Bathing frequency

This just might be the most stupid question ever asked, but....how often do you bathe your dog(s)? Rufus has been with us for 3 weeks now...still has his puppy coat, but I'm think of trimming it a tad in a week or two...

But, how often do you bathe (not necessarily followed by a trim)...just a bath? And, do you use a leave-in conditioner for puppy cuts or just shampoo and let it be?
Thanks so much, in advance, for entertaining my Type A idiocy ;) LOL
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I don' think its stupid at all! And really, you'll get a big variety of answers. I think it depends on you, your dog, and what you consider "acceptable".

I like a clean dog- ours sleep in bed with us, and are allowed on the furniture. We have lots of company over, and we travel with our dogs. So I bathe more often than many folks recommend. During December, when it was raining non-stop and our yard was full of mud, I gave three baths in one week. Even I'll admit- that was excessive. But I cannot abide a filthy dog.

For most dirt and mud, a good brushing will get it out. You can leave it to dry on the coat, and then brush it away. But you may find traces of it all over your house, and I often have to vacuum up after that. But if your pup has rolled in poop, or something delightfully stinky like a dead critter it finds, then a bath is a must in my book. For smaller things- leaked urine (some boys will pee on their own legs) or dirty faces, you can use a waterless shampoo.

Two of our dogs are pets- they can be bathed anytime, and are often thrown in the tub when they feel a bit greasy or look dingy. Our third dog is a show dog, and we've been warned that over washing will soften what should otherwise be a coarse coat. So I'm washing him less than I might like, but still enough so that he is clean.

Lastly, you can make a big difference getting the right shampoo for the right use. And again, everyone will have differing opinions. And I keep a large assortment of shampoos and treatments, but mostly because I'm a bit too into this. But if you don't wash often, you might want to use a nice clarifying shampoo when you do- I like Chris Christiansens Clean Start. Wash a bit too much, and are worried about hair drying out? Try something meant to be used often, and consider using a conditioner.

Hope this helps!
^^^^ What she said. :D

It really depends upon your dog, and your personal tolerance for dirt. 8) Our first OES was given a full bath about every two months, but I would put him in the tub and bathe his paws, beard, butt, and "undercarriage" a couple of times a week, depending upon how dirty he had gotten. I have a very low tolerance for dirt and dog smell, but he was a very chill dog who didn't roll in stuff, so I could brush him out most times and be done with it.

Oscar was a whole different story. He had an autoimmune disorder which included skin issues, so he required a full bath and a full blow dry at least every 7 - 10 days. My tub got a work out! I kept him in a puppy clip for simplicity's sake. I also used gentle shampoos (tearless puppy) and alternated with the medical shampoos (chlorhexiderm), and found the least fragrant ones I could find. In between the full baths, I also washed his paws, beard, etc. almost daily. He was he cleanest sheepdog you have ever seen. :D

Laurie, missing Oscar
Steel started out on a leash at all times as a puppy so I knew his every move. This meant following me into the bathroom when I showered. The shower in my bathroom is all tile and a step in kind - not in a bathtub, the tub is separate so he just started following me into the shower one day. YAYYYYY! Lucky for me the shower has several heads and one detaches and can be used as a sprayer so he gets a shower instead of a bath whenever he wants and quite frequently. He sleeps with me along with the other dogs and right in my face so always nice to smell good. He is a very clean boy generally speaking so he doesn't often "Need" one. He doesn't like to get his feet wet or dirty or potty on himself but he will get a stale smell if he goes too long. I use shampoo from my hair salon on him for old lady white hair. Sorry if I offended anyone but I can't remember the name. It makes his hair sooooo pretty and soft and smells fantastic. It's good for his skin as it is made for ladies who have their hair done weekly. One of my sons and I were having allergy issues with the pet shampoos so this turned out to be the perfect solution.
Thanks, all...He got a bath and looks oh so adorable again :)
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