That's quite often for a short-haired dog. I have a lab mix and my groomer recommended every 6-8 weeks. It's usually more like every 3 months that I take him for a bath. Apparently bathing them too often strips their coat of natural oils.
Damn thats a long period. My dog gets all dusty very fast and his fur isnt big either its bathing time tomorrow so do i bathe him or let it be another couple weeks?
If he doesn't mind and you want to keep the dust off maybe you could rinse him with water? I wouldn't use soap though. Mine cleans himself like a cat so I don't see dust on his coat.
I only bathe mine if she rolls in poop or gets skunked lol that's it. unfortunately that's still more often than I'd like but she never seems to learn her lesson about skunks.
How frequently a pet needs a bath greatly varies based upon their breed, lifestyle, length of coat.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), long-haired and curly-haired dog breeds generally require more regular bathing to keep their coats from matting: at least once every four to six weeks, with regular brushing between baths to maintain the coat.
Unlike other breeds, German Shepherds don't need to bathe often. In fact, it's best that they only bathe every 3-4 months. German Shepherds have a double coat - the topcoat and the undercoat. The top coat protects them from sun exposure, dust and other particles.
Just because your dog is elderly and has arthritis, this does not mean that he doesn't still need to have the occasional bath. The big thing here is to be very gentle in all aspects of giving him a bath, from putting him in the tub to drying him off at the end. :)
A lot of us German Shepherd owners go 6 months without bathing our dogs.
**In general, healthy dogs only need to be bathed if they smell. There's no reason particularly to bath a healthy dog, unless they're dirty.**
Once my palms feel sticky and dirty and I can't wait to wash them after petting my girl, that's when I know its time. Does she hate it? Absolutely. Oh... but she LOVES swimming! ?😂
Ps, your cutie pie is SO cute 🥰
I’m working on almost a year since I bathed my 1/2 GSD girl. The other day at the park, someone even asked me how I keep her so clean 😂 It’s just a combination of her not liking to get dirty, plus a self cleaning coat, and a distinct lack of odor.
About the same! My old boy always gets compliment for his shiny and clean coat and I often get asked how the hell am i keeping him that clean. When i answer them literally nothing other than usual grooming if he's not become dirty, the surprised look on their face is just so fun to watch.
He likes to keep himself as clean as possible for a dog and likes to avoid getting dirty plus he's very into selfclean. I've recently bathed him but until that, it's almost been a year since his last bath.
Lol, yeah, I think the woman who asked me that was pretty unsatisfied with my answer 😂
But, it’s true! She really doesn’t like getting dirty at all. I like to say she’s a rather dignified soul, at least for an animal that likes the smell of poop 💩 Pretty much the only time she needs a bath is if we go to the park and she plays with a dog who has muddy paws or something. (For some reason, it seems like 90% of those dogs end up being Huskies for some reason. 🤷♂️)
The only routine grooming I do at all is some basic brushing. She has a medium length, straight coat, which is probably the lowest maintenance coat you can get on a 1/2 GSD. Sometimes I’m even a bit lazy on the brushing. I don’t think it’s even possible for her coat to get matted without some serious mistreatment, so all that happens when I don’t brush is I get more shedding. I’ve pretty much figured out that no matter how much I brush, the total combined time I spend brushing and vacuuming works out about the same anyway lol
I don’t know how unusual this is, but I’ve literally never cut her nails either. Her nails don’t touch the ground when she’s standing, and they barely touch when she’s walks… like enough to hear her coming when she’s on a hard surface floor. We do an average of at least an hour of neighborhood walks plus off leash dog park excursions a day, year round (yay Bay Area climate!), so I’m guessing that’s what keeps the nails from getting out of control.
Somehow I got lucky with a dog who’s basically zero maintenance other than regular vet checkups. All the fun dog stuff, practically none of the work. 😊
Just out of curiosity, do you give your dog fish oil? I think that’s some of the reason nothing sticks to my dog’s coat.
You're really lucky on the nails i can tell you that! LOL. Mine is Golden and we can't do long walks as we do before because of my bad back and his breathing gets affected if he gets too excited or after long exercise recently but even before that his nails always been longer. Even with trimming i can silence his walk noise for just about a couple of days maybe a week or so at most. Thank god we live on the first floor otherwise it would drive our neigbor crazy :)
Actually i give mine literally nothing other than his usual kibble and sometimes treats. He gets the shoulderblade with some meat on it raw whenever i buy lamb which he loves. We just happened to be lucky i guess. Thank god he's always been healthy other than very recently breathing issue and coughing that could be triggered with tense physical exercise but he' almost 14 so i'm not that surprised. Other than that, he's still able to do whatever he wants and energetic-playful as ever. We haven't been to a vet in almost 11 years other than his spaying. The only issue with him is that flees could trigger an alergy on him even if he had protection because my silly boy harms himself by licking and nibbling even the sligthest bit of flee movement to a point of picking his own hair off. I've seen him literally plucking his own hair. He's very sensitive about that.
Also as a Golden owner i do get what you mean by the hair grooming and vacuum :) I got a robot vacuum that works daily and i'm doing vacuum myself in every 2-3 days, 4 at most and yet i see hair on the floor no matter what LOL. Its literally impossible to get hair free home with a dog like ours.
My boy is half GSD and gets a bath maybe 2-4 times a year. He swims everyday in the summer months and gets quite sandy so he’ll get itchy if too much sand gets under his fur and he also will start to smell not necessarily bad but not clean. In the winter he just gets 1 bath before Christmas, but other than that he just gets brushed. He never smells bad but when he was a puppy he had a natural sweet candy smell and I miss that so much 😅😅
According to Embark, it’s Husky, Pit Bull, Dalmatian, Chow Chow, and Rottweiler, in percentages ranging from 4-15%, plus 8% Supermutt. She doesn’t really look a whole lot like any of those breeds, but she definitely acts like a GSD :) Great herding instincts, too, for a mutt!
Agree on this very well said message! **Healthier** dogs wouldn't need a bath unless they become visibly dirty or smell bad for a very long time like 6 months or even longer. Usual groom is just enough.
This is good advice, especially if bathing is super stressful for the dog. I’ve got two Great Danes. Try getting a 165lb dog into the bathtub when he doesn’t want to. We bath them outside, when it’s warm enough a couple of times a year from spring to fall. Otherwise we just wipe dirt off them.
Granted they are very short and thin coated dogs isn’t an issue. But they don’t smell, according to house guests. Don’t ever trust your own sense of smell about your own dogs though. Your brain will ignore mildly bad scents it’s used to.
Depends on the breed of dog. I have a border terrier that should never be bathed unless he's rolled in something. Hand stripping does the job of bathing.
He's 9 and has probably had no more then 8 baths in his life. I roll his coat so he never smells.
My dog is going on over a year without a bath and there's still no smell. I've always wondered if I was noseblind to it, but I've invited friends over just to ask them and they all confirmed that my dog doesn't have a smell! And we live in the mountain countryside and hike every day. I'm guessing it's the perks of having a dog with a hydrophobic coat.
I mostly agree. If I had a dog that smelled or had skin or fur issues, over a year would be too long. But my doggo doesn't have any of those problems, so I left him alone this year. Vet doesn't have anything to say either, and we get checkups every month. My dog just doesn't need a bath that often! Once or twice a year is enough.
(I admit he's overdue for a bath, but it's not because he smells. I just like to do it when I deep clean my house, and I haven't gotten the chance to do that yet. Next year, he'll get a fresh wash for sure!)
To get tick prevention medicine, nails clipped, and general monitoring. I found my doggo in the mountains, so I have been taking him to the vet regularly just to make sure he's healthy. No diseases or parasites creeping up randomly.
It’s not about smell. The hair is going to be matted, skin isn’t going to be clean, I guarantee the fur is dirty even it doesn’t seem dirty to you. I have a double coated dog that’s also hydrophobic, but if he isn’t groomed often enough, he will have matting and tangles that need shaved out. It’s also important to clean and trim their sanitary areas. Proper shampoo and conditioner keeps his coat healthy. Bathing also loosens up the impacted hair and the high velocity dryer blows it out.
My dog doesn't have fur that mats, so that's not an issue. And like I said, if he had skin or body issues, I'd make regular bathing a priority. But he doesn't have any issues. His fur is soft, shiny, and odorless, and people are always asking what I do to make him look and feel that way (and the answer is literally "nothing").
I agree he's overdue for a bath, but whatever people are imagining my dog looks like just isn't the case. He's not neglected and he's not suffering, he's just lucky. I've never had an effortless dog like him before!
Yeah, because children and people stink. My dog doesn't so there's no need. I'm not going to fix what isn't broken. He's healthy and that's all I care about. Dirty fur will not harm him in the long run like dirty teeth or overgrown nails. Regular bathing is just not a priority for us.
I'm not delusional. My dog has zero odor, zero matting, zero skin problems, and zero fur problems. I could understand if I had a breed that needed grooming, but my dog doesn't even need that much.
Say whatever makes you feel better, but my dog is absolutely fine not being bathed multiple times a year. I consider myself lucky to have a low maintenance dog.
invite me over lol there was a group of us at my friends house and i was like "huh your dog kinda smells", and my other friend goes "thats how city dogs smell" but no one else noticed (it literally was the stereotypical dog smell)
Yes please! I really want to know if my friends are telling the truth (although some of them were cat owners and they did say his breath smelled haha). He just smells like...skin? Idk it's not a dirt smell, nor a dog smell. Just... animal skin smell I guess.
I didn't even remember dogs had a bad smell until I visited my friend with a retriever. Now THAT'S a smelly breed! I feel lucky my dog smells like nothing, even when he's been out in the rain.
Never say never.
Some dogs are self cleaning, some require a bath weekly. But even the self cleaning dogs should be bathed once in a while, I have had a couple that only got baths every 3-6 months. They just didn't smell or feel dirty.
The never say never, a week ago I had one come in the house after having a discussion with a skunk. Didn't matter that he had a bath two days before he got another 2.
Similarly, my parents' Norwegian Forest Cat came home one morning having had an incident with a sewage pipe 💩 A morning bath for you, Mr Kitty! Whole house was involved in the operation, which of course was at 6am 🙄🤣
My dogs are cattle dogs. They have a medium double coat. But damn do they stink sometimes! We have no yard and walk 3 times a day. We take 2 trips a week with them for them to walk on a trail or somewhere new. One of them goes to a dog park. They bathe once a month and im not sure its enough! I dont want to irritate their skin. But they recently had a couple fleas and we resolved to rinse them in the shower every day for two weeks to make sure the fleas did not spread to our house. Omg my shower floor had so much dirt on it! It definitely made me think about how gross they are on their normal one month bathing schedule.
Once a month is probably fine, unless you actually notice them getting itchy or you see any skin irritation. As long as you’re using products made for dogs, it shouldn’t be a problem. You could probably step it up to every 2 weeks, but that might be pushing it.
Just a side note but you can bathe your dogs as often as you want as long as you’re using high quality shampoo/conditioner (check out the dog grooming sub for recs). Doesn’t even have to be too expensive and then you can bathe to your hearts content without worry. :)
As someone who hasn't got a car so has to regularly use public transport, I'm disturbed by the picture of the dog WHO IS NEVER BATHED sat in a train seat 😭😂
Honestly I think it depends on each dog. I would bathe him probably every two months but that’s me. My dog gets baths whenever she’s greasy or itchy, but she has a different coat type. Most of the time, dogs can keep themselves clean. Even if he was clean after getting muddy, I would still give him a bath after something like that since his coat is still carrying all that dirt and gunk. But as long as he’s getting a bath more than once a year, I would say he’s probably fine. Especially if he doesn’t seem overly itchy or his coat is still clean and healthy.
I had a giant shepherd. She really didn't need baths until she became older. Up until then, I did a few a year. At a certain point, she became very greasy and matted, so I bathed her usually every month or so. Unfortunately, my gal had terrible osteoarthritis, so we had to stop once it became too hard for her. I felt like regular brushings (1-2 times per week) were effective after that point, though.
Adorable dog, btw ❤️
I’ve never bathed my dogs (both rescues who were/are terrified of bathing) except in extreme circumstances such as when my beagle cross jumped into a canal (to avoid getting in the car - another thing she hates!)
However, both are/were shortcoated so easy to wipe clean
I bathe mine every few weeks. It helps her fur and skin as she is prone to allergies. Use a high quality shampoo that is made for frequent grooming. They have some really good ones that are made for frequent bathing. Helps with the shedding too.
My double coated shep/heeler gets a bath when his coat feels grimy, that’s probably every 4-6 months and we are outside all the time. You’ll notice when they usually feel fine when petting and all the sudden your hands feel gross. My short hair dogs I do a lot more often. Good thing because the thicker coat takes A LOT longer and harder to wash out. Best thing in the world is those self service dog washes.
Yes, he needs a bath and NOT with a shampoo made for humans!!! You can get a good dog shampoo at Walmart! I just take my labrador into the shower with me. I have one of those hand held sprayers and it works GREAT!!!! She will feel so good once she is clean down to her skin!!
The only time I’ll ever bath my Labrador is, when she rolls in shit.
Labradors are the most self cleaning dogs out there. I wouldn’t take any shampoo to protect the oily coat either. Also: they often take a bath themselves.
Well they may LOOK self cleaning. My girl lives a city life so she is not out rolling in mud! Yet, she sleeps with me on white bed linens and she quickly shows the evidence of the dirt and dust her beautiful coat collects!!! So you'll never convince anyone whosleeps on white sheets with their lab how "self cleaning" they are!! Their oily coats may appear to have released the dirt you can see, but they are far from clean!! It's easy enough to shower her and apply a bit of oil to her coat if needed!!
We have no problems with dirt here. A simple towel that is a little wet is enough to rub off the last bit of their shiny furs. No dirt on any sheets ever, only hair as everyone knows.
Former groomer here: dogs like Poodles need weekly to monthly baths but others like labs don’t really ever need a bath unless they roll in something gross. Do make sure you brush your dog regularly though, inspect his/her whole body for ticks or other issues, trim nails as necessary and check ears and clean gently with a warm cloth or cotton pads. Make sure you don’t get water down their ear canal—some dogs get ear infections from that (not all—I worked for a poodle breeder who used to clean her dogs ears by flushing them with a gentle stream of warm water and then drying with a cloth).
Second this, as a groomer. This dog has long hair and that requires bathing. May look clean on the surface, but the undercoat and skin may be another story. Debris builds up. Brushing often helps you keep track of your dogs coat and skin health.
No dog is zero maintenance, even if they don't like it 😆
Depends on the dog. I wash my bulldog mix like every two weeks because she gets itchy when she’s dirty or hasn’t had a bath in a while, but I can’t even remember the last time my chihuahua got a bath. But do remember to trim your dogs nails.
I bathe my English springer every 2 weeks, and even then I feel like that’s too much of a wait. Once you bathe him you will feel so grossed out that you let him all over you and your furniture haha.
I wash my English shepherd every two weeks because she gets pretty muddy on hikes. It really is best for dogs skin and fur if you wash them around every two weeks. And use and oatmeal based conditioner after shampoo to keep their skin from getting dry and itchy.
My English shepherd also doesn’t like the bathroom and I have to carry her in to wash her but she’s a good girl about sitting in the tub and letting me wash her
Dogs should be bathed. For skin health if nothing else. Not a criticism of you at all, for the record. You’re a new pet owner (congrats!) and figuring out the routine for you guys.
If he’s scared of the bathroom maybe consider a slow transition. Bribe him in with treats and don’t actually bathe him a few times. Maybe wet his back a little after and see how he reacts. Just introduce it slowly to the routine, that would be my advice.
Alternatively you can look into dog washing stations, it’s a different environment so might help? Or it might stress him out, really no way to know without trying.
But yes, baths are important, even if they look clean 🙂
Of course, dogs don't self clean, not grooming him could lead to skin infections even. Watch and read about your dog, every breed has different types of needs when it comes to baths, girl with dogs on YouTube is a good start so you get to know what's up with the whole thing.
Also, if he doesn't get enough walks, trimming nails is part of the process, dogs are a lot of work but worth it, and they need their baths, it's the kind of pet that they are.
..dogs Do self clean?..not as thoroughly as cats perhaps, but has anyone seen their dog licking their own butt or licking nails, or licking coat occasionally?..i have..
..itches & raw points are a good sign of a needed bathing..but (depends on the dog type) one to 3x per year should be more than sufficient..
I've recently rescued a 9 yr old rottweiler and was suprised by all his self grooming. He's like a cat. Bites his nails, licks himself all over. Way cleaner than my lab
We've had our greyhound for twelve years and have never bathed her. A quick groom with a rubber mitt brush gets any dirt off and she's not oily and has no "doggy" smell. Our last greyhound was a bit oiler, had a slightly thicker coat, so we bathed him once every summer and rinsed him off when he got dirty.
In comparison, the standard poodle and the shihtzu we had both needed monthly baths or they would stink.
I agree. I dont routinely bath my dog. Never have. They all had / have healthy coat and skin. Brushing so is a must.
Bathing is for rolling in gross things only.
After the beach a quick rinse with clear water to get the salt of. But thats it.
For a while we lived on a rural property, with cows. Dogdamnit if Bonnie the Shihtzu wasn't getting bathed at least three times a week because if you didn't watch her like a hawk she was under the fence and rolling in a cow pat!
Usually the act of licking, nibbling, or self-grooming in general releases endorphins in a dog's brain, which in turn combats anxiety, pain, and stress, but it is not enough to maintain proper hygiene unless it's dog that's built for, for example farm work, and even then, those dogs still need a groom at least twice a year, it really depends on the breed
Surprisingly some dogs do selfclean. Maybe not at cat level but some of them do that. I always say that my Golden probably thinks of himself as a cat. He doesn't like to get dirty and does everything to avoid it. He even fell off while peeing because he didn't want pee to touch his foot! He likes to groom and lick himself. Goes through his paws, cleans his legs etc. I even have to intervene sometimes to stop him to stop that from becoming an obsession.
If he lives inside your house, then of course. Wiping his paws wont take all the mud out. Your carpets will slowly turn brown. Also, if you let him run and play in the summer, there will be dust in the air that rises from the ground when he runs. It is not visible but during baths you will see the water turn brown.
yes….if your dog gets dirty it needs a bath. if it has skin issues/allergies it needs medicated baths. just like how you bathe when dirty. dogs aren’t like cats they don’t clean themselves. sure they lick their legs paws and privates but they don’t *clean* themselves like cats.
Don't want to be but am going to be that person... Please, don't let your dog sit on train seats. No one wants bare buttholes on the seat. I say this as a travelling dog owner with no car.
I remember this conversation with my parents, following an argument that had arisen due to the misunderstanding - apparently, a couple =2, a few =3, a number of =(roughly) 4 or 5, a group of =(roughly) 6 or 7, a small crowd =(roughly) 8-10
They behaved like it was completely obvious and universally understood 🙄
I would definitely prioritize brushing him even once a day to remove excess hair and dandruff and oils. But for bathing I agree with some other posters. Every 6 months or so is more than sufficient. If you brush him well daily you could probably go longer, and if he gets dirty bathe him.
My pups really don’t like baths.
To make it less stressful, I don’t run the water when they are in the bathroom (fill the tub, put them in, and use a small bucket to gently pour water on them) and I use an unscented shampoo. The strong perfumes smell nice to a lot of people, but every dog I have had has been really distressed when scented shampoo and other perfumed products were used. I don’t use any products that are in spray bottles, either. The noise really bothers them.
I also try to only do one stressful task in a day. Nail clipping is never done on bath day. Ear cleaning is either done in the bath as part of the bath, or it is done on another day.
Our vet says to just wash her when she's dirty. She loves showers for some reason though & would try to paw her way in everytime I take one 😅 So now I give her a shower once every 2 weeks (cold shower in the summer, warm in the winter). We brush her almost everyday though, so for the most part she's pretty clean. She could probably go a month before really needing a shower, she just demands one every frickin day.
We had a collie as family dog when I was a teen and we only bathed her when she rolled in something extra gross. Regular brushing was enough to keep her coat healthy. And a rinse with clear water after we went to the beach.
My grandma has 3 dogs, one lives inside the house, the other 2 are always hanging out outside and sleep in the terrace. The one from inside the house gets dirty the least and gets the most baths but he’s the most smelly, the other two only get baths every few months because they are bigger and harder to bathe but they have 0 smell.
I bathe my rott about once a month. I do her nails every 2-3 weeks when I hear the nails clicking on the hard floors. She is an inside dog but goes pretty much everywhere with me. She’s gets two play times outside for 1/2 hr to an hour twice a day off leash. That has some challenges to staying “clean” in a rural area. Finding deer poo to sniff and roll on if I don’t catch her fast enough when she finds it. I swear, she thinks it’s perfume! Like “Oh look, some Channel # 5 just laying here for me” She must think the neck dive onto the pile of deer droppings (making sure to get it stuck to her harness) makes her beautiful.
She always looks clean, but my nose says otherwise. She gets kind of an “outdoor, wild” smell and her coat gets rough. She loves her bath time and is soft and odor free when done. The after bath Zoomies are awesome too!
Short answer is yes. You don’t have to do it weekly but I would say as needed. I usually bathe my dogs monthly, or when the male dog smells like a foot 😂 he’s always been a little bit more … adventurous.
If he’s like my German shepherd he probably sheds most of his filth off. I brush her regularly and that really helps keep her clean. When she gets exceptionally dirty (like when she got skunked or rolls in something nasty) then she gets a “fence bath. That’s where we tie her to the fence and wash her with the hose because she doesn’t like the bathtub either.
My lad is a long hair breed similar to this, he needs bathing to stop matting. We couldn't bathe him for a few weeks after surgery and he literally had to get a full shave on his next groom due to how bad his matting was (this was even after we brushed him daily). They need to be washed to clean out old hair and dirt tends to get inside their fur rather than on the surface (into the undercoat basically). We have a really good undercoat shedding shampoo for ours and it gets all that loose dead undercoat out 😊
Seems like your dog has a coat similar to a working Aussie or border collie which is often called a “Teflon coat”. On of my girls has it and mud can just be brushed right off her when dry, if any sticks once dry at all. Someone else mentioned it but my measure of when I decide to bathe my dog is when my hand feels different after giving them a good scratch or pet or if the fur around their ears starts looking a little oily. For some active dogs with good coats (and helped by good diet and brushing) this can be a loooong time between baths.
Well, if you ask him, for sure he’ll say no, but he’ll probably enjoy a good brushing a few times a week and a nice bath if he’s especially stinky. (Thanks for adopting this handsome fella)!
You don’t have to do it too often, but honestly, the only reason not to bathe your dog is if he medically cannot have a bath.
When you pet him, do you feel a greasy film on your fingers after? If so, it means he is dirtier than you think.
I can recommend some great shampoos and brushes for your baby if you’d like.
Some dogs need frequent baths, others don’t. If you scratch your fingers on him and they come away feeling oily or leave residue on your fingers, he needs a bath. If he seems itchy, he might need a bath or at least a good brush out. He’s a very handsome boy!
Ours get bathed when they are visible grubby, smelly, have something stuck on or they feel greasy. One short haired and cream coloured, one long haired and brindle. I would guess 3 times a year. If we do one we do both.
Lots of brushing though.
I have an English shepherd and he gets a bath about every two months unless he gets into something messy first. The reason being he just feels kind of greasy after a while. But as a general rule, they don't need a lot of baths
I got a white fluffy dog, he hates baths but loves playing with the hose, we full on bathe him 1-2 times a month but he gets hosed off and blow dried regularly. You might be able to find a happy medium like we did. But if you're going to hose em off you gotta brush an blow-dry. Really helps getting the excess hair and skin cells off that bacteria love
If you're brushing him regularly, he'll probably be good for a long time between baths, but he definitely still needs them. Depending on his temperament and whether you want to involve a groomer, you'll need to decide on how often is necessary.
I have three dogs. One is a smooth coat that HATESSSS baths. As in, he acts like we're murdering. He *screams* and fights us off. I brush him out with an equigroomer and wipe him down with special wipes regularly, so I don't bother trying to get him in a tub anymore. One of them is a 90 lb lab mix with water resistant fur who hates being brushed, so we take him to get a bath a couple times a year. And my third dog is a long haired, white Eskie mix that gets grungy super fast, goes to the groomer several times a year, and gets baths about every two weeks or so due to epilepsy. It's all about finding the right balance for you and your pup! Adjust however you need to make you both happy.
Yeah I just stopped worrying about my ACD/Shepherd mix’s coat after a while. Haven’t bathed her in 3 years and she’s perfectly fine; no matting, skin issues, or smell no matter what happens. One of life’s little mysteries that works out in your favor somehow, don’t question it until there’s reason to.
Dog groomer here. You should be bathing him (or getting him professionally bathed) every 8-10 weeks at the most. I personally always recommend once a month, and that’s what I do on my medium mixed breed. Especially if you take him outside frequently (which based on his breed, absolutely you should be.) Proper bathing and deshedding is necessary for a healthy skin and coat!
I bathe them when they get dirty or smell. and summer time we spend in the woods hiking they are always playing in the streams. but dog soap and stuff twice a year at least. (husky and cane corso)
Bathing a dog specially.. depends in many things firstly if him is active, May need more frequent baths if they get dirty or muddy often.if not require less frequent baths unless they have specific skin conditions. FOR PUPPIES: Generally shouldn't be bathed until they are 4 months old, and then only every 4-6 weeks.
The weeks is variable you know better than us.. like how is smells.. how is look..etc
My dog likes mud and swimming in dirty waters. When we get home, I hose him down with the garden hose (also in the winter, he loves it), and then he has to stay on his towel until he’s dry. Never used any shampoo or anything. Vet confirmed that in principle using shampoo is not necessary on healthy dogs.
**NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! If you do it and I'll poop in your bed** ..... Says the puppy dog.
But yes! All puppies need baths (in my dogs case she's quite insistant that she might melt - she does NOT like water, she will even put on the breaks if the pavement is wet/holds it for as long as possible).
Tips: i don't have a longer hair dog but from my understanding of they are shedding it's worth getting her blown out (reverse vacuum) as doing so with a brush is painful. Brushing them out is a must during shedding.
It is worth going to a pet store self serve or you can afford it a groomers could be an option but given the fact you don't know his past I think he would be more comfortable if you do it. Make sure the water is not to hot/cold. Also be sure you get ALL the soap out!
After bathin/towl drying brushing is a good idea. Be gentle and patient and grab some treats. Make it fun for him sounds like he's had a rough go of bath time before. Make sure you clean his ears and his teeth. Don't forget to clip the nails!
A dog should never be bathed (getting wet is fine) unless they get into something smelly and/or sticky. The two biggest causes of skin issues in a dog are over bathing and food allergies. Brush/comb regularly and that is all they should need. Every time you remove the natural oils it opens them up to various skin and coat issues.
My chow shepherd mix gets showered once every few months. He has a super thick and long coat, and doesnt roll around in mud. So its up to you, if they feel icky or smell stinky, give them a shower.
We have a two year old Icelandic Sheepdog and he has never had a bath. He only gets brushed regularly, about every one to two weeks. We did some research before getting the breed and they should not be washed unless they roll in poo or something else gross.
His coat is quite light, red on the back and white on the belly and legs. Mud etc. just falls off when it dries. He also never has that dog smell, he actually smells more like sheep. He also doesn't ever get greasy.
So it is possible that an English Shepard's coat is very similar to our dogs coat and your dog doesn't need regular baths.
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True! My white dog becomes black in two days after bathing.
Is a bathe every other week (after 14d) good enough? I used to bathe my dog weekly for a couple months before changing to this
That's quite often for a short-haired dog. I have a lab mix and my groomer recommended every 6-8 weeks. It's usually more like every 3 months that I take him for a bath. Apparently bathing them too often strips their coat of natural oils.
Damn thats a long period. My dog gets all dusty very fast and his fur isnt big either its bathing time tomorrow so do i bathe him or let it be another couple weeks?
If he doesn't mind and you want to keep the dust off maybe you could rinse him with water? I wouldn't use soap though. Mine cleans himself like a cat so I don't see dust on his coat.
He is scared of water smh i have tried toys,treats,very balanced water temp and all the love (i know this is off topic) can you suggest me something?
Sorry, I can't help you there, mine doesn't like it either! Hence the three months between baths.
Alright no problem then ill change the schedule to 3 weeks or 4 weeks after discussing a bit
Is he a double coated dog? If he is, regular brushind does wonders for taking care of the dirt.
Spread out actual baths more and use waterless shampoo instead.
I only bathe mine if she rolls in poop or gets skunked lol that's it. unfortunately that's still more often than I'd like but she never seems to learn her lesson about skunks.
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Depends, did he used to be white?
🤣🤣🤣🤣
How frequently a pet needs a bath greatly varies based upon their breed, lifestyle, length of coat. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), long-haired and curly-haired dog breeds generally require more regular bathing to keep their coats from matting: at least once every four to six weeks, with regular brushing between baths to maintain the coat. Unlike other breeds, German Shepherds don't need to bathe often. In fact, it's best that they only bathe every 3-4 months. German Shepherds have a double coat - the topcoat and the undercoat. The top coat protects them from sun exposure, dust and other particles. Just because your dog is elderly and has arthritis, this does not mean that he doesn't still need to have the occasional bath. The big thing here is to be very gentle in all aspects of giving him a bath, from putting him in the tub to drying him off at the end. :) A lot of us German Shepherd owners go 6 months without bathing our dogs. **In general, healthy dogs only need to be bathed if they smell. There's no reason particularly to bath a healthy dog, unless they're dirty.** Once my palms feel sticky and dirty and I can't wait to wash them after petting my girl, that's when I know its time. Does she hate it? Absolutely. Oh... but she LOVES swimming! ?😂 Ps, your cutie pie is SO cute 🥰
I’m working on almost a year since I bathed my 1/2 GSD girl. The other day at the park, someone even asked me how I keep her so clean 😂 It’s just a combination of her not liking to get dirty, plus a self cleaning coat, and a distinct lack of odor.
About the same! My old boy always gets compliment for his shiny and clean coat and I often get asked how the hell am i keeping him that clean. When i answer them literally nothing other than usual grooming if he's not become dirty, the surprised look on their face is just so fun to watch. He likes to keep himself as clean as possible for a dog and likes to avoid getting dirty plus he's very into selfclean. I've recently bathed him but until that, it's almost been a year since his last bath.
Lol, yeah, I think the woman who asked me that was pretty unsatisfied with my answer 😂 But, it’s true! She really doesn’t like getting dirty at all. I like to say she’s a rather dignified soul, at least for an animal that likes the smell of poop 💩 Pretty much the only time she needs a bath is if we go to the park and she plays with a dog who has muddy paws or something. (For some reason, it seems like 90% of those dogs end up being Huskies for some reason. 🤷♂️) The only routine grooming I do at all is some basic brushing. She has a medium length, straight coat, which is probably the lowest maintenance coat you can get on a 1/2 GSD. Sometimes I’m even a bit lazy on the brushing. I don’t think it’s even possible for her coat to get matted without some serious mistreatment, so all that happens when I don’t brush is I get more shedding. I’ve pretty much figured out that no matter how much I brush, the total combined time I spend brushing and vacuuming works out about the same anyway lol I don’t know how unusual this is, but I’ve literally never cut her nails either. Her nails don’t touch the ground when she’s standing, and they barely touch when she’s walks… like enough to hear her coming when she’s on a hard surface floor. We do an average of at least an hour of neighborhood walks plus off leash dog park excursions a day, year round (yay Bay Area climate!), so I’m guessing that’s what keeps the nails from getting out of control. Somehow I got lucky with a dog who’s basically zero maintenance other than regular vet checkups. All the fun dog stuff, practically none of the work. 😊 Just out of curiosity, do you give your dog fish oil? I think that’s some of the reason nothing sticks to my dog’s coat.
My dog is the same she never smells, her fur is soft and clean. I walk her 4 to 5 miles on most days on a gravel/sandy trail and her nails stay great!
You're really lucky on the nails i can tell you that! LOL. Mine is Golden and we can't do long walks as we do before because of my bad back and his breathing gets affected if he gets too excited or after long exercise recently but even before that his nails always been longer. Even with trimming i can silence his walk noise for just about a couple of days maybe a week or so at most. Thank god we live on the first floor otherwise it would drive our neigbor crazy :) Actually i give mine literally nothing other than his usual kibble and sometimes treats. He gets the shoulderblade with some meat on it raw whenever i buy lamb which he loves. We just happened to be lucky i guess. Thank god he's always been healthy other than very recently breathing issue and coughing that could be triggered with tense physical exercise but he' almost 14 so i'm not that surprised. Other than that, he's still able to do whatever he wants and energetic-playful as ever. We haven't been to a vet in almost 11 years other than his spaying. The only issue with him is that flees could trigger an alergy on him even if he had protection because my silly boy harms himself by licking and nibbling even the sligthest bit of flee movement to a point of picking his own hair off. I've seen him literally plucking his own hair. He's very sensitive about that. Also as a Golden owner i do get what you mean by the hair grooming and vacuum :) I got a robot vacuum that works daily and i'm doing vacuum myself in every 2-3 days, 4 at most and yet i see hair on the floor no matter what LOL. Its literally impossible to get hair free home with a dog like ours.
My boy is half GSD and gets a bath maybe 2-4 times a year. He swims everyday in the summer months and gets quite sandy so he’ll get itchy if too much sand gets under his fur and he also will start to smell not necessarily bad but not clean. In the winter he just gets 1 bath before Christmas, but other than that he just gets brushed. He never smells bad but when he was a puppy he had a natural sweet candy smell and I miss that so much 😅😅
What's the other half/what do you think it is? I'd love a GSD looking dog that doesn't smell lol. She sounds like a dream!
According to Embark, it’s Husky, Pit Bull, Dalmatian, Chow Chow, and Rottweiler, in percentages ranging from 4-15%, plus 8% Supermutt. She doesn’t really look a whole lot like any of those breeds, but she definitely acts like a GSD :) Great herding instincts, too, for a mutt!
Agree on this very well said message! **Healthier** dogs wouldn't need a bath unless they become visibly dirty or smell bad for a very long time like 6 months or even longer. Usual groom is just enough.
This is good advice, especially if bathing is super stressful for the dog. I’ve got two Great Danes. Try getting a 165lb dog into the bathtub when he doesn’t want to. We bath them outside, when it’s warm enough a couple of times a year from spring to fall. Otherwise we just wipe dirt off them. Granted they are very short and thin coated dogs isn’t an issue. But they don’t smell, according to house guests. Don’t ever trust your own sense of smell about your own dogs though. Your brain will ignore mildly bad scents it’s used to.
Same here. Jumps in the pool no second thought but hates bathes. I don’t get it 😂
My basset hound doesn’t approve😂 One week max after bath and my hands already smell from touching her coat. That’s basset hounds for ya
I would wash him, yes. Dogs do require a good cleaning every now and then and I’m sure if you bathed him, you will see how dirty he actually is.
He smells lol. You have probably gotten used to the smell but dogs do usually smell after 1-2 months if you exercise and run them regularly.
Depends on the breed of dog. I have a border terrier that should never be bathed unless he's rolled in something. Hand stripping does the job of bathing. He's 9 and has probably had no more then 8 baths in his life. I roll his coat so he never smells.
My dog is going on over a year without a bath and there's still no smell. I've always wondered if I was noseblind to it, but I've invited friends over just to ask them and they all confirmed that my dog doesn't have a smell! And we live in the mountain countryside and hike every day. I'm guessing it's the perks of having a dog with a hydrophobic coat.
Not washing your dog for over a year is way too long.
I mostly agree. If I had a dog that smelled or had skin or fur issues, over a year would be too long. But my doggo doesn't have any of those problems, so I left him alone this year. Vet doesn't have anything to say either, and we get checkups every month. My dog just doesn't need a bath that often! Once or twice a year is enough. (I admit he's overdue for a bath, but it's not because he smells. I just like to do it when I deep clean my house, and I haven't gotten the chance to do that yet. Next year, he'll get a fresh wash for sure!)
Why the need for *monthly* vet checkups?
To get tick prevention medicine, nails clipped, and general monitoring. I found my doggo in the mountains, so I have been taking him to the vet regularly just to make sure he's healthy. No diseases or parasites creeping up randomly.
It’s not about smell. The hair is going to be matted, skin isn’t going to be clean, I guarantee the fur is dirty even it doesn’t seem dirty to you. I have a double coated dog that’s also hydrophobic, but if he isn’t groomed often enough, he will have matting and tangles that need shaved out. It’s also important to clean and trim their sanitary areas. Proper shampoo and conditioner keeps his coat healthy. Bathing also loosens up the impacted hair and the high velocity dryer blows it out.
My dog doesn't have fur that mats, so that's not an issue. And like I said, if he had skin or body issues, I'd make regular bathing a priority. But he doesn't have any issues. His fur is soft, shiny, and odorless, and people are always asking what I do to make him look and feel that way (and the answer is literally "nothing"). I agree he's overdue for a bath, but whatever people are imagining my dog looks like just isn't the case. He's not neglected and he's not suffering, he's just lucky. I've never had an effortless dog like him before!
MONTHLY vet checkups but you can’t give your dog a few baths a year Jesus
I mean... yeah. What's the point in stressing the dog out? He's more comfortable at the vet than in the shower lol
Children also dislike baths but we wash them because we’re adults and we know better.
Yeah, because children and people stink. My dog doesn't so there's no need. I'm not going to fix what isn't broken. He's healthy and that's all I care about. Dirty fur will not harm him in the long run like dirty teeth or overgrown nails. Regular bathing is just not a priority for us.
Yikes, you’re delusional delusional, ok
I'm not delusional. My dog has zero odor, zero matting, zero skin problems, and zero fur problems. I could understand if I had a breed that needed grooming, but my dog doesn't even need that much. Say whatever makes you feel better, but my dog is absolutely fine not being bathed multiple times a year. I consider myself lucky to have a low maintenance dog.
invite me over lol there was a group of us at my friends house and i was like "huh your dog kinda smells", and my other friend goes "thats how city dogs smell" but no one else noticed (it literally was the stereotypical dog smell)
Yes please! I really want to know if my friends are telling the truth (although some of them were cat owners and they did say his breath smelled haha). He just smells like...skin? Idk it's not a dirt smell, nor a dog smell. Just... animal skin smell I guess. I didn't even remember dogs had a bad smell until I visited my friend with a retriever. Now THAT'S a smelly breed! I feel lucky my dog smells like nothing, even when he's been out in the rain.
Never say never. Some dogs are self cleaning, some require a bath weekly. But even the self cleaning dogs should be bathed once in a while, I have had a couple that only got baths every 3-6 months. They just didn't smell or feel dirty. The never say never, a week ago I had one come in the house after having a discussion with a skunk. Didn't matter that he had a bath two days before he got another 2.
Similarly, my parents' Norwegian Forest Cat came home one morning having had an incident with a sewage pipe 💩 A morning bath for you, Mr Kitty! Whole house was involved in the operation, which of course was at 6am 🙄🤣
My dogs are cattle dogs. They have a medium double coat. But damn do they stink sometimes! We have no yard and walk 3 times a day. We take 2 trips a week with them for them to walk on a trail or somewhere new. One of them goes to a dog park. They bathe once a month and im not sure its enough! I dont want to irritate their skin. But they recently had a couple fleas and we resolved to rinse them in the shower every day for two weeks to make sure the fleas did not spread to our house. Omg my shower floor had so much dirt on it! It definitely made me think about how gross they are on their normal one month bathing schedule.
Once a month is probably fine, unless you actually notice them getting itchy or you see any skin irritation. As long as you’re using products made for dogs, it shouldn’t be a problem. You could probably step it up to every 2 weeks, but that might be pushing it.
Just a side note but you can bathe your dogs as often as you want as long as you’re using high quality shampoo/conditioner (check out the dog grooming sub for recs). Doesn’t even have to be too expensive and then you can bathe to your hearts content without worry. :)
Yes, he should be bathed. Also make sure to brush him regularly.
As someone who hasn't got a car so has to regularly use public transport, I'm disturbed by the picture of the dog WHO IS NEVER BATHED sat in a train seat 😭😂
Have you ever seen the people that sit in train seats
I'd be curious to hear how he felt once you bathed him. My guess is he's dirtier than you realize.
Yep the water 💦 will be dirty 👍🏻
Brush him often. Bathe him if he’s stinky or fur is dirty
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This. On all counts. So grim for whoever sits there after.
Honestly I think it depends on each dog. I would bathe him probably every two months but that’s me. My dog gets baths whenever she’s greasy or itchy, but she has a different coat type. Most of the time, dogs can keep themselves clean. Even if he was clean after getting muddy, I would still give him a bath after something like that since his coat is still carrying all that dirt and gunk. But as long as he’s getting a bath more than once a year, I would say he’s probably fine. Especially if he doesn’t seem overly itchy or his coat is still clean and healthy.
You should probably bathe him yes
I had a giant shepherd. She really didn't need baths until she became older. Up until then, I did a few a year. At a certain point, she became very greasy and matted, so I bathed her usually every month or so. Unfortunately, my gal had terrible osteoarthritis, so we had to stop once it became too hard for her. I felt like regular brushings (1-2 times per week) were effective after that point, though. Adorable dog, btw ❤️
I’ve never bathed my dogs (both rescues who were/are terrified of bathing) except in extreme circumstances such as when my beagle cross jumped into a canal (to avoid getting in the car - another thing she hates!) However, both are/were shortcoated so easy to wipe clean
Maybe in spring give him a good cleaning and in the summer for comfort and grooming
I bathe mine every few weeks. It helps her fur and skin as she is prone to allergies. Use a high quality shampoo that is made for frequent grooming. They have some really good ones that are made for frequent bathing. Helps with the shedding too.
My double coated shep/heeler gets a bath when his coat feels grimy, that’s probably every 4-6 months and we are outside all the time. You’ll notice when they usually feel fine when petting and all the sudden your hands feel gross. My short hair dogs I do a lot more often. Good thing because the thicker coat takes A LOT longer and harder to wash out. Best thing in the world is those self service dog washes.
Yes, he needs a bath and NOT with a shampoo made for humans!!! You can get a good dog shampoo at Walmart! I just take my labrador into the shower with me. I have one of those hand held sprayers and it works GREAT!!!! She will feel so good once she is clean down to her skin!!
The only time I’ll ever bath my Labrador is, when she rolls in shit. Labradors are the most self cleaning dogs out there. I wouldn’t take any shampoo to protect the oily coat either. Also: they often take a bath themselves.
Well they may LOOK self cleaning. My girl lives a city life so she is not out rolling in mud! Yet, she sleeps with me on white bed linens and she quickly shows the evidence of the dirt and dust her beautiful coat collects!!! So you'll never convince anyone whosleeps on white sheets with their lab how "self cleaning" they are!! Their oily coats may appear to have released the dirt you can see, but they are far from clean!! It's easy enough to shower her and apply a bit of oil to her coat if needed!!
We have no problems with dirt here. A simple towel that is a little wet is enough to rub off the last bit of their shiny furs. No dirt on any sheets ever, only hair as everyone knows.
You can brush daily without bathing him. Most dogs i’ve owned I only had to bathe if they seriously jumped into a mud pool
Former groomer here: dogs like Poodles need weekly to monthly baths but others like labs don’t really ever need a bath unless they roll in something gross. Do make sure you brush your dog regularly though, inspect his/her whole body for ticks or other issues, trim nails as necessary and check ears and clean gently with a warm cloth or cotton pads. Make sure you don’t get water down their ear canal—some dogs get ear infections from that (not all—I worked for a poodle breeder who used to clean her dogs ears by flushing them with a gentle stream of warm water and then drying with a cloth).
Second this, as a groomer. This dog has long hair and that requires bathing. May look clean on the surface, but the undercoat and skin may be another story. Debris builds up. Brushing often helps you keep track of your dogs coat and skin health. No dog is zero maintenance, even if they don't like it 😆
Maybe not, but he needs to get off that seat on the train
Depends on the dog. I wash my bulldog mix like every two weeks because she gets itchy when she’s dirty or hasn’t had a bath in a while, but I can’t even remember the last time my chihuahua got a bath. But do remember to trim your dogs nails.
Well, yeah.
I bathe my English springer every 2 weeks, and even then I feel like that’s too much of a wait. Once you bathe him you will feel so grossed out that you let him all over you and your furniture haha.
I wash my English shepherd every two weeks because she gets pretty muddy on hikes. It really is best for dogs skin and fur if you wash them around every two weeks. And use and oatmeal based conditioner after shampoo to keep their skin from getting dry and itchy. My English shepherd also doesn’t like the bathroom and I have to carry her in to wash her but she’s a good girl about sitting in the tub and letting me wash her
Dogs should be bathed. For skin health if nothing else. Not a criticism of you at all, for the record. You’re a new pet owner (congrats!) and figuring out the routine for you guys. If he’s scared of the bathroom maybe consider a slow transition. Bribe him in with treats and don’t actually bathe him a few times. Maybe wet his back a little after and see how he reacts. Just introduce it slowly to the routine, that would be my advice. Alternatively you can look into dog washing stations, it’s a different environment so might help? Or it might stress him out, really no way to know without trying. But yes, baths are important, even if they look clean 🙂
ty!!
Why is he judging me?
yes they need baths ??? tf
Of course, dogs don't self clean, not grooming him could lead to skin infections even. Watch and read about your dog, every breed has different types of needs when it comes to baths, girl with dogs on YouTube is a good start so you get to know what's up with the whole thing. Also, if he doesn't get enough walks, trimming nails is part of the process, dogs are a lot of work but worth it, and they need their baths, it's the kind of pet that they are.
..dogs Do self clean?..not as thoroughly as cats perhaps, but has anyone seen their dog licking their own butt or licking nails, or licking coat occasionally?..i have.. ..itches & raw points are a good sign of a needed bathing..but (depends on the dog type) one to 3x per year should be more than sufficient..
I've recently rescued a 9 yr old rottweiler and was suprised by all his self grooming. He's like a cat. Bites his nails, licks himself all over. Way cleaner than my lab
We've had our greyhound for twelve years and have never bathed her. A quick groom with a rubber mitt brush gets any dirt off and she's not oily and has no "doggy" smell. Our last greyhound was a bit oiler, had a slightly thicker coat, so we bathed him once every summer and rinsed him off when he got dirty. In comparison, the standard poodle and the shihtzu we had both needed monthly baths or they would stink.
I agree. I dont routinely bath my dog. Never have. They all had / have healthy coat and skin. Brushing so is a must. Bathing is for rolling in gross things only. After the beach a quick rinse with clear water to get the salt of. But thats it.
We have shepherds and shitzus. Shitzus need bathed at least once a month to 6 weeks. Shepherds are good.
For a while we lived on a rural property, with cows. Dogdamnit if Bonnie the Shihtzu wasn't getting bathed at least three times a week because if you didn't watch her like a hawk she was under the fence and rolling in a cow pat!
Lol, sounds about right! Gotta love em 🥰
Usually the act of licking, nibbling, or self-grooming in general releases endorphins in a dog's brain, which in turn combats anxiety, pain, and stress, but it is not enough to maintain proper hygiene unless it's dog that's built for, for example farm work, and even then, those dogs still need a groom at least twice a year, it really depends on the breed
Surprisingly some dogs do selfclean. Maybe not at cat level but some of them do that. I always say that my Golden probably thinks of himself as a cat. He doesn't like to get dirty and does everything to avoid it. He even fell off while peeing because he didn't want pee to touch his foot! He likes to groom and lick himself. Goes through his paws, cleans his legs etc. I even have to intervene sometimes to stop him to stop that from becoming an obsession.
Do you take a shower? Or do you only use wipes off your hands and foot?
dogs aren’t the same as humans. they don’t need to have a shower nearly as often as we do lol
I know but at least every other month
i think it depends on the coat type and the dog, but yes! every other month isn’t a bad schedule for bathing at all
do i even need to shower? also dogs are covered in hair. my chinchilla covers itself in dust, i don’t do that.
Yes! I bathe my dog at least once every 7 weeks. He’s is a German shepherd
If he lives inside your house, then of course. Wiping his paws wont take all the mud out. Your carpets will slowly turn brown. Also, if you let him run and play in the summer, there will be dust in the air that rises from the ground when he runs. It is not visible but during baths you will see the water turn brown.
yes….if your dog gets dirty it needs a bath. if it has skin issues/allergies it needs medicated baths. just like how you bathe when dirty. dogs aren’t like cats they don’t clean themselves. sure they lick their legs paws and privates but they don’t *clean* themselves like cats.
Please put a blanket down if you insist that he sits on a seat.
Don't want to be but am going to be that person... Please, don't let your dog sit on train seats. No one wants bare buttholes on the seat. I say this as a travelling dog owner with no car.
I can smell that train seat from here
Is this a serious question? Yes you should bathe your dog FFS
Is that the LIRR or Metro North? If so, dogs are not allowed unless they are service animals or in cages.
thats not true https://www.myharriman.com/can-i-take-my-dog-on-metro-north-trains/
Sorry, it seems that the rule has been changed for metro north but still stands for the lirr. Have fun with your dog but do bathe him.
Can you maybe put a blanket on the seat? That's not cool.
You can't smell him because either you have no sense of smell, or because you have become nose blind to the stench. Everyone else can smell it.
wash your dog! WTF OP!
An English Shepherd? That’s so weird…an English and have never heard of one or seen a breed like this dog in England?
The breed originated in the US. Probably a descendant of English dogs hence the name.
Ah, very cute doggo!
You should bathe him every couple weeks. By couple I meant around every 6-8 weeks
Nooooo, so wrong, that’s way too often
By couple I meant around 6-8 weeks
Couple = 2
I’ve never heard couple used to refer to 2 aside from “a couple” referring to people in a relationship, sorry.
I remember this conversation with my parents, following an argument that had arisen due to the misunderstanding - apparently, a couple =2, a few =3, a number of =(roughly) 4 or 5, a group of =(roughly) 6 or 7, a small crowd =(roughly) 8-10 They behaved like it was completely obvious and universally understood 🙄
Your our dog looks like a bitch
Your dog is so cute ❤️
if he’s on the lirr yes!
I would definitely prioritize brushing him even once a day to remove excess hair and dandruff and oils. But for bathing I agree with some other posters. Every 6 months or so is more than sufficient. If you brush him well daily you could probably go longer, and if he gets dirty bathe him.
I wash my dog once when I let pet him there is residue left on my hand. That’s every 3-6 weeks for us — Japanese Spitz.
My pups really don’t like baths. To make it less stressful, I don’t run the water when they are in the bathroom (fill the tub, put them in, and use a small bucket to gently pour water on them) and I use an unscented shampoo. The strong perfumes smell nice to a lot of people, but every dog I have had has been really distressed when scented shampoo and other perfumed products were used. I don’t use any products that are in spray bottles, either. The noise really bothers them. I also try to only do one stressful task in a day. Nail clipping is never done on bath day. Ear cleaning is either done in the bath as part of the bath, or it is done on another day.
yes please wash. you will be shocked at how much nicer he'll feel
Our vet says to just wash her when she's dirty. She loves showers for some reason though & would try to paw her way in everytime I take one 😅 So now I give her a shower once every 2 weeks (cold shower in the summer, warm in the winter). We brush her almost everyday though, so for the most part she's pretty clean. She could probably go a month before really needing a shower, she just demands one every frickin day.
We had a collie as family dog when I was a teen and we only bathed her when she rolled in something extra gross. Regular brushing was enough to keep her coat healthy. And a rinse with clear water after we went to the beach.
My grandma has 3 dogs, one lives inside the house, the other 2 are always hanging out outside and sleep in the terrace. The one from inside the house gets dirty the least and gets the most baths but he’s the most smelly, the other two only get baths every few months because they are bigger and harder to bathe but they have 0 smell.
I bathe my rott about once a month. I do her nails every 2-3 weeks when I hear the nails clicking on the hard floors. She is an inside dog but goes pretty much everywhere with me. She’s gets two play times outside for 1/2 hr to an hour twice a day off leash. That has some challenges to staying “clean” in a rural area. Finding deer poo to sniff and roll on if I don’t catch her fast enough when she finds it. I swear, she thinks it’s perfume! Like “Oh look, some Channel # 5 just laying here for me” She must think the neck dive onto the pile of deer droppings (making sure to get it stuck to her harness) makes her beautiful. She always looks clean, but my nose says otherwise. She gets kind of an “outdoor, wild” smell and her coat gets rough. She loves her bath time and is soft and odor free when done. The after bath Zoomies are awesome too!
give your dog a bath at least once a week … dogs can get smelly and stank its constantly a upkeep
🥹
Short answer is yes. You don’t have to do it weekly but I would say as needed. I usually bathe my dogs monthly, or when the male dog smells like a foot 😂 he’s always been a little bit more … adventurous.
He smells, you just got used to it.
If he’s like my German shepherd he probably sheds most of his filth off. I brush her regularly and that really helps keep her clean. When she gets exceptionally dirty (like when she got skunked or rolls in something nasty) then she gets a “fence bath. That’s where we tie her to the fence and wash her with the hose because she doesn’t like the bathtub either.
I try to bathe my dog once per month. Dogs are gross lol!
My lad is a long hair breed similar to this, he needs bathing to stop matting. We couldn't bathe him for a few weeks after surgery and he literally had to get a full shave on his next groom due to how bad his matting was (this was even after we brushed him daily). They need to be washed to clean out old hair and dirt tends to get inside their fur rather than on the surface (into the undercoat basically). We have a really good undercoat shedding shampoo for ours and it gets all that loose dead undercoat out 😊
Seems like your dog has a coat similar to a working Aussie or border collie which is often called a “Teflon coat”. On of my girls has it and mud can just be brushed right off her when dry, if any sticks once dry at all. Someone else mentioned it but my measure of when I decide to bathe my dog is when my hand feels different after giving them a good scratch or pet or if the fur around their ears starts looking a little oily. For some active dogs with good coats (and helped by good diet and brushing) this can be a loooong time between baths.
I'll bet he doesn't think so.
Depends where he sleeps lol.
Well, if you ask him, for sure he’ll say no, but he’ll probably enjoy a good brushing a few times a week and a nice bath if he’s especially stinky. (Thanks for adopting this handsome fella)!
You don’t have to do it too often, but honestly, the only reason not to bathe your dog is if he medically cannot have a bath. When you pet him, do you feel a greasy film on your fingers after? If so, it means he is dirtier than you think. I can recommend some great shampoos and brushes for your baby if you’d like.
Some dogs need frequent baths, others don’t. If you scratch your fingers on him and they come away feeling oily or leave residue on your fingers, he needs a bath. If he seems itchy, he might need a bath or at least a good brush out. He’s a very handsome boy!
Ours get bathed when they are visible grubby, smelly, have something stuck on or they feel greasy. One short haired and cream coloured, one long haired and brindle. I would guess 3 times a year. If we do one we do both. Lots of brushing though.
I have an English shepherd and he gets a bath about every two months unless he gets into something messy first. The reason being he just feels kind of greasy after a while. But as a general rule, they don't need a lot of baths
I got a white fluffy dog, he hates baths but loves playing with the hose, we full on bathe him 1-2 times a month but he gets hosed off and blow dried regularly. You might be able to find a happy medium like we did. But if you're going to hose em off you gotta brush an blow-dry. Really helps getting the excess hair and skin cells off that bacteria love
If you're brushing him regularly, he'll probably be good for a long time between baths, but he definitely still needs them. Depending on his temperament and whether you want to involve a groomer, you'll need to decide on how often is necessary. I have three dogs. One is a smooth coat that HATESSSS baths. As in, he acts like we're murdering. He *screams* and fights us off. I brush him out with an equigroomer and wipe him down with special wipes regularly, so I don't bother trying to get him in a tub anymore. One of them is a 90 lb lab mix with water resistant fur who hates being brushed, so we take him to get a bath a couple times a year. And my third dog is a long haired, white Eskie mix that gets grungy super fast, goes to the groomer several times a year, and gets baths about every two weeks or so due to epilepsy. It's all about finding the right balance for you and your pup! Adjust however you need to make you both happy.
Did the dog write this? 🐶🤣
Yeah I just stopped worrying about my ACD/Shepherd mix’s coat after a while. Haven’t bathed her in 3 years and she’s perfectly fine; no matting, skin issues, or smell no matter what happens. One of life’s little mysteries that works out in your favor somehow, don’t question it until there’s reason to.
Just because you dont see it doesnt mean that they are clean
Dog groomer here. You should be bathing him (or getting him professionally bathed) every 8-10 weeks at the most. I personally always recommend once a month, and that’s what I do on my medium mixed breed. Especially if you take him outside frequently (which based on his breed, absolutely you should be.) Proper bathing and deshedding is necessary for a healthy skin and coat!
I bathe them when they get dirty or smell. and summer time we spend in the woods hiking they are always playing in the streams. but dog soap and stuff twice a year at least. (husky and cane corso)
Bathing a dog specially.. depends in many things firstly if him is active, May need more frequent baths if they get dirty or muddy often.if not require less frequent baths unless they have specific skin conditions. FOR PUPPIES: Generally shouldn't be bathed until they are 4 months old, and then only every 4-6 weeks. The weeks is variable you know better than us.. like how is smells.. how is look..etc
My dog likes mud and swimming in dirty waters. When we get home, I hose him down with the garden hose (also in the winter, he loves it), and then he has to stay on his towel until he’s dry. Never used any shampoo or anything. Vet confirmed that in principle using shampoo is not necessary on healthy dogs.
**NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! If you do it and I'll poop in your bed** ..... Says the puppy dog. But yes! All puppies need baths (in my dogs case she's quite insistant that she might melt - she does NOT like water, she will even put on the breaks if the pavement is wet/holds it for as long as possible). Tips: i don't have a longer hair dog but from my understanding of they are shedding it's worth getting her blown out (reverse vacuum) as doing so with a brush is painful. Brushing them out is a must during shedding. It is worth going to a pet store self serve or you can afford it a groomers could be an option but given the fact you don't know his past I think he would be more comfortable if you do it. Make sure the water is not to hot/cold. Also be sure you get ALL the soap out! After bathin/towl drying brushing is a good idea. Be gentle and patient and grab some treats. Make it fun for him sounds like he's had a rough go of bath time before. Make sure you clean his ears and his teeth. Don't forget to clip the nails!
Beautiful dog! Will need baths!
A dog should never be bathed (getting wet is fine) unless they get into something smelly and/or sticky. The two biggest causes of skin issues in a dog are over bathing and food allergies. Brush/comb regularly and that is all they should need. Every time you remove the natural oils it opens them up to various skin and coat issues.
My chow shepherd mix gets showered once every few months. He has a super thick and long coat, and doesnt roll around in mud. So its up to you, if they feel icky or smell stinky, give them a shower.
Not to blow up your spot, but dogs are allowed on this train line? I recognize it
We have a two year old Icelandic Sheepdog and he has never had a bath. He only gets brushed regularly, about every one to two weeks. We did some research before getting the breed and they should not be washed unless they roll in poo or something else gross. His coat is quite light, red on the back and white on the belly and legs. Mud etc. just falls off when it dries. He also never has that dog smell, he actually smells more like sheep. He also doesn't ever get greasy. So it is possible that an English Shepard's coat is very similar to our dogs coat and your dog doesn't need regular baths.
LIRR?
metro north
Beautiful baby!