How often do you wash your dogs?

I read sometimes that one should not wash dogs often so as not to dry out their skin. Is this true? I wash my hair all the time without ill effects.

I got a big galvanized tub at the feed store yesterday and we had a dog wash, it was a lot of fun. One dog kept on jumping in while another dog was being washed, and all of them looked like they were having a good time, so I thought maybe I'd do a dog wash every couple weeks.

Maybe I could just use cream rinse on them so their skin doesn't dry out?

I think I wash my dog once a month. Get some emu oil and rub it in the day after they are washed. It helps keep the skin moist if you are worried about it drying out. Also salmon treats and anything with those fatty oils and omega 3 is good for the skin.

It also depends on the particular breed of dog or any particular skin conditions it may have. I am a certified groomer, although that isn't what I do as a career any more. But once every few weeks or once a month isn't usually too often for most dogs. And if you do happen to have a dog with especially dry skin, or notice that the baths are drying them out then it might be a good idea to cut back.
For me, I have 2 pomeranians that have naturally dry skin as it is, so for them a bath once every few weeks actually helps their dry skin. I use oatmeal shampoo/conditioner during the bath and emu oil spray while brushing them out afterwards, and this helps stop a bit of their dry skin itching rather well without drying their skin out any more.
So as long as they don't seem to be having any ill effects from bathing that often and are very obviously enjoying it then a bath every few weeks shouldn't be a problem

I have a "hairless" chinese crested and he gets a bath about once a week but he gets shampooed and conditioned other wise his hair gets all nappy.

I have 2 dobermans that get baths every couple weeks in the summer and about 1 once a month in the winter. My female red dobie has dry skin but moisterizing baths help her.

Well, it's more a question of opinion, really. One vet will tell you it's fine to bathe weekly, and the next will tell you to bathe once monthly.The only real problem with bathing often (once a week, or more) is flea products. If you use topical flea and tick prevention with your dog, which most folks do, you're washing the produ ct right off the skin. Bathing once a month should be sufficient if you choose to use topicals. Fortunately, there is now a product that is oral that prevents fleas. Most, if not all, of my clients that frequently bathe their dogs or have dogs that swim are on this product.

I agree with the comment regarding fatty acids and omega 3. There's all kinds of supplements that you could give to help the skin. I'm pretty sure the big name pet stores sell them nowadays, you can get them over the counter.

Also, the type of shampoo really makes a difference. Flea and tick shampoos are SUPER harsh on the skin and hair, for obvious reasons. Some people use oatmeal/aloe shampoo and like it....personally, I like johnson & johnsons hypoallergenic baby shampoo. Never had an animal have a reaction to it, EVER.

As a groomer, I have weekly clients. It does depend on the dog, and on the product. I've found a lot of dogs with itchy skin that the owner is washing is due to shampoo residue. Once they let US wash the dog, the itchy stops, because we properly rinse the dog.

Watering down shampoos, proper rinsing, proper shampoos, a good diet.. all these contribute to a healthy coat and skin, no matter how often the pet is washed. All of my weekly or bi-weekly dogs have great skin, no drying out.

I don't like to add oils to the skin or coat, I feel it's likely to clog the pores and attract more dirt. That said, some dogs need some conditioners or after bath leave-in spray. But out of all the dogs that I groom for a living, almost none ever get conditioners used on them. Just a high-quality shampoo, watered down sufficiently to make it easy to rinse off.

I also groom cats, and many people see the flakey skin on a cat and assume the skin is dry, when in fact, it's too oily and needs a good bath to clean the coat and skin. I have yet to encounter a cat that needs conditioner put on it.

When I lived in Indianapolis, I had my beloved Akitas. They went to the Vet weekly for bath and flea dips in the summer, and once a month in the winter.