How #frequently should we bathe a #dog?

After bath: it feels sooo good.

     With his long hair and frequent walks on asphalt, plus the general dustiness of our home, Gizmo turns gray and nearly black in a fairly short time after he has been given a bath/grooming.   So the question is: how long between dog baths?

     From www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS:  “Do not bathe your dog too often because that will dry out the skin, deplete healthy oils from the coat and skin, and lead to scratching and irritation.”                           COMMENT: Another site said this was poppycock, based on old information and old dog shampoo formulations.  All I can say is: don’t right.

         “ Frequency is largely dependent on the breed and activities of the dog. Dogs who spend a lot of time outside or engage in outdoor activities that expose them to dirt, bugs and/or debris typically require more bathing, perhaps every 6 weeks or more frequently. Some groomers recommend bathing double-coated breeds only about 3 times a year and suggest that smooth-coated dogs can go a lot longer between baths than can curly-coated breeds such as poodles.”

         COMMENT: Three times a year seems a little long.  The dog might get a little ripe, if you catch my drift… or aroma.

From vetinfo: Bathing frequency is determined by  • The breed, as some dogs produce more skin oils and the skin needs to be cleaned

      •The length of hair; longer haired dogs may require more frequent baths, as the fur can gather a lot of dirt

            Some dogs will need a bath per month, while others may only need one every 6 months. Most of the time, dog owners bathe their dog due to the smell of the pet and not because he needs the bath.

       COMMENT: How the dog smells is surely an interesting indication of when he or she needs a bath.        From: www.groomingangel.com from a listing of frequency of bathing by breed:  Shih Tzu 4-6 weeks… Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier 4-8 weeks.  Gizmo = 4 to 8 weeks.     

      COMMENT:  I think we will go with 4 – 5 weeks or when his paws get so filthy we don't want him leaping on anything white.

     “Revenge is often like biting a dog because the dog bit you.”  Austin O'Malley