That depends on what's causing your dog's itching. Probably about 98% of the time, your dog's itching is due to allergies or some sort of parasite causing a problem—mange, fleas, ticks, et cetera. So if you have a dog that's itching more than the occasional flap of the ear, or licking the foot, give us a call or check in with us because there's probably an underlying medical issue that we want to address.

For the most part, no. That may be something that a show dog, like an Afghan Hound, may need something extra to keep the tangles out, but your average dog doesn’t need anything extra like that.

If your dog does not have allergies or is prone to skin infections, you can use a pretty basic shampoo. I typically look for something that does not have a fragrance. It may be nice for our dogs to smell like apples and lavender, but they probably don't want to smell that way, and smell is pretty important to dogs. I like an aloe and oatmeal shampoo in most situations, but a medicated shampoo can be beneficial for dogs with skin issues or chronic problems.

The best way to do that is to prepare ahead of time. If you start as a puppy, you want to start conditioning your dog to get used to the tub or the shower or wherever you're planning on bathing your dog. Have them begin to develop a positive association by having them enter that space, eat some treats and start to feel safe there before you even need to get to the point of bathing. Another thing to consider is good footing, as many bathtubs are not super comfortable for standing for dogs. Their nails and the surface don't make for good traction. Make sure to have a bath mat or some sort of non-slip surface in there. Worst case scenario, you can just throw down a towel, and once it gets wet, the towel provides a good surface for traction.

And then you want to make the whole situation as positive as possible for your dog, so pairing this exercise with food and doing your conditioning work leading up to bathing is essential. Also, do not get soap in your dog's eyes, and make sure the water temperature is comfortable. Dogs typically prefer water that's cooler than we would maybe find comfortable for a shower for us. If you find that your dog is getting stressed about bathing, or it's becoming a rodeo, touch base with us. We can help you troubleshoot and find a better solution.

Some of that comes down to health. Dogs that have skin issues or allergies may need to be bathed more frequently. And the rest comes down to preference in lifestyle. If your dog's a couch potato, doesn't do a whole lot, and is otherwise healthy, they probably don't need to be bathed frequently. If your dog's out swimming, getting dirty, rolling in things regularly, they may need to be bathed more often.