How Often Should You Wash Your Dog

Bringing a pet home is certainly one of the happiest moments in life. Especially if the pet is cute, loyal, friendly and energetic like dogs. When kids nag their parents to bring a dog home, parents put forward a typical question, who will take responsibility of washing the dog regularly? Poor kids, obviously, do not feel capable of washing another living thing when they themselves have to take their moms help to bathe them! Even adults don't know how often they should wash the dog, because it indeed is a big task. Dogs create a greater fuss than babies when they are even taken near the bathtub! However some enthusiastic dog owners feel it's their duty to wash their dog every time it gets even slightly dirty, under the guise of proper dog care. There are others who do not bathe their dogs for months, only because their dogs do not like to be washed! The truth is, the right time to wash a dog differs, it depends on certain factors. The following are the factors that you will need to take into consideration.

Dog Breed
The breed plays an important part while deciding how often you need to wash your dog. Though most dogs do not like water, it is necessary to wash them frequently, not to make them look extremely clean but to protect them from skin diseases. The washing interval also depends on the coat of the dog. Dogs with coarse or wiry coat, like Schnauzers and Terriers need to bathed every 4-6 weeks. Double coat dogs need to be washed every 4-8 weeks, dogs like Cocker Spaniel and Pekingese fall in double coat category. If you have a smooth coat dog like Chihuahua you will need to wash it only once in 8 weeks. The last category of dogs, the non-shedding dogs like poodles need to be washed every 6-8 weeks.

Allergies
Dog allergies are to be considered while deciding the washing time for dogs. If the dog is suffering from any kind of dog allergy, it will need to be washed frequently. However it is necessary to consult a vet, to know exactly what the time interval between two baths should be.

Another point that you need to take into consideration is human allergies. If any member of your family is allergic to dust, dirt or even to dogs, you will need to wash your pet dog more frequently. People who are allergic to either dust or dogs, should wash their dogs every week. However it is better to consult your vet about it, as some dog breeds can be extremely sensitive to water.

Weather
The dog grooming interval will obviously change according to weather. Dogs love to roll in snow, but this can lead to certain dog illnesses. What happens is, the undercoat of the dog gets damp, and if it is not dried neatly, and that can lead to moist eczema. So, you will need to wash you dog two to three times, thoroughly, to get rid of any molds that may form under the thick coat. However, if you dry your dog thoroughly whenever it takes a roll in the snow, you will not need to wash it frequently. On the other hand, frequent washing is required in summer, as all dogs are likely to face the problem of tick and flea infestation. Frequently does not mean everyday! Once a fortnight or week is enough.

Hopefully this article has helped you. Use only vet recommended, or homemade shampoos for washing your dog as they are the only ones which are safe for your pet.