Your Australian Shepherd loves to play outdoors.
They’re athletic and adventurous and They love to run and play freely. Bathing your Australian Shepherd is a way to keep him clean and maintain his healthy skin and coat.
You can wash your Australian Shepherd every day or every other day depending on how dirty he is. So, how often should I bathe my Australian shepherd?
Australian shepherds need baths more often than other dog breeds. Because of their thick coats, they don’t get dirty very easily.
However, baths should still be given at least once a week. Bathing on a regular basis helps get rid of oil and dirt, keeping the dog clean and healthy.
Contrary to the popular belief, baths aren’t unhealthy for dogs.
In fact, they help remove dead skin and hair, which improves the health of the dog’s skin.
How Often Can You Bathe An Australian Shepherd?
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Bathe an Australian Shepherd as frequently needed to prevent skin problems and to keep his fur clean.
For dogs that spend most of their time indoors, baths may be done only once a month or even once every two months.
This should only be done if your dog doesn’t smell badly or get dirty easily.
If they haven’t come into touch with anything particularly filthy, you can bathe them less frequently than that – perhaps once every three months or so.
When Should I Bathe My Australian Shepherd?
When Their Coat Is Very Oily
The coats of certain Australian shepherd breeds can get very oily, especially when the dog is shedding its undercoat in the spring season.
When this happens, it’s very important to give the dog a bath.
Otherwise, the excess oil will accumulate in the dog’s skin and can cause skin problems such as hot spots and skin infections.
In this instance, your Aussie should be bathed every 3-4 weeks until the coat is shiny and clean again.
Just make sure the shampoo you use on your Aussie is safe for dogs and free of harsh chemicals or perfumes.
When They Start To Smell
When your Australian Shepherd starts smelling bad, it’s time to give him a bath.
He might have got into something smelly outside or he might have gotten into something in his kennel that is making him smell bad.
This is usually a sign that he needs a bath as soon as possible.
You should bathe him immediately since lingering smells can irritate his skin and cause skin problems like hot spots and skin infections.
If it doesn’t smell that bad after a day or two, then you don’t have to bath him right away, but you should always keep an eye on his fur to make sure he doesn’t have a hot spot developing under his coat that could be irritating his skin and causing him to stink.
If it’s just been a few days since their last visit to the vet, then they are probably fine and just need a good brushing and flea check.
When They Are Really Muddy or Filthy
The only time you should postpone a grooming session is if your dog is really dirty, muddy or has a major mess on his coat.
If they’re caked with mud after a day at the beach, for example, it’s better to brush them out first and let them dry off before giving them a bath – that way they won’t get too cold from the cold water.
Why Do I Need to Bathe My Australian Shepherd?
Bathing also enables the pet parent to check for any skin issues on the dog’s skin, especially hotspots, which can develop into more serious skin conditions if not treated early.
Hot spots can be painful for your dog so it’s important to get them checked out by a vet immediately.
After bathing your Aussie, make sure you dry him off completely before putting him back into his kennel for the night.
Use a soft towel to dry him gently all over, including his ears, eyes, nose and mouth.
Irritations, injuries from playing and working outside, insect bites and stings can all cause your dog to itch incessantly.
Good grooming practices may help to prevent these irritations.
How to Bath Your Australian Shepherd
Rinse Shampoo Thoroughly
The extra layer might also make it a little more difficult for you to apply shampoo to your Aussie’s coat and skin properly.
However, this is not a huge problem because all you need to do is rinse the shampoo thoroughly first before pouring it onto the dog’s fur.
This way, you’ll get rid of all the extra soapy residue from the bottle.
You should also avoid using soap that’s meant for humans on your Aussie – it might cause skin irritations and allergic reactions in your pet.
Always choose a canine-safe shampoo made especially for dogs instead.
If your dog’s skin is exposed to too much water after a bath, it might develop rashes and fungal infections.
Make A Thick Lather
Make careful to build up a lather on your dog’s fur before rinsing it off – this will help remove dirt and grime effectively and prevent your pooch from scratching his skin dry afterwards.
Otherwise, you’ll wind up merely rubbing the dirt further into the skin, which will only make the problem worse in the long run.
You also shouldn’t use hot water when bathing your Aussie – it dries out the skin and causes itchiness and other skin problems.
Use lukewarm water instead. Make sure you thoroughly rinse off the shampoo to avoid skin irritations later.
As a consequence, they may develop skin infections such as yeast infections and bacterial infections as a result of constant licking and scratching of the itchy skin.
Avoid Using Your Ears
Water in the ears may cause ear infections in dogs, so you should avoid giving your dog a bath in the tub or sink if at all possible.
Some owners put cotton wool balls into the dog’s ears before giving them a bath, but this is also a bad idea because it may damage the ear canals.
Of course, not all dogs like water being poured directly into their ears either, so you may need to gently pour the water over their face instead.
Brush Your Teeth Before Bathing
Brush your dog thoroughly before you give them a bath because loose hair can irritate their skin and cause rashes.
For their undercoat, use a slicker brush or a hound glove to untangle any knots and mats.
This will help to loosen any dead hair and make it easier to bathe the dog.
This is also useful when removing dirt from their paws after they have played outside in the dirt.
The slicker brush will remove the dead hair and loosen the dirt for easy removal.
Also Read: How Often Should You Bathe a German Shepherd?
Dry Thoroughly
Unless it is really hot outdoors, it is safer to dry your pooch off with an electric fan rather than with the hair dryer – this will keep him cool and dry.
Yes, Aussies can withstand a lot of heat but excess heat can cause them to get overheated faster, which can be dangerous for them.
If she is wet, even a warm bath is too much for her to handle at once – so take your time with it and make sure that she is completely dry before you let her go out to play again.
As a result, it’s critical to always monitor your dog’s temperature after exposure to hot weather and to take necessary steps to ensure that they do not overheat.
