It’s a common question; “How often should I bathe my Berner?” While it’s a good question, it’s off the mark. The purpose of the bath is to clean the coat and make sure the skin stays healthy. So, the real question is: “How do I keep my dog’s coat and skin healthy.” Bathing is only part of the answer.
Of course, any answer must start with diet. You need to make sure your dog has a complete and properly nutritious diet. That is a conversation for a whole ‘nuther post, but for now, make sure your dog is getting good quality food. Also remember that many times, food manufacturers will change their formula, so be sure to check it occasionally.
When it comes to the “grooming” remember that you groom not just for looks but also for health. Your dog’s skin and therefore overall health will either benefit or be put at risk from your choices. One of the most important things you can do (and regularly) is brush your Berner. Brushing has many advantages that you should not overlook.
- It helps distribute the natural oils on your dog’s skin. It will help their coat stay shiny and help prevent oil buildup that will hold dirt.
- It can eliminate dirt and debris from your dog’s fur and even remove some odor
- It helps to prevent painful mats. Mats are not inconsequential. They can be painful and, if left untreated, they can cause skin problems like wounds and infections.
- Brushing will allow you to spot anything unusual, like lumps, bumps, bruises, cuts, and parasites (ticks, etc)
- Brushing reduces shedding…and who wants to minimize the tumbleweeds of fur around their house
- It gives you bonding time with your dog and desensitizes them to touches they might have with other people and the vet staff
- And of course, it makes your dog look good
For my Berner, I prefer a slicker brush. This brush does a particularly good job of removing dirt and debris, as well as controlling tangles and mats.
Then, of course, there is bathing. You should bathe your dog whenever they are so dirty, they stink. That’s a given and hopefully they never get to that point (unless they like rolling in things). You would also want to bathe your dog every few months to remove stubborn debris such as dirt and plant material (you’d be surprised at what gets stuck next to their skin). It also has many of the same benefits of brushing as far as spotting unusual and unwanted lumps, etc on your dog; it will remove loose hair, and it will give you bonding and desensitization time.
I have heard repeatedly that bathing too much will harm your dog’s skin and coat. This is not at all true IF you use excellent quality products. And by that, I don’t mean what you buy at your local pet store. Find a groomer you trust and ask them what you should use in-between visits to their shop. They will want you to do more of this at home and then they can do a complete job when you see them on a regular basis. I recommend Tropiclean Shampoo and Bark2Basics Conditioner.
Remember, regular grooming (brushing and bathing) is important. This is not the place to be lax in the care of your dog. Bathe and brush him to keep him healthy and happy.
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