Most of us have one of two opinions about bathing a dog. Some people believe you don’t need to bathe dogs very often – maybe once a year. Others feel that their dogs should be bathed every month.

Bathing is very good for dogs, but it shouldn’t be done too often or it could cause some real health problems.

Just like us, dogs naturally have oils in their fur and skin. Bathing your dog too often will cause drying of the skin, which means itching, scratching and possible sores and injuries. Remember that the natural oils have some benefits, since they provide protection from bacteria and other elements.

You can make bathtime fun for both you and your dog. Just be sure to take care about a few things and your chances of success go way up.

1. It’s important to provide protection for your dog’s ears. Soap and water, if they get into the ear canal, can cause significant infections. This is often temporary, but infections can cause real damage, up to and including deafness. If you think your dog may have an ear infection, look for frequent head shaking and discharge from the ears to be sure.

To make sure that this doesn’t occur, all you need to do is use cotton balls to stop your dog’s ears. Never force these into the ear canal – just place them securely at the entrance of the ear, keeping water out. Once the bath is over, dry the ears to keep moisture out – a finger wrapped in a cloth works well. If you decide to use a cotton swab, make sure you don’t put it too deeply into the ear canal, since it could damage the ear drum.

2. Use a shampoo intended for dogs. These are made to protect your pet’s fur and skin. Soaps meant for people can be irritating and harsh. There’s also a chance your dog will be allergic to the perfumes in human products.

3. The frequency with which you bathe your dog will depend on the breed you have. Dogs with long hair need to be washed more often than breeds that have short hair. That means that if you have a hairy breed, such as a spaniel, you may need to bathe as often as once every two months. Other breeds could go as long as eight months, but outdoor dogs will probably need more frequent bathing.

Start your dog off the right way when it comes to bathing – patience and compassion are extremely important. Scaring your dog will make the entire process more difficult. Dogs enjoy being wet, and may enjoy running into lakes and rivers or having water sprinkled on them.

If you can, set the bath up outside and encourage your dog to play in it. Distract your dog from water with toys. When the dog calms down, you can start the bath. A leash may help with this process.

Have everything ready first, including soaps towel, a bowl for pouring water, and brushes. Water coming out of the tap might be a little cold, so let water in the bath warm up a little.

If you teach your dog that bathing is to be enjoyed, you and your pet will enjoy the next session.