Bathing my 9 month old pit bull puppy

by Dana Aguilera
(Hayward, Calif. alameda county)

Hi,

I've just got a 9 month old pit bull puppy. And my question is how often should i bath my puppy?

Right now i bath her 2 times a week, is that too much? And is it okay to put baby power on the puppy to smell good?

And what type of shampoo is good? Can i use the same shampoo as i use on the puppy?



Hi Dana
It's best not to bathe a puppy too much, as it can lead to over-dry skin, irritations and so on.

Unless your puppy is rolling in mud (or other messy stuff) on a regular basis, a bath once every couple of months is enough.

As for what products to use, it's always best to use products specifically designed for puppies/dogs. Human products are often too highly scented or contain other ingredients that can irritate sensitive doggie skin.

Choose a very gentle, mild shampoo such as those especially for puppies, or an oatmeal based shampoo. Never use the flea-treatment type shampoos on a young puppy. A products such as Frontline is much better.

Baby powder could be used on your pup's tummy etc., but I wouldn't really advise it. You can buy nice-smelling sprays/spritz bottles that are made for dogs, they work better and are less irritating.

I think you'll find my Bathing A Puppy page helpful. It has tons of tips and advice on giving your puppy a bath. My Cutting Puppy Nails page may be useful too.

Best of luck, have fun with your puppy.