How often should you bathe your dog?
It all depends on your dog's breed and their lifestyle. Some short haired indoor dogs require very few baths per year while breeds like Retrievers, Huskies, Malamutes and other double-coated breeds need very infrequent bathing, depending on their day to day activities. One thing is for certain over bathing will strip the natural oils found in a healthy coat.
A Rough Guide by Coat Type
| Coat type | Examples | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Double coat | Labs, Golden Retrievers, Huskies, German Shepherds | A few times a year, as needed |
| Short, smooth single coat | Boxers, Dobermans, Greyhounds | Every 1 to 3 months |
| Long or curly coat that keeps growing | Poodles, Shih Tzus, Doodles | Every 4 to 6 weeks, often with grooming |
| Oily skin or skin folds | Basset Hounds, Bulldogs | More often, plus cleaning the folds |
If your dog has a skin condition, follow your vet's advice.
What I Can Share: A Lifetime with Labs
I've had Labrador Retrievers throughout my life, so that's the coat I know firsthand.
Years ago, before the internet, I was living in Manhattan with my chocolate lab Birch. At the dog run one day I overheard a man talking about his own chocolate Lab, which had the dullest coat I'd ever seen. He said he washed it every day because the dog run got it so dirty.
That stuck with me. I started asking around and learned two things: Labs are double-coated, and soap strips the oils those coats need. From then on, I stopped bathing Birch. After a swim in the ocean I'd rinse him off with fresh water, and otherwise I used dry shampoo when he needed it. I think Birch had a soap and water bath maybe only ten times in his whole life.
What is a "double coat"?
The concept of a double coat can be a bit confusing. A double coat means the dog has two layers of fur. The first layer which is very close to their skin is a extremely dense soft undercoat which protects the dog from water and cold temperatures, somewhat like the undercoat of birds that allow them to swim in water yet keep the skin dry. The outer coat has longer guard hairs coated in natural oils, which help keep dirt and water from reaching the inner coat. This offers the dog double protection from the elements. Huskies, Retrievers, Shepherds and Malamutes all have double coat, inherited thousands of years ago from their wolf ancestors. This oil is very important to the function of the double coat and also keeps the dog’s coat glossy. If you over wash these breeds of dogs and you will not only lose that healthy shiny coat but also lose the double coats function.
How to keep your dog’s coat healthy without soap and water baths
Rinse with plain water after the beach, mud, or salt.
Brush often to spread the natural oils and pull out loose undercoat.
Use dry shampoo for odor and light dirt.
A Note on Dry Shampoo
When I developed our dry shampoo, we made sure to keep the percentage of baking soda in the formulation low to help with temporary bleaching. So we kept it to 10% by weight. If you use any dry shampoo on a dark dog, check the label for that.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should you bathe a Lab?
A few times a year at most, or as needed in emergency situations. Many times just a quick rinse with water will suffice. For quick in-between cleaning and refreshing use a dry powder shampoo
Do all Retrievers have a double coat?
Yes. Labs are water dogs that were bred to retrieve fowl from wet marshy areas. That's also why they have a "soft mouth" so they could retrieve birds without damaging the body. They have a dense under coat for warmth and repelling water and a oily outer coats that works in tandem with the inner coat to keep the dog warm and dry in the most extreme of environmental situations.
Can you bathe a dog too often?
Yes. Constant bathing your dog in dish soap and water will eventually strip the oils from your pups coat.
Should you rinse your dog after swimming in the ocean?
Yes. Rinsing your dog after dirty activity or at the beach is a great idea. This fresh-water rinse easily removes salt and sand without stripping oils from their coat.
Curious where your dog's coat came from? See which dog breeds are closest to wolves.