Bath!

[Fran27]

The person that sold me my puppy told me not to give him a bath for 3 weeks. So, I still have about 2 weeks, but any advice?

[Pharlane]

how old is the puppy?

[Fran27]

11 weeks. I'm not planning on doing it soon, I just want to know what I have to buy etc, and if there is any advice about it. Yesterday was really rainy and I can say he didn't smell like roses after being out for 15 minutes, so I got curious about the whole bath thing, lol.

[Norman]

Different people have different view on how often to bath. Frequent bathing is argued to increase dander (dead skin cells and loose hair) which is what most people who are allergic to dogs actually react too. However, my b/friend bubbles up with hives when he touches Charlie so he lives on anti-histermine tablets.

Every weekend Charlie is taken to the beach at the end of our road and comes home covered in sand, seaweed, mud you name it she has rolled in it. Therefore she has a bath weekly with human baby shampoo - the mild stuff. We tried mild puppy shampoo and quite frankly baby stuff is just as good. She was recently spayed so while she had her stitches in she couldn't be bathed for two weeks. During this time my b/friends hives got worse not better so I personally would argue that regular bathing AND don't forget brushing, can reduce allergies - but as I say this is one big debate and I am sure others will give their opinions from their experiences.

However, it is also argued that frequent bathing can wash away natural oils in the skin and fur causing it to dry out. Again I would beg to differ as our vet commented on the good condition her skin and fur were in when we dropped her off for her op and was surprised when we said she is bathed weekly. This could just be our pup but it depends on what suits you and your dog. Some dogs like/need frequent bathing others don't. If she didn't get so dirty we wouldn't bath her so often but she loves the beach and we love watching her run around on the beach so wouldn't deprive her of the fun simply so not to bath her, but we do ensure we use the mildest stuff going as it is more to wash stuff out of her fur like the sand rather than actual dirt. She loves her baths too - well showers really else she causes tidle waves and we get soaked!

We found the larger the towel the better as you can wrap them up completely. We give her a squeeky chew toy to keep her busy while we dry her off. She hates the hair dryer but if yours likes it make sure you use the cool setting no heat.

Basically it all depends on the dogs bathing needs - how dirty they get and how quick and how their skin and fur react to being bathed. We bathed Charlie first at 14 weeks I think and only then because she took a flying leap off the pier into the sea and swam to shore - no fear with this pup as it was only her first trip to the beach too!

[Fran27]

Lol that would have scared me.

Boris absolutely loves rolling over in the mud, that's why I am worried... I couldn't get to dry him yesterday after he went outside because he was too excited. I'm really looking forward to puppy classes so I can try to teach him to calm down, but they were pushed another 2 weeks. Ugh.

I'll admit that seeing how wild he gets sometimes, I am a bit worried about the idea of giving him a bath!

[Kayl]

You can start without puppy classes--grab a handful of tiny treats and teach him how to sit. Easiest way with puppies is to slowly move the treat above his head--when the head goes up, the butt goes down. Treat immediately. With puppies, it's easier with clicker training--the clicker is used as a marker for the behavior--because they move so fast. Just charge up the clicker by click and treat until you click and the pup runs over for his treat. Then, lure him into the sit and click the instant his bottom touches the ground and treat. The click tells him that at that moment, he did a very good thing.

As for bathing, if he's getting dirty, give him a bath. I think staying dirty does worse to the skin and coat than bathing in a gentle shampoo--either puppy shampoo, Dawn, or baby shampoo I guess.

[Norman]

I agree with Kayl, bath only if he is dirty not just out of routine. As I say Charlie is bathed every weekend but only because she gets covered in sand every weekend. If teh weather is bad or the tide is in we don't go to the beach so she doesn't need a bath.

If he starts smelly before you can bath him try using babywipes on him. They will take off surface dirt. Use fragrance free ones but they still give a nicer smell than not using them.

[fudgegizmo]

The person that sold me my puppy told me not to give him a bath for 3 weeks. So, I still have about 2 weeks, but any advice?if u do get round to bathing your dog u should only bath it about to times a year because it is bad for them to do it more :D :cool: ;) :apple: :)

[luvsallanimals]

I don't know why they told you to wait with the baithing of the pup. When I brought any of my pets home they had a bath. I use a teatree oil shampoo for sensitive skin and they never have dry skin of dandruff. A normal dog I wouldn't bath them more than 4 times a year. But if you have a water dog (lab, retreiver) you can bath them more than that. As long as you use a shampoo that isn't drying out there skin or use a leave in conditioner.

I've had a lab before and they get into everything and anything. Trust me a weekly bath for a lab in the spring, summer and fall is normal for a dog like that. If you live by a lake like me there always in the water anyway. Or the ditch and trust me you don't want that running around your carpet or jumping in your bed. EUH nothing worse than stinky wet dog in your bed!

Good luck :) everyone had different opinions on this, as for the pup I would have baithed it anyway. My vet has never advised me otherwise. The younger they are the more used to the bath they get.

As for the older dog if its working for you and it doesn't dry out the skin or premote more flea's and it keeps the allergy's down keep doing it. As long as the vet says it is ok.

Vets most of the time have the best advice :)