How often should you wash your dog
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Less often than people think, and it depends first on its coat type and on the way it lives. Baths that are too frequent weaken the film that protects its skin; never washing it is not the right answer either. Between the two there is a comfortable frequency, and above all intermediate solutions for spacing baths out without keeping a dirty dog.
Does a dog really need washing?
Yes, but not like a human. A dog does not need a daily wash: its coat partly regulates itself, and brushing does a large share of the work. A bath comes in when the coat is genuinely soiled, greasy to the touch, or carrying a smell that survives a good brushing. The rest of the time it is optional.
The health of skin and coat depends as much on what you avoid as on what you do. A dog washed too often with an unsuitable product ends up with dry skin, dandruff and itching.
Never wash a dog: true or false?
False, but the idea starts from a correct observation. What does the damage is not the bath, it is frequent baths or baths given with a product not formulated for the animal. A spaced-out wash, with a dog shampoo, does not disturb its skin. Conversely, a dog never washed accumulates sebum, dust and allergens, which becomes a problem for it and for the household.
Ladybel tip: it is not visible dirt that should decide, it is smell and touch. A coat that stays greasy under the fingers after a good brushing calls for a bath. A merely dusty coat calls for a brushing.
How often, according to coat type and way of life
Two criteria govern everything else. The nature of the coat first, because long hair holds dirt and tangles, whereas short hair cleans up with brushing. Then the way of life: a flat-dwelling dog and one that runs in the woods every day do not have the same needs.
| Situation | What governs the frequency | Between two baths |
| Short or smooth coat, flat-dwelling dog | The coat cleans up with brushing, the bath stays occasional | regular brushing, dry wash if needed |
| Long or heavy coat | The coat holds dirt and tangles, it asks for more attention | detangling above all, then a dry wash |
| Outdoor dog, walks in the countryside | The dirt comes from outside, often confined to the paws | localised cleaning of the paws on returning |
| Skin problems, a dog that scratches | The frequency is decided with the vet, not alone | space them out as far as possible, favour dry washing |
| Elderly or convalescent dog | The bath tires it, so it becomes the exception | dry washing becomes the main solution |
| Puppy | See our page devoted to puppy shampoo | gentle brushing, formulas designed for puppies |
Washing a dog in winter: the special case
In winter the risk is not the bath, it is the drying. A wet dog that goes outside gets cold fast, and small builds are the most vulnerable. If you wash in the cold season, do it early in the day, dry thoroughly, and keep the animal warm until it is perfectly dry. This is often the period when dry washing makes most sense: no water, no drying, no risk of a chill.
How to space baths out without keeping a dirty dog
Three moves are enough, in this order. Brushing first, which lifts dust, sand and dead hair, and which on its own settles a good share of cases. Localised cleaning next, on the paws after a walk or around the muzzle. And dry washing last, when the whole coat needs freshening but a bath is not desirable.
That is exactly the use of our range of dry shampoo for dogs: cleaning with no water and no rinsing, no bathtub, in five to ten minutes, to space baths out without compromising on cleanliness.
And for the bath itself
The steps of the bath, the water temperature, the order of the moves and the drying are set out in our how to wash your dog at home sheet. For the complete dry grooming session, with the inspection of the animal, see dry grooming. And if you have no suitable shampoo to hand, see what to wash your dog with.