I am often asked how often a dog should be bathed. The answer is that is very variable among dogs and conditions.
Here are some of the criteria we use. Does the dog smell good with your nose buried in his fur? Does the dog feel clean when you touch him? Do you feel comfortable eating popcorn after petting him without washing your hands first? Have you discovered any critters on him?
Using these guidelines, some dogs never seem to need bathing and some seem to need it every two weeks. Sometimes, it varies with the weather conditions such as when the creek water is low and swampy smelling. When Chico was doing his therapy work (over 10 years of service) visiting Alzheimer’s patients every two weeks, that was his bathing schedule.
We prefer to bathe dogs inside. This keeps the dogs in a contained situation and you are able to regulate the temperature of the water and the air.
We find that about 98% of dogs do not require special dog shampoo. The problem with most dog shampoos is that the dog smells doggy right after he has been bathed. What we use is a two lathering method. The first is with any liquid dish soap, which cuts the oil quickly, and will instantaneously kill any fleas. No need for dangerous insecticide soaps.
After rinsing, we recommend a second lathering with a human shampoo with conditioner that smells pleasing to you when you cuddle. We like Suave shampoo with conditioner. Then, make sure you rinse thoroughly. Use a washcloth for the face.
Remember that with most topical flea treatments (we prefer Frontline Plus,
http://frontline.us.merial.com/products/products_flplus.asp) you need to wait a day or two after a bath to apply.
The whole experience should be very pleasant for both you and your dog. Most of our regular campers look forward to bath time.