, they’re very long & low with coats that reach the ground. My two little Yorkies get bathed every fortnight. Their hair is completely different, very fine & silky, more like fine human hair & I keep it long not clipped. It knots easily if not kept clean, they get conditioner & a blow dry after every bath!

Elphame · 11/04/2018 13:29

Paws after every muddy walk. The rest of him as and when he needs it - probably every couple of months

Claudiawinksatmen · 11/04/2018 13:45

Wink dog is 6 and has never had a bath, has a lovely coat and does not smell. Wiped with microfibre cloth after winter walks, bed is washed regularly as is chenille throw he lives under October to May!

CollyWombles · 11/04/2018 13:49

I have bathed my dog twice, he is a rescue and was 10 when I got him. I learned very quickly that he HATES baths as he tried to savage me! I would have to muzzle him to bath him and at his age (now 13) I'm not prepared to do that. So he just smells doggy and is more off-white than white.

MsGameandWatching · 11/04/2018 13:50

Every two to three weeks - full bath with coconut dogshampoo, then all tangles combed out and finally a spritz all over with coconut/lime dog spray. It's kind of an oil that's good for his coat and he smells lovely after. He's a Scottie so very low to the ground so his undercoat gets very muddy and tangled if he's not regularly bathed and groomed.

SleightOfMind · 11/04/2018 13:59

2 Greyhounds.
One washed with hose in the garden about 3 monthly (I plug the hose into the kitchen tap and use warm water if it’s cold outside. She loves it).
The other one pretty much every week after she’s dived into something stinky.
The DC call her Smellywolf Hmm

dudsville · 14/04/2018 07:36

One of our dogs had body odour. They are all related and eat the same food so not sure why she suffers this. They all get a groom every 2 months and for her is keeps her fug down. In between this they just get hosed off if muddy, no shampoo.

RoseyOldCrow · 14/04/2018 15:37

Oops sorry for the delay - these are what we're using at the mo.

How often do you wash your dog?
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