How often do you wash your dog?

lisa_celtic

I have been giving my little yorkie a bath every Wednesday night warm water drying him in front of fire hes good as gold but iv now read online that this is two often, I really hate a smelly dog and after a week he smells so how often do you wash yours?

ABajaninCork

Depends on the shampoo you use. If you use a mild shampoo (pref puppy shampoo), then you should be fine.

I wash my Shih Tzu every two to three weeks. If I leave him any longer than that, then his fur gets very greasy and smelly. Not nice!!

DBB

To be honest, if they're not acquiring greasy smelliness from an external source, like rolling in something gross, dogs shouldn't smell greasy and smelly like this, certainly not after such a short space of time!
Any unpleasant smell from the dog could indicate an underlying skin problem, e.g. malasezzia, which in its mild form may not be terribly obvious, the early stages of it including greasy hair and skin which smells yeasty!
I have a Shih-Tsu x who only needs to be washed a couple of times a year. My Westie a little more often, just because he likes to dig and get grubby. Since I changed him onto a fresh diet, I need to wash him far less often than I used to because his coat doesn;t get as greasy as it used to. I suppose I was washing him every 4-6 weeks, now maybe once every 3ish months.
But certainly, washing a dog once a week is way too much, and I'd worry why he gets smelly so soon.... washing them too often can cause the skin to "malfunction", so the excessive washing may actually be making the problem far worse than if you just brushed him out a few times a week.
From a behavioural viewpoint, washing a dog too often disguises or removes his natural dog communication scents, and can make other dogs act abnormally towards them as they don't smell quite right tot he toher dog.

mymo

Mine get washed when they need it (4 times one week as they like to roll in stink), can go weeks or months really, sometimes I have to wash them and groom them before a hair cut as they both have hair that constantly grows.

Abajanincork, have you checked his ears and teeth?
I have a Lhasa and the only time she got smelly was when her teeth were dirty. Shouldn't be greasy though, is it the greasiness that smells? There is some yeast thing(sorry can't remember exactly) makes dogs greasy and smelly, may be worth checking out.

Sorry just read above post, that's what I meant.
I use small bit of baby shampoo diluted in jug of warm water, makes them smell lovely!

ABajaninCork

I've trained as a groomer, so I check his ears and teeth regularly. He's brushed daily, has his ears plucked about once a month, and his teeth brushed every other day. His ears are pretty clean, but I clean them again before he's bathed. Vet can see no problems and is happy with the action I've taken and continue to take.

My dog's prone to allergies, which is why I check him over so often to make sure the inflammation isn't recurring

nocoverart

The same amount of times as myself, about once or twice a year. I usually let him in with me for handiness.

mymo

Sounds great!

My little madam won't let me brush her teeth for more than 3 seconds, so use Plaque off from time to time, give raw bones and chunks of meat to chew, and frozen veg like broccoli.
Along with a quick brush when I can, its keeping them ok, but not as clean as I'd like.
Do use doggy toothpaste? if so which one?

eirator

Big dog - Daily swim often in the sea but always in fresh water on the way home which just means I throw a stick in the deepest part of the river on the way back from the walk so in 18 months never.

Small dog - occasional wash (once a month if that) with tea tree oil shampoo, seems to help keep the mites at bay. Trouble is no sooner than you have washed him than he's gone off to find something crappy to role in.

DBB

nocoverart wrote: »

The same amount of times as myself, about once or twice a year. I usually let him in with me for handiness.

So, Ye wash once a year whether you need it or not?
Your water-conserving eco friendliness is laudable! Still wouldn't want to sit beside you though :-)

ABajaninCork

I wish I could wash him once a year!! The howls are heart-rending. Anyone would think he was being burnt alive...

He was bathed on Sunday. Just to show it was all an act, I started howling along with him. He glared at me (why are you taking the mick?), then licked my face!! We then get the theatrical shivers - all the time he's looking at you to make sure you've seen it. He then sits patiently while I blow dry him. Another quick lick (thanks Mum!), then tries to get into the garden to roll on the grass to 'doggify' himself!!

I use toothpaste from Zooplus. I think it's by Bearphar. You don't need to rinse with that.

lisa_celtic

Oh Jez I have so much to learn! Because he's a little ball of fluff I thought it was nice keeping him fresh. But he does go in to the field mith horse muck and loves running in the mossy lane way he was stink this evening only thing I don't like about washing him is I see what a frail little thing he is under his fluff!

meoklmrk91

I washed him (Boxer) last Novemeber, so he is due another one soon as he is actually starting to stink a small bit. I think that changing the diet to a high quality one does wonders for their coat and skin, nothing worse than rubbing a dog and getting that horrible, smelly, oily residue on their hands. I try to keep a can of doggy deodorant in the house as well for when he gets wet.

It's not good to be washing them any more than once or twice a year. I understand that when you are keeping a dog in the house you don't want them stinking the place out but its just not good for their skin.

jimf

a teaspoon of cider vinegar in food once a week great for dogs hair
and skin but only once a week

bluecherry74

I have 2 English Setters and they rarely, if ever, get washed. One of them has quite a thick, wavy coat that tangles easily so she goes to the groomers twice a year for a trim/dematting more than anything else (although she does get a wash there too). The other one has a much finer coat and I can handle the dematting myself, but I don't bathe him.

They're both out for walks in the rain often enough, which is better than a wash in my opinion. Their coats are never oily or smelly. I'm not entirely sure if that's down to the breed, what I feed them (raw) or the "rain baths", but I'm thankful I don't have to try and bathe them!

kylith

Once a year, unless they roll is something really icky. They're in and out of the canal on our walks anyway. They hate being bathed so much...

Why is it that they'll wade around in freezing canals, but put them in a bath with nice warm water and it's like they're being tortured.

fatmammycat

I washed my guy once, after he rolled in something. He's a big dog, swims most days, and doesn't really need to get washed. I brush his coat regularly though and it's fab. He doesn't smell hardly at all though and neither does his breath. Never brush his teeth, can't even imagine myself doing so.

bluecherry74

kylith wrote: »

Why is it that they'll wade around in freezing canals, but put them in a bath with nice warm water and it's like they're being tortured.

Mine are delighted to go for a walk when it's raining, but when I'm trying to get them out for their last pee and it's raining, they cower at the back door and stare at me with big, sad eyes. :rolleyes:

borderlinemeath

It depends on where they're walked to be honest. Usually they end up swimming in the sea most days but if they've been out in the fields and have found something delightful to roll in they'll get a bath which they hate.

I think maybe twice to three times a year is plenty. They don't smell most of the time.

IvySlayer

One every few months.

As mine is a Westie you can't really wash them more than once a month.

eirator

fatmammycat wrote: »

I washed my guy once, after he rolled in something. He's a big dog, swims most days, and doesn't really need to get washed. I brush his coat regularly though and it's fab. He doesn't smell hardly at all though and neither does his breath. Never brush his teeth, can't even imagine myself doing so.

I forgot to mention earlier that big dog who has never had a wash with any form of soap is the least smelly dog we've ever had, on top of the daily swim - off for one in a minute - he also gets a lot of brushing but even then we can't always keep on top of the felting up.

fatmammycat

eirator wrote: »

I forgot to mention earlier that big dog who has never had a wash with any form of soap is the least smelly dog we've ever had, on top of the daily swim - off for one in a minute - he also gets a lot of brushing but even then we can't always keep on top of the felting up.

Heh, our lad sees the brush come out and literally hurls himself out onto the lawn for a brushing. He LOVES being brushed.

littlebug

Mine's groomed every 4 months or so as her curly hair grows fast and can get very matted (and I''m a lazy sod and don't keep on top of the brushing) and usually apart from that I don't bother unless she gets really muddy and stinky.

But she's had something going on skin/ hair wise lately so has has 2 medicated baths in the last 2 weeks (vet recommended) and then this morning out walking in the woods she rolled in something really really bad (maybe fox poo). Window down all the way home and straight into the dog bath when we got home. so that's 3 baths in 2 weeks not great but the stink was unbearable!

Léan

Depends on the weather with my guy tbh. When it's wet and muddy he likes to have mud baths, so if it's been a particularly wet week that means he could get a quick rinse with the hose every day (no shampoo). He gets a proper groom every 3 months or so.

marknine

I gave my boxer dog a wash over 6 months ago and he still hasn’t forgiven me yet. He made such a fuss when he was being washed and you would think it was the worst thing that has ever happened to him. The dirt that came off him was a real surprise as he has short hair and spends most of his time in doors. Once I dried him off, it seemed like a relief that he was so clean and he went running round the house, wagging his tail, like a really happy dog. He doesn’t like me bringing him near the bathroom, even though, when I did wash him. The water was nice and warm and the shampoo was the mildest dog shampoo I could get. Going to attempt to wash him again, this month, if I can catch him.

JustAThought

Once a year at Cmas time when we'll be visiting !

Otherwise only spot cleaning on occasion if she rolls in sthing rancid.

It destroys their natural oils & weatherproofing if you do it too often.

If v muddy I will hose the mud gently off in the garden with warm water & rub off with a towel while feeding sausages! works a treat!
Coat is always in beautiful condition.

Dunny

Every Saturday

gimmick

When we were getting our fellas last shots done, we asked the vet how often we should wash him, and the vet said that if he is regularly groomed there is no need for bathing. He said that by bathing him using any sort of shampoo, doggy or otherwise, it would make his coat lose its natural shine.

seamus

Mine suffers from dry skin, so she gets a wash every two weeks in a medicated shampoo. Thankfully she's not one for rolling in stuff (though she never gets off the lead long enough to do so anyway).
She does tend to start sweating and smelling after a week though. I'm sure visitors hold their nose when they come in, but we've gotten so used to it now we practically like the smell because it smells like her.
After two weeks the smell gets stale and quite acidic, so I rarely let her go longer than that.

She also hates the bath, more than I've ever seen any dog hate it. It would kill me to have to do it a couple of times a week.

kylith

seamus wrote: »

Mine suffers from dry skin, so she gets a wash every two weeks in a medicated shampoo. Thankfully she's not one for rolling in stuff (though she never gets off the lead long enough to do so anyway).
She does tend to start sweating and smelling after a week though. I'm sure visitors hold their nose when they come in, but we've gotten so used to it now we practically like the smell because it smells like her.
After two weeks the smell gets stale and quite acidic, so I rarely let her go longer than that.

She also hates the bath, more than I've ever seen any dog hate it. It would kill me to have to do it a couple of times a week.

Visitors to my house sometimes remark that the house 'stinks of dogs', to which I take great pleasure in replying 'and your house stinks of sour milk and baby shít, but you don't hear me remarking on it', or other smells as may be appropriate; aftershave, stale beer, cigarettes, whatever. I quite like the way my dogs smell. It may not be as nice as jasmine and roses, but it's a warm smell of love, if you get my meaning.

Dog breath on the other hand...

lorebringer

We wash our dogs every 2-3 weeks. I detest the smell of "dog" so will wash the dogs and their beds regularly. None of my dogs have ever had a skin problem, and only one occasionally gets flaky skin which is quickly sorted out with shampoo and brushing. We use either a dog or a baby shampoo when we wash them. The dogs are brushed at least twice a week to keep them mat free and prevent stuff getting caught in their coat. If they roll in something nasty, they get washed. They all hate being washed but once they are in and out quickly they forgive pretty quiickly (until the next time!).

boomerang

I wonder does the quality of what they are fed reflect in how they smell? In my own experience, dogs on the cheaper diets tend to be a bit more whiffy.

I think it also has to do with where they sleep and how often their bedding is washed. Kennelled dogs tend to be that bit more pongy, in my experience.

In fairness it really depends on the coat type too, and how often you groom them.

My greyhound always smells wonderful and never needs a wash because her coat is so short and doesn't tend to shed like say, a Jack Russell.

Even if my other dog rolls in fox poop, I just wait til it dries, brush it out and then give the spot a good wiping with baby wipes. I brush her a few times a week so she's always gleaming and smells lovely.

DBB

After all my talk, today my long coated GSD found a rat that had not only been dead long enough to have turned slimey, it also had huge, gross, squirming maggots all over it. And boy, did she roll and roll and roll in it.
I'm still fighting the feeling of upchucking even writing this. She, in the meantime, had her 2nd bath in her 20 month life, and is positively flufftastic now :-D

Sigma Force

Not always the cheaper the diet, my lot are not fed Wagg (everyone incl. humans have had to make cutbacks) and they don't smell a bit but I find that dogs fed on tinned food tend to smell worse (except for the real pricey stuff).

I try to wash them just when they need it..the collie is the only one I can't wash myself ..unless on a very hot day outside..which we don't get much of..so she goes to the groomer about 3 times a year it all depends on how much she needs it. Usually when she's shedding her coat..I do most of the brushing and gently pull out the loose hair etc. then the groomer does the botty bits, a good wash, nails clipped the whole hog.

So they all basically get done only when they need it, I find a little spritz of doggy deoderant will kill off any doggy smells but none of mine smell much unless they've rolled in something phewy.

ABajaninCork

boomerang wrote: »

I wonder does the quality of what they are fed reflect in how they smell? In my own experience, dogs on the cheaper diets tend to be a bit more whiffy.

I think it also has to do with where they sleep and how often their bedding is washed. Kennelled dogs tend to be that bit more pongy, in my experience.

In fairness it really depends on the coat type too, and how often you groom them.

My greyhound always smells wonderful and never needs a wash because her coat is so short and doesn't tend to shed like say, a Jack Russell.

Even if my other dog rolls in fox poop, I just wait til it dries, brush it out and then give the spot a good wiping with baby wipes. I brush her a few times a week so she's always gleaming and smells lovely.

I don't think the quality of the food is necessarily indicative. In my case, the dog is fed Burns, and I mix it up with cooked carrot or green beans. He also gets hearts/liver/chicken/fish - sometimes with brown rice as a change.

His bedding's changed and washed every time he is (i.e every 2-3 weeks). But as Shih Tzu have hair rather than fur, then the coat DOES get greasy and smelly. Just like hair. So I wash him with a mild shampoo, and he does just fine on it.

lorebringer

boomerang wrote: »

I wonder does the quality of what they are fed reflect in how they smell? In my own experience, dogs on the cheaper diets tend to be a bit more whiffy.

...

In fairness it really depends on the coat type too, and how often you groom them.

...

I have found that diet does make a difference to how my dogs smell. We switch our dog food each time we open a new bag so that they are on a difference brand of food every few weeks. There are certain brand we cycle through and there is one in particular that makes my dogs smell stronger (if that makes sense). Flavour also makes a difference (to one fo my dogs in particular) - beef is generally a no no as it makes him stink, although we do still sometimes buy beef foods.

Coat type and the dog itself also make a difference. One of ours takes quite a long time to get smelly while another could stink after a short period of time. Bit like people - some dogs are just narurally smellier than others!

Another thing I have found is that the length of time it takes for the dog to dry makes a big difference to how they smell. The hair dryer (low settings, of course!) is often taken out after washes when my guys have a full coat to prevent any "wet dog" smell lingering.

Cows Go µ

My border collie gets washed whenever he smells. He goes in the river quite often so he normally quite clean.

My sheltie pup gets washed before a show. She has a lot of white and will have a lot of hair so I'd say she is going to be impossible to keep clean. Thankfully she's getting used to the bath already and doesn't really mind it. I just used Johnsons baby shampoo, it seems to be mild enough for her

eirator

When it comes to smell, some dogs are just plain smellier than others.

Our very long haired GSD x is constantly wet (just back from a walk and swim now), gets the cheapest dog food and you wouldn't notice his smell in the room, our attack russell on the otherhand is just a smelly dog and smells more when he's wet.

TooManyDogs

My lot get washed when they smell or the white ones are yellow

I washed my long haired GSD x recently cos her coat smelled greasy and like unwashed hair but god knows how long it's been since she was washed last.

They regularily get a hosing down after swimming in muddy puddles or the sea but rarely a full on shampoo job. Sad that I am I always use my conditioner on them, particularly the long haired dogs, I have a notion it somehow replaces some of the oils that were washed away! So they smell beautifully of Treseme after a bath. I used to give them a christmas wash but since the child came along I haven't had time on christmas eve to wash all 6, never mind persuading the long haired ones that the hair dryer isn't going to eat them, and persuade the short haired ones that really their hair was dry long ago and now they're taking the pi$$ trying to get heated up by the warm air.

My sister has been known to febreeze her dogs in an emergancy where it's smelly dogs v's mother in law

Sigma Force

Speaking of washing what shampoo does everyone use?

I've used bow wow bouquet in the past it's so lovely but if I don't have that I use Vet Solutions which is a great all round shampoo and not as pricey as some out there it's in a good sized bottle. But hope to get the gorgeous guineas fox poo shampoo.

Also what doggy spray/deoderant to people use..i.e.if you use them or do you make up your own? My Pap hates the spray more than having a bath but he smells like baby powder afterwards have taken to spraying it on my hands then rubbing it in to his fur but he hates that too. I wonder is there a doggy deoderant that both humans and dogs like the smell of..bacon scented dog perhaps?

eirator

Sigma Force wrote: »

Speaking of washing what shampoo does everyone use?

I've used bow wow bouquet in the past it's so lovely but if I don't have that I use Vet Solutions which is a great all round shampoo and not as pricey as some out there it's in a good sized bottle. But hope to get the gorgeous guineas fox poo shampoo.

Also what doggy spray/deoderant to people use..i.e.if you use them or do you make up your own? My Pap hates the spray more than having a bath but he smells like baby powder afterwards have taken to spraying it on my hands then rubbing it in to his fur but he hates that too. I wonder is there a doggy deoderant that both humans and dogs like the smell of..bacon scented dog perhaps?

Only the attack russel gets a bath and for that we use any Tea Tree Oil Shampoo, and it seems to reduce the incidence of him picking up mites and the like.

ABajaninCork

I use Tropiclean. Either the tea-tree (which is what I'm using at the moment) or the coconut which smells heavenly!! Took me a while to find a shampoo that agreed with him, but this is absolutely the best one. Lasts forever too as it's dilutable.

I then spray 'The Stuff' which is the best leave-in conditioner going. Again, lasts forever as I dilute it.

He has a quick blast of Bio Groom cologne which smells great. Trouble is, the dog thinks he smells like a French whoopsy so he does his best to roll it off!!

kylith

I found some cucumber shampoo. I find a lot of the dog shampoos have a really overpowering floral smell.

cloud_dancer

The male spaniel we have now has to be bathed every week or fortnight at most or else he stinks. He also gets a cloth rub down of his belly and legs after walks if he's dirty. He's the type of coat that dirt clings to! We had a jack cross for years and she only a bath every few months. She never smelled and her coat was always snow white. Just depends on the dog.

hdowney

My dogs don't get washed that often. They are both long hairs and should go to the groomers more than they do but generally they get a couple washes a year at most plus whenever they make it to the groomer.

They are polar opposites of each other. The collie cockerX LOVES bathtime. She hears the water running and will jump in herself. She delights in it. She also loves a good swim in the sea. Go near her with a brush however and she won't sit still, keeps legging it away from you. Then there is the terrierX. She does not swim in the sea, is not fond of being bathed but DELIGHTS in being brushed. She will come to you tail wagging and sit and let you brush her for hours!

Mental the pair of them!

stop animal cruelty

l have a lil pom wash her about 3 times a year & try to brush her every day! shes a really clean dog, licks her lil toes & face every night before bed time....shes the cuuuuuuuutestttt thing ever!

alroley

2 pom mixes get washed around 2-3 times a year and maltese gets washed every week.
I wish the malt would stay clean but he's snow white and I want to keep him that way

nicola lawlor

lisa_celtic wrote: »

I have been giving my little yorkie a bath every Wednesday night warm water drying him in front of fire hes good as gold but iv now read online that this is two often, I really hate a smelly dog and after a week he smells so how often do you wash yours?

im a dog groomers its up to u how often u wash your dog. Just make sure yiu brush before and after tge bath

lisa_celtic

nicola lawlor wrote: »

im a dog groomers its up to u how often u wash your dog. Just make sure yiu brush before and after tge bath

Hi Nicola,

Thanks for the reply the yorkie is 5 months old now and his hair is starting to cover his face bit much.. at what age would you recommend his first cut? We love his coat as it is black and tan and are dreading when it changes colour as he will be all grown up on us lol

DBB

nicola lawlor wrote: »

im a dog groomers its up to u how often u wash your dog. Just make sure yiu brush before and after tge bath

Not if there's an underlying medical condition causing the dog to become so smelly in the space of a week! I think it'd be more prudent for the dog to see a vet, not a groomer, in this instance.

lisa_celtic

DBB wrote: »

Not if there's an underlying medical condition causing the dog to become so smelly in the space of a week! I think it'd be more prudent for the dog to see a vet, not a groomer, in this instance.

I spoke to my vet she says I can wash him every week once I make sure his skin isn't having a bad reaction he's a little ball of fluff and very low to the ground so he gets drowned even walking in grass let alone when he explores mucky fields and puddles of muck. He's eating hills puppy mini a completely dry diet with lil tiny bits if chicken as a training treat

liliq

I rarely wash my dogs... It's a year anyway since they were washed last, and they don't smell.
If it's very wet out, we get a bit of that "wet dog" smell, but once they're dry it's gone.
I would have thought that washing them so often would strip the natural oils from their skin and hair.