This article on How Often Should I Bathe My Puppy? is in partnership with Rufus & Coco. All thoughts and opinions are mine. ad
Puppies are fun. They are spirited, super cute and cuddly and make for the best photos for Instagram. But puppies are also a lot of work. I have not had a puppy of my own since my first beagle, Ali, came along 16 years ago. But when I decided to start fostering with my local beagle rescue my first assignment broke me in. I had FOUR puppies to tend to for 8 weeks. Since their adoption last summer I have fostered many more dogs of all ages. But when Petey the puppy was found wandering, skinny and dirty, I could not resist fostering another puppy! With a puppy comes the responsibility of taking care of him. I have to make sure I can feed him well, potty train him, teach him some manners and I have to take care of his fur. A question I always have is; How Often Should I Bathe My Puppy?
How Often Should I Bathe My Puppy?
The general rule of thumb is about once a month. Now, ask me how often I take my other dogs to the bath to clean them up? Not much. Maybe 4-6 times a year. But with puppies who roll around in the dirt, get into messes and create messes, baths are a necessity pretty regularly. My little handful, Petey, certainly likes to run out in the mud and roll in it for fun!
Does it Matter What Products I Use?
This is such an easy question to answer.
Yes it does!
Why is this important? A human’s shampoo is around 200 times too acidic
for a pet’s skin! Yep, you read that right! Our skin is 10 – 15 cells deep while a dog’s is only 3-5 cells deep. So even shampoo you think is OK may be too harsh. The products I like for puppies, and dog’s coats, are now at PetSmart. Rufus & Coco products are an Australian import that you will love! The concentrated formula is Australia’s number one awarded pet brand! Named after the two most popular Australian pet names, Rufus & Coco is designed to clean and groom all dogs; even those with the most sensitive skin.
Mr.Petey, the beagle puppy, clearly had an affection for the Sea Me Shine 2in1 Wash. I am OK with that because it is a gentle formula suitable for all pets; including messy puppies! It uses Australian Sea Minerals for a deep, fresh clean and added shine. It is also concentrated so a little goes a long way!
However, when I finally caught him and got him in for his bath, I used Rufus & Coco 2in1 Puppy Wash! The 2in1 Puppy Wash is a gentle shampoo and conditioner in one making washing a wiggly puppy easier and faster! It is free from nasties like soap, sulfates and parabens. This is important as Petey tried to ‘eat’ the bubbles! Naturally Ph balanced, it has hydrolysed wheat proteins and starches, plus Panthenol to condition and strengthen hair, naturally.
He smelled SO SO good when he jumped out of the bath to promptly roll in the mud again!
Are Dry Shampoos and Wipes Safe for my Puppy?
The short answer is: it depends on the ones you use. Again, human shampoos, dry or otherwise, are not the best thing to use for your puppies skin. Shampoos made for humans—even human babies—can contain ingredients that make them as much as 200 times too acidic for dogs’ skin!
Do something for me; go pick up the human shampoo you use on yourself. Chances are you will find one or more of the following:
- Sulfates—which make shampoos foam up but strip hair of natural oils and irritate skin
- Parabens—preservatives that have been found in breast cancer tumors
- Fragrance—which makes a product smell nice, but irritates skin (especially dog skin)
This is why Rufus & Coco dog-grooming products contain no harmful ingredients, and are specifically pH-balanced for dogs’ sensitive skin.
Lucky for us pet parents, Rufus & Coco products are now in 1400+ PetSmart locations in the US now. Their line includes a Water Free Wash which is a powder that you can us for a quick wash or on pets that don’t like water! Also, they have a 3in1 Pamper Spray which is a gloss, deodorizer and detangler meant to restore your dog’s coat quickly!
Both of these are safe for dogs and puppies!
Head to PetSmart now and load up on Rufus and Coco products that are Naturally Australian Petcare! I love them and am so so glad I was introduced!
Petey is now ‘Scout’ and happily adopted into his furever family. While I will miss the little guy I am so glad that I could play any part in his life. Puppies are great! But knowing that they have the opportunity to grow into strong, healthy dogs is even more rewarding!
Head to PetSmart now and pamper your puppy the way he deserves!
aww.. So cute!!! happy days!