Did you know that 63.4 million US households own a dog?

There’s no doubt that owning a dog is great due to the love and affection they give to you. They’re also great company and keep your feet warm during the winter. But unfortunately, schools don’t teach dog care classes, so we have to do the research ourselves.

When you first get a new pup you often worry about their exercise and diet. But what about bathing?

In this article, we’ll answer the question of how often you should give your dog a bath. We hope this will then put your mind at ease.

Read on for more information.

Many Factors Decide How Often to Bathe Dogs

Unfortunately, there is no specific answer to the question. This is down the number of dog breeds there are and that all dogs are different.

For example, your dog may be a perfectly healthy canine whereas your neighbors may suffer health problems. They may be the same age and breed but could need different grooming schedules.

There’s also the fact that certain breeds like Shih Tzu’s can suffer from skin conditions. This means they may need more/fewer baths depending on the severity.

Follow This Standard Rule and Adjust Accordingly

Even though there’s no exact answer for how often to bathe a dog, you can try this to start with.

Bathe your dog once every 4 weeks to begin with. This will help keep their coat clean and spread out their natural oils. They’ll also smell lovely and you won’t have awful odors lingering around the house.

By cleaning your dog regularly, it prevents dirt from building up on their coat and skin. It also prevents clogged pores and dry/oily skin which could cause skin conditions.

Skin conditions are terrible for a dog and you’ll spend time and money visiting your local vet.

However, you shouldn’t stick to this rule religiously. If your dog has a habit of jumping in muddy puddles, rivers or, just likes rolling around in the dirt, then you will need to bathe them more frequently.

Ensure that their coats aren’t dirty as this will prevent their skin from breathing and result in irritations.

Know Your Breed and Ask Your Vet

We said earlier that it can depend on the dog’s breed and for some, this is very important.

A breed such as the Chinese Crested which is hairless can require baths weekly. It’s important that if you have a dog like this that you consult a professional such as a vet.

You can also check out this helpful guide for more tips.