How often should you wash your dog?

How often should you wash your dog?

A small dog with long, wet hair is being bathed. The dog looks directly at the camera with water dripping from its fur as a person's hands hold a showerhead, rinsing the dog off. The background shows the bathroom setting with tiled walls and a showerhead.
A small dog with long, wet hair is being bathed. The dog looks directly at the camera with water dripping from its fur as a person's hands hold a showerhead, rinsing the dog off. The background shows the bathroom setting with tiled walls and a showerhead.

How often should I wash my dog?

Wondering how often to wash your dog? Well, it's a bit like finding the perfect treat – tailored to their lifestyle and personality! If your four-legged friend is an indoor explorer, they might not need as many baths as a mud-loving, outdoor adventurer.

Too many baths can affect your dog coat's luster, while not enough can lead to...well, some stinky situations. So, what’s the perfect number? We’ve developed these recommendations based on advice from Pet MD and Ethos Veterinary Health to make it easy for you to develop a strong bathing routine: 

Your pup's breed holds the key to the bath frequency. It's not just about fur length; it's like a personality quiz for their coat. Coats play a large factor in how frequently you need to wash your dog. Short wiry coats usually require less bathing so once or twice a month is ideal, while oily coats and soft coats accrue dirt more quickly so bathing every one or two weeks helps keep your dog’s coat smelling nice, softer, and dirt-free. 

Take the Chinese Crested for example – hairless but far from carefree when it comes to coat care. Dogs with very fine coats or hairless breeds require baths once a week to clean and protect their skin. Dogs with long-unique corded coats like Komondors, although surprisingly low-maintenance, the cords still require regular bathing about once a month to keep the cords fresh and clean. Double-coated dogs like German Shepards and Labradors require regular brushing to reduce their undercoat but can be bathed about once a month to reduce any odor based on lifestyle and activity level. Long-haired dogs like Collies and Maltese might need extra detangling love and bi-weekly baths to cleanse any dirt or debris their long fur attract. Long-haired breeds also benefit from a blow dry, rather than just towel or air dry to make sure the excess moisture is removed from their coat. Typically, the bigger the dog and the longer the coat, the more grooming and regular bathing is required to keep them happy and healthy.

Activity level also plays a large role in determining the best time to wash your dog. Dogs that become visibly dirty from all their outdoor adventures may require baths once a week to control odor and reduce discomfort caused from dirt and debris. Very active dogs outdoor dogs and working dogs benefit from frequent baths to remove dirt and objects that may matt to their fur, while healthy indoor couch potatoes might only need a bi-monthly bath.

Another factor that may lead to frequent bathing is your dog’s skin condition. If your dog is prone to allergies or hot spots they might need more frequent bathing, typically once a week to keep dust, dirt, and infection to a minimum. As always, be sure to consult your veterinarian for any skin infections and grooming recommendations to help with their condition. 

A graph titled 'How Often You Should Wash Your Dog (in weeks)' showing the frequency of dog baths based on activity levels. The x-axis lists activity levels from 'Very Active Outdoor Dog' to 'Inactive Indoor Dog,' and the y-axis indicates the number of weeks between washes. The graph shows that very active outdoor dogs should be washed every week, active dogs every 2 weeks, dogs with regular activity every 4 weeks, less active dogs every 6 weeks, and inactive indoor dogs every 8 weeks.

Whether your pup is a couch cuddler or a trailblazing trail buddy, finding the sweet spot for bath time and making a splash at our dog wash station is all about keeping them happy, healthy, and oh-so-huggable!

Your dog’s comfort and health are at the heart of what we do!

Prioritizing your dog’s well-being includes regular bathing, and our self-service dog wash stations offer the perfect solution. With our conveniently located dog wash stations, finding a dog wash near you has never been easier. These state-of-the-art self dog wash stations are designed to streamline the bathing process, offer a raised comfortable bathing position, and leave the mess to us. We’re here to ensure you and your furry friend enjoy a clean and stress-free experience. Equipped with all the essentials, our dog wash station provides everything you need to give your pet a thorough bath plus dog dryers allow you to blow dry your dog reducing the risk of rashes, hot spots, and smelly skin. Visit us today and treat your pup to a dose of sparkle and squeaky-clean fun.

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Bathing products for dogs

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Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Hot Spot & Itch Relief Medicated Conditioner
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Skout's Honor Skout's Honor Probiotic Deodorizer Spray, Sunkissed Coconut
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Tropiclean Tropiclean Lime & Coconut Shed Control Dog & Cat Shampoo
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A golden retriever is being bathed by a person. The dog is sitting in a bathtub, wet and soapy, with a happy expression on its face, looking up at the person bathing it.
A golden retriever is being bathed by a person. The dog is sitting in a bathtub, wet and soapy, with a happy expression on its face, looking up at the person bathing it.

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A female veterinarian in blue scrubs is smiling while examining a dog. The dog, a hound, sits calmly on the examination table as the vet places a hand on its chest.
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We provide affordable, convenient, preventive veterinary care and wellness services at your local Pet Supermarket stores!

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A yellow cartoon dog, a Pet Supermarket Peticon, is illustrated next to a real yellow labrador retriever sitting in a bathtub full of bubbles. The labrador is looking directly at the camera with a happy expression.
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Try Our Self-Serve Dog Wash

Get your pet squeaky clean in no time with our self-service dog wash. Choose from a standard wash, a standard wash + blueberry facial, or a premium wash featuring Skout’s Honor.

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