how often do dogs need baths? - Page 1

i have friends who think my dogs need baths every time i see them. if they stink i bathe them, usually every few months. we spend alot of time outdoors so they get muddy alot in warmer weather and somehow dirty even when it's quite cold. i heard it was bad to shampoo them too often. what do you think?

I agree.  My dog hasn't had a bath in  over 14 months  - we toss him in the ocean if he rolls in something stanky, but that's about it.

We bathe only if they really need it. If they rolled in something stinky. But other than that we dont bathe them. Besides German shepherds dont usually stiink.

I only bathe mine 2-4 times a year, generally before an event or if they get a little smelly after playing in the mud, or when they're shedding and the hair around their butts gets a bit matted from shedding quickly and I have trouble raking it out. Bathing loosens the hair so its easier on them when I rake it.  I dillute the shampoo in a bucket of warm water. Fortunately they get to swim a lot when the ponds aren't frozen, so they stay pretty clean.

SS

I'm glad someone asked this question because I understood that GSD's should only be bathed a few times a year also but I found it interesting when I took them to the groomers a couple weeks ago they asked me if I wanted to reschedule their next appointment.  I looked at her puzzled and said "well how often should they be groomed?"  She said well we have a police officer who brings his in every 6 weeks.  I thought that was odd.  I mean my dogs do spend time in the house.  Some more than others,and with the weather being slushy and rainy they do tend to get dirtier than I'd prefer but I didn't think what the groomer told me was correct.

We bath our dogs about 1-2 times a year, usually during heavy shedding periods or if they smell bad.

In a pet-oriented TV show, they suggested that there need to be at least five weeks between baths.

Like most that replied above, I only bathe mine if he really needs it.  Mud does not qualify as "really needing it".  For dirt and mud, I wait until he's dry, brush him, then use mild puppy wipes, which don't seem much different than baby wipes.  Last time I bathed him was about four or five months ago when re rolled on a dead squirrel. (where's the vomiting smiley when you need it ) 

Rain!!  thats my answer.....lol

I wouldn't bath mine without a good reason. 

I bathe my male GSD maybe 4x per year (probably less).  My female is another story - I bathe her weekly.  She has medicated shampoo and conditioner from the dermatologist for her allergies (she itches like a maniac).  She goes back to the dermatologist this month for a 6 month follow up.  I'm going to ask her about the bathing and see if we can't spread it out somewhat.  Honestly, I think she's going to itch rather I bathe her or not.  

I'm of the general consensus that I would *prefer* to bathe less frequently if given the choice.

"RAIN", hehehe, that's pretty good.  I remember someone once asked me if I thought my dog smelled.  I said "Yep, he smells good".

When my GSDs are older, I am much more careful with them being clean but I do so by brushing more, not bathing more.  When you wash a dog, you strip the oil out of the coat, which is not a good thing, the skin gets too dry and that can make a dog very uncomfortable. 

When I bathe, I do as Shelley said, dilute the shampoo in a bucket of water.  It's also really important that you rinse, rinse, rinse - anything left in the coat will eventually irritate the dog.

Years ago I was sucked into the hype/advertising put out there by all the shampoo/conditioner/creme rinse companies.  After many years, when I finally aquired brains,  I learned the outside is reflected by what we put on the inside of the dog.