Bathing Your Dog: How Often and How

Most dogs do not need a weekly bath. Bathing too often strips the natural oils that protect the skin and coat, so the skin dries out and the dog starts to scratch. As a rule, a bath every four to eight weeks is enough, sooner if he has rolled in something or has a long coat that holds the dust. Brush the coat before it gets wet: knots tighten in water and are hard to undo afterwards. Use lukewarm water, not hot, and a shampoo made for dogs; human shampoo is made for skin of a different acidity and irritates a dog's. Start at the neck and work down, keep water away from the eyes and ears, and clean the face with a damp cloth. Then rinse thoroughly until no trace of shampoo is left, because residue is one of the most common causes of itching after a bath. Dry your dog with a towel first, then with a hair dryer on low heat if he accepts it, and gently dry inside the ears with cotton wool. Between baths, cleaning wipes are enough for paws after a walk.