Life Hack: Bathing a Dog

Giving my dog a bath was never one of my favorite duties, but I know that it has to be done from time to time.

I asked my veterinarian how often he bathes his dogs, and the answer was, "Twice a year. Whether they need it or not." I still can't get him to tell me if he was joking or not.

According to the Central California Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a once-a-month schedule should be good for the average dog. If the dog gets extra dirty or smelly, of course, you should bathe as needed, but not to the point of it being unhealthy for your pet.

Too much bathing can lead to dry skin and, if you aren't aware, dry skin can make a dog's skin itch, leading them to scratch. When we see our dogs scratching, what do we think? Fleas! And what do we do when we think they have fleas? Give them another bath.

Can you see the nasty cycle this could create? That's why it's a good idea to keep your dog (and cat) on a parasite preventative.

Now, with all that being said, here are a few handy tips that will help bathing a dog be a little more pleasant (if one can derive any semblance of pleasure from said chore).