If you’re wondering how often you should bathe an Australian Shepherd, then you’ve found the right article. In it, not only will you find out how often to bathe them, but also what happens if you bathe them too much as well!
So keep reading to find out everything you need to know!
Table of Contents
How Often Should You Bathe An Australian Shepherd?
If you’re thinking about bathing your Australian Shepherd, you don’t need to do it too often. In fact, only bathing them every four to eight weeks is going to be the ideal amount of time. Any more than this, and you may begin to strip their coat and skin of the natural oils they need to stay healthy!
How Often Should You Bathe An Australian Shepherd Puppy?
If your Aussie is still a puppy, they should be washed even less than the adults. An Aussie puppy’s fur is a lot different from an adult Aussie, and it’s actually a lot more sensitive to being washed. The only time you should wash an Aussie puppy is if they’ve rolled in something they shouldn’t have.
What Happens If You Bathe An Australian Shepherd Too Much?
If you bathe an Australian shepherd too much, then you may begin to notice that the following things are happening:
Their Coat Will Be Stripped Of Its Oils
Aussies coats contain oils that keep the fur moisturized, lustrous, and clean. If you wash them too often, the oils in the fur will be stripped away. Instead of being lustrous and strong, their fur may become dry and brittle.
You can combat this by making sure you’re using the right dog shampoo when you wash them.
It Can Cause Dry Skin?
Washing your Aussie will not only remove the oil from their fur, but it will also remove the oil from their skin. This is even more problematic because it frequently causes dry skin and other irritations, making your Australian Shepherd extremely itchy all of the time.
They Can End Up Getting A Chill
If you don’t properly dry your Australian Shepherd after washing him, he may get a chill. Aussies have a double coat, in case you didn’t know. The outer coat keeps your dog warm while the inside coat protects them from the elements (such as wind and rain).
When you give your Australian Shepherd a bath, you’ll also soak the inner coat with water, making it more difficult for them to stay warm. If you do give your pup a bath, be sure to thoroughly dry them afterward.
You Increase The Chance Of Them Getting Hot Spots
Because Australian Shepherds have such thick fur, they are more prone to hot spots. When a cut surrounded by damp patches of fur becomes infected with germs, hot spots develop. They’re excruciatingly painful and take several weeks to recover.
The more you wash your Aussie, the more prone they are to develop hot spots.
They May Get Stressed
While the majority of Australian Shepherds enjoy the water, others do not. If your pup doesn’t enjoy the water, bathing them will cause them a lot of worry.
So be sure that bathing your pup is definitely necessary before you do so!
Are There Any Benefits To Bathing Your Australian Shepehrd?
Of course, it’s not all negative. There are also some benefits associated with bathing your Australian Shepherd as well. Here are a few of them.
It Can Help Strengthen The Bond Between You Both
Bathing your Aussie can be a terrific way to develop your bond with them if they enjoy bath time. They will not only enjoy splashing around and getting dirty, but they will also get new pleasant experiences with you!
They’re Going To Smell Nice
Obviously, this is the most significant advantage. If you bathe your Australian Shepherd, they will smell amazing! However, even though they smell great, you should avoid bathing them too frequently.
It Can Help With Allergies
Certain skin allergies need frequent bathing with a particular shampoo to keep them under control. Bath time will not only assist your Australian Shepherd stop smelling, but it will also help relieve any discomfort they may be experiencing.
Remember, if your Aussie requires more baths than usual, visit a veterinarian to determine the appropriate amount.
If You Do Bathe Your Australian Shepherd, Make Sure You Use The Correct Shampoo
As a word of caution, if you do plan on bathing your Australian Shepherd, make sure you use the proper shampoo.
Your skin has a pH of roughly 5, making it mildly acidic. Your dog’s skin has a pH of 7, which is considered neutral. Shampoos and soaps created for humans take into account the pH of their skin, so they’re not suitable for dogs.
If you use human shampoos and soaps on an Aussie, it could cause them to develop dry skin and other irritations such as hives.
It can be even more dangerous if they consume human soap. When this happens, your dog is likely to vomit, slobber, and feel nauseated, which isn’t fun for him.
Finally, even if you get tear-free shampoo for your Australian Shepherd, you should avoid getting it in their eyes. Even if they get shampoo in their eyes, it might cause irritation.
You Don’t Need To Give Your Australian Shepherd A Full Bath When They’re Dirty
Finally, as you might have guessed by now, you don’t always need to give your Australian Shepherd a full bath when they’re dirty. In reality, it’s frequently a waste of time.
Another option (and one that I use with my dog on a regular basis) is to hose them down (as long as it’s warm enough outside). Allow them to shake off the water and then back brush their fur once they’ve been hosed down.
This gets rid of a lot of the dirt and grime they’ve accumulated. Finally, give them a thorough drying with a cloth. If they still have a canine stench, you can try masking it using doggy deodorant.
If they’re covered in something other than mud, you’ll have to bathe them. Dog moist wipes, on the other hand, are another option to explore.
Interested In Training Your Australian Shepherd The Right Way?
If you haven’t trained your Australian Shepherd properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your Shepherd has, whether it’s barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.
The training program I love and highly recommend is Brain Training For Dogs.
With Brain Training For Dogs, you’ll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog won’t listen, you’ll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and most importantly, that’s given proven results. Not to mention the fact you’ll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.
So instead of worrying about whether they’re going to be well-behaved or not, you’ll only have to worry about how much fun you’ll have with them!
And in most cases, it’s still going to be:
- Cheaper than hiring a professional.
- Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
- And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.
Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to trust your Australian Shepherd completely and never worry whether they’ll be naughty or not. Instead, you’ll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them will always be there, EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT.
And the best part is it also has a 60-day money-back guarantee! So there’s no reason not to give Brain Training For Dogs a try!
So if you’re tired of your dog’s bad behavior or how they react around other people and pooches, then give it a try! You’ll be amazed by the results!
(You can also check out a full review here to learn exactly what the course has to offer!)
Recap
So, now you know that you should only be washing your Aussie every four to eight weeks, depending on how dirty they are. But as a general rule of thumb, you should try to wash them as little as possible.
And remember, if you do need to bathe your Australian Shepherd, you should try to use a dog-friendly shampoo and dry them off thoroughly afterward!
If you liked this article, make sure you check out the rest of the website. Otherwise, have a great day!
