Splish, splash! Does your Goldendoodle need a bath?
Most humans require a shower nearly everyday, but what about the furry members of your family? How often should you bathe a Goldendoodle?
A general rule of thumb is to bathe a Goldendoodle every 4-8 weeks. For optimal coat health, Goldendoodles should not be washed more than once a month unless absolutely necessary!
Keep in mind, the frequency in which your Goldendoodle should be bathed can depend on a variety of factors such as activity level, environmental exposure, and coat length.
When your Goldendoodle is freshly groomed and has a shorter coat, you may be able to wait slightly longer for their next bath. However, once your pup’s hair has grown out to a longer length, you should wash them more frequently.
Goldendoodles tend to be a more active breed, if you and your furry companion enjoy time spend in the great outdoors, it may mean more frequent bath times.
Some pesky pups love to get all covered in mud, meaning an additional appointment in the bathtub! If your dog is visibly soiled in dirt you should opt to wash them at that time.
What happens if you bathe your Goldendoodle too frequently?
Bathing your Goldendoodle too frequently can cause some problems for your pup. Most issues revolve around a decreased overall health of your dog’s skin and coat.
Bathing too often causes dry skin which can become itchy and irritating for your Goldendoodle. Dry skin can be uncomfortable, and in severe cases, dry skin may lead to excessive itching resulting in skin lesions, hot spots, or sores.
Related: Goldendoodle Dandruff: 8 Veterinarian Approved Remedies
Dogs have natural oils that offer some protective properties for their skin and hair. Too much shampooing can deplete these important oils and cause decreased skin and coat health.
The loss of these oils have a noticeable appearance on your dog, as their coat may lose some of its natural shine, and their hair may become more brittle and damaged.
Additionally, both the Poodle and Golden Retriever, and thus the Goldendoodle, have water-resistant coats. Bathing too often can cause a decrease in the effectiveness of the water resistant coats. This can cause issues, especially if your Goldendoodle loves to swim!
How often should you bathe a muddy Goldendoodle?
What if you just bathed your Goldendoodle a week ago and they decided to take a mud bath in the nearest puddle? Is it okay to bathe them again?
Unfortunately for you and your dog, it’s best to bathe them all over again. If you don’t, it provides an ideal environment for bacteria to begin growing on your Goldendoodle’s coat and skin, creating a whole slew of other problems.
There are two options for how to go about this, depending on the severity and your dog’s skin type. If your Goldendoodle has a history of having sensitive skin, you may want to opt for the first option, where no shampoo is needed, thus reducing the chance of irritation.
The first option may also be ideal if your Goldendoodle isn’t coated from head to tail in mud. Simply get a bucket of warm water, and have your dog put their paws in it to wash off muddy paws. This task is even easier if you have a Mud Buster paw cleaner!
Then use a hose, cups of warm water, or even a wet towel to wash off mud from your Goldendoodle’s coat. Once all the mud is gone, you can towel dry your dog.
Option two is to wait until the mud has dried. At that point, use a brush to get out as much as you can before bathing them. You might be impressed by how much dirt the brush can get out!
You’ll want to make sure you have a great brush for this task—my recommendation is the Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush!
After brushing the dry mud out from your Goldendoodle’s hair, bathe them like you normally do. Pay close attention to your dog’s paws during bath time, as mud can easily get stuck. After their bath, brush your pup again to ensure all the mud is off.
What happens if you don’t bathe your Goldendoodle enough?
Bathing your Goldendoodle is an important chore for both you and your dog.
For starters, regular bathing can keep your home cleaner and smelling nicer. A lack of bathing, can cause a build up or dirt, debris, bugs, and whatever else your dog happened to get into to stay stuck on their fur.
Not only is this unhealthy for your dog, but it can fall off onto your bed, couches, and other furniture, potentially transferring these particles and bugs to the rest of your family.
Additionally, dogs can actually absorb allergens through their skin. These allergens can cause irritation, which leads to scratching, and can cause more serious injuries such as skin lesions. Therefore, washing your Goldendoodle regularly is a good way to keep these allergens in check.