Bathing dogs can either be a fun time to get a little messy OR a not so fun time to do a lot of bribing. In general, you should bathe your dog every 2-3 months. Bathing your pup provides a good opportunity to check your dog over for lumps, redness, swelling and external parasites like fleas or ticks.
There are some other factors to take into consideration of when to bathe your dog:
Fur Length
-Short furred breeds might need baths less often (unless the look or smell dirty).
-Medium/long furred breeds might need baths more frequently to prevent mats.
Allergies
Bathing your dog can help rinse the allergens away. It can help reduce itchy, flaky skin and inflammation. Foot baths are a great thing to do in between baths as dogs will carry in allergens on their feet and spread it everywhere they go inside. Wiping allergens away with a washcloth can help as well.
Activity Levels
If your pup is more active, like are likely a bit dirtier than most. You should probably bathe active breeds more often (maybe every 4-6 weeks) because dirtier = smellier. Bathing eliminates dirt and debris and helps avoid irritants on the skin (plus can take some of the stink away). On the flip side, over bathing your dog can strip natural oils and cause irritation. In general, use this list as a guideline, your nose and your common sense on how often you should bathe your dog.
