Charlotte Foster
When your four-legged adventurer has happily rolled in cow dung again, it’s high time for a bath. You can’t get rid of some dirt and smells with a comb, brush, or damp cloth alone. But please consider: Dogs should be bathed as little as possible so as not to unnecessarily attack the natural protective film of their skin. However, even with short and smooth-haired breeds, a cleansing shower is sometimes unavoidable. And when you give your dog a proper bath, they get a shampooing massage that stimulates blood circulation in the skin and conditions the coat. Read tips for the wet and happy foam party with your four-legged friend here!
Why and how often should your dog bathe?
Dogs should be bathed as seldom as possible and as often as necessary. The dog is equipped by nature so that it does not need a bath. Its coat of hair protects it optimally from environmental influences. Multi-layer coat structure with undercoat and topcoat is dirt-repellent due to a greasy film and drain moisture. The dog’s skin also has a protective layer of fat or talc.
Puppies should not be bathed at all because their coat and skin protective layer are not yet properly built up, it dries out very quickly and begins to shed. So fungal infections and parasites have an easy time.
How to properly bathe your dog
Many dogs don’t like to be bathed and a slippery bathtub, water that is too hot or too cold, and a hard shower jet can completely spoil your four-legged friend’s desire to bathe.
Good dog bath, therefore, includes the following items:
- Mild dog shampoo without fragrances, because dogs have a fine sense of smell. Never use human shampoos, as these often contain chemicals that attack the dog’s skin’s natural acid protection.
- Non-slip rubber pad: Make absolutely sure that your dog cannot slip in the bathtub.
- Large absorbent towel
- treat
Dog bath in winter? Only in exceptions!
In the cold season, dog baths are not recommended, especially for short-haired dog breeds. The fur dries slowly and the protective layer of fat needs time to regenerate. Dog breeds with only topcoats such as poodles or short-haired breeds with little topcoats such as whippets have very sensitive skin that has to deal with enough bad weather in winter.
If the accident happens and your four-legged friend has thrown itself in the mud in winter, it is better to dry it with absorbent dog towels. Then remove the dirt with a comb, brush, and, if necessary, with a lot of patience.
However, long-haired dog breeds have to be bathed from time to time, even in winter, to remove fine micro-sand from the fur and prevent matting. It is best to only bathe your dog in the evening. This gives him all night to dry his fur.
