Getting Milo to take a bath is no small task. He actually hates the water and runs at the sound of the shower. So of course, keeping him clean for longer is at the top of my doggie to-do list. Especially during long summer days when he loves rolling around in the yard! And over the years I’ve learned a few interesting ways of keeping Milo clean between baths! Here are my top 10 ways to keep your dog clean between baths!
The Best Ways to Keep Your Dog Clean Between Baths:
- Use freshening sprays
- Invest in pet wipes
- Brush them down
- Brush their teeth
- Use dry shampoo
- Keep the dog bed clean
- Clean their ears
- Express their anal glands
- Limit their contact with water
- Feed them a healthy diet
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1 – Use Freshening Sprays
Freshening sprays for dogs are a great way to keep your pup smelling fresh – they deodorize and act as a cologne all at the same time.
The same way that a room spray helps to keep your house smelling fresh!
They come in a variety of scents and are way faster to apply than having to give your dog a bath.
And unlike a bath, Milo has no problem letting me put this on him – as long as I put it in my hands first and rub him down!
For some reason the sound of the sprayer is enough to send him running. But as long as I am just rubbing him down with it he’s totally fine!
These sprays are great since they usually last for a few days in between baths.
Just be careful not to get the spray in your pups eyes, as this wouldn’t be a great experience for them!
2 – Invest in pet wipes
Pet wipes are one of my favorite ways to keep Milo clean between baths!
Not only are they effective at removing odors, they are inexpensive, easy to use, and I can take them with me when we go to the park!
Pet wipes are a safe way to give your pup a quick bath and keep them from smelling bad on the fly!
To give them a thorough clean, use the wipes all over the dog’s body including their rear ends and paw pads. But of course, stir clear from their eyes and ears as that can result in irritation.
And if your pup is constantly rubbing his nose in the dirt, they do make wipes that are specifically formulated to be used around the sensitive areas.
I like to wipe Milo down with a wipe, and then dry him off with a small towel. Not only does he end up smelling fresh, but the wipes also help to remove debris and lose fur!
3 – Brush them often
Just like people need to brush their hair on a regular basis, dogs need to get their coat brushed.
And the longer the coat, the more often it needs to be brushed!
Regularly brushing your dog’s coat will keep it smooth and also remove the dirt, allergens and debris which has been collected in his fur.
This accumulation of dirt, debris, and dead skin cells can cause your dog to smell bad – even when they don’t look dirty!
Brushing helps reduce the odor by encouraging the removal of the dead skin cells as well as loose fur. It also distributes the natural oils present in the hair evenly, resulting in a clean and healthy coat!
I usually brush him more often during spring and summer months, since he loves to roll around in the grass! Plus dogs usually shed more during these seasons which means more loose fur!
Milo loves to be brushed – he’s such an attention hog!
But of course, it’s also a great time to sneak in some cuddles so I can’t complain!
4 – Brush their teeth
As you probably know by now, dental hygiene is essential.
And if you don’t brush your teeth for a while, someone will definitely point it out!
The same is true for dogs.
Not brushing your pup’s teeth for prolonged periods of time makes their breath smell bad and their teeth decay!
Tartar and plaque build up eventually lead to cavities and gum diseases. And not only are these dental problems that result in horrible doggie breath, but without proper treatment they can escalate and lead to more serious health problems!
Now, not all dogs easily open their mouths to get their teeth cleaned.
Milo used to hate getting his teeth brushed – and I still don’t think he loves it.
But I use a beef flavored toothpaste that he seems to like – even if he does spend the majority of the time trying to eat the tooth brush!
And of course, getting your dog’s teeth cleaned about once per year is essential to keeping them in good health!
5 – Use dry shampoo
Back in my college days, I used dry shampoo on a regular basis!
In between classes, before parties, and when I just didn’t have time to spend hours on my hair.
But I had no idea you could buy dry shampoo for your pup!
Dry shampoos do not require any water, so if your pup is anti-baths like Milo is, then this is the best way to keep his coat from smelling bad!
You can get dry shampoo for your dog at the groomer’s, online, or even make your own with a bit of corn starch, baking soda and essential oils!
I use this every so often on Milo, but of course, watch for any skin reactions on your dog before you incorporate it into your doggie routine!
6 – Keep the dog bed clean
You’ve washed your dog, you brush their teeth, and yet they still smell bad!
It’s time to reconsider how often you clean their bed.
Because no matter how many times you bathe them, if they are sleeping on a dirty bed, they will always smell bad!
Your dog spends horse running around and playing outside – inevitably picking up debris and smells in their coat.
Then at the end of the day they come home and lay in their bed, transferring all those odors to the fabric.
So if it never gets cleaned, they will continue rolling around in it every night!
In order to prevent your dog from smelling bad, you should be washing your dog’s bedding, blankets and toys regularly – I wash Milo’s bedding about once per week.
This removes all of the saliva, oil, bacteria and dirt that gets caught in the fabric.
And don’t forget to vacuum and clean the area around their bed too!
7 – Clean their ears
A while back I noticed a strange – and very unpleasant smell – coming from Milo.
For the life of me I couldn’t figure out what it was!
Then I called my vet and she suggested checking the inside of Milo’s ears.
Sure enough, I found tons of buildup with a nasty smell radiating from his ear canal!
I learned the hard way that cleaning your pup’s ears is essential to doggie health.
The constant build-up of wax can result in the development of yeast in our pooch’s ear which would eventually begin to smell.
And cleaning their ears is actually much simpler than it sounds!
For dogs with very floppy ears, it might take more time, but have some patience – it’s definitely worth it!
Gently wipe their ears clean – outside and inside the earlobe – with a clean cloth.
You can also use some ear cleaning drops and apply to a cotton ball. Then place the cotton ball inside your dog’s ear and gently massage until there’s no more icky stuff coming out!
Keeping their ears clean will not only prevent them from smelling bad, but is essential to good doggie health!
8 – Express their anal glands
There are two small glands situated in the opening of your pup’s anus. These are called the anal glands.
If they are too full, irritated or blocked they can omit a very bad odor.
And as gross as this sounds, it’s essential for all dog owners to know about these glands.
Usually when a dog goes to the bathroom, the anal glands secrete a liquid at the same time.
This helps the dog to mark his territory and it’s the reason that dogs always know where other dogs have gone potty.
Sometimes though, these glands get blocked or don’t release the liquid as they’re supposed to.
This leads to a build up of fluid that needs to be manually released.
Often times your vet will express the anal glands during normal office visits, but if your dog doesn’t go to the vet on a regular basis, it’s worthwhile to learn how to express your dog’s anal glands.
Gross, I know.
I had to learn to do this for Milo, and believe me, it’s one of my least favorite things to do! Plus Milo hates it, which makes it a bit difficult.
But hey, not all parts of doggie ownership are magic and rainbows!
9 – Limit their contact with water
No one likes that wet dog smell – especially inside the house!
And during the summer months when doggie water activities are in full swing, it can be hard to prevent this awful smell!
Milo loves to splash in the water whenever he gets the chance but he is not very fond of swimming. Somehow though he still ends up soaking wet!
Now, I would never tell you not to let your dog play in the water, but limiting their contact with water will definitely prevent that wet dog smell.
So if you’re not planning on bathing them immediately after, limiting their water play is probably a good idea.
And if water activities with your pup are on your bucket list in the near future, make sure to follow these tips to prevent that doggie smell!
- Always towel dry or blow dry your dog after playing in the water
- Use soap to clean your dog when they get wet, not just water!
- Clean their ears (as mentioned above) after getting wet to prevent infections
10 – Feed them a healthy diet
If your diet consists of things that make you gassy then you’d probably give off an unpleasant smell too!
Similarly, some dogs can be allergic to soy or grain products and that can cause them to be gassy and result in some pretty icky odors!
These smells can get stuck in their fur, beddings and toys – making it hard to keep them clean in between baths!
So if you discover any foods that seem to make your dog gassier, stop giving them these foods immediately and seek alternative diets!
Nutrition is just as important to dogs as it is to humans.
And what your dog eats contributes to their health the same way it does in people.
So naturally, keeping your pooch on a healthy diet not only keeps them smelling cleaner, but keeps them healthier as well!
Doggie Grooming Tips
- Encourage your dog to stay relaxed during grooming time by rewarding them with treats for good behavior
- Never chase them around to give them a bath, or allow them to run away! This only promotes playtime and gets them riled up instead of keeping them calm
- Always look for signs of irritation when using new doggie products and contact your vet immediately if you notice any swelling or irritation
- Stick to a regular grooming schedule so your pup knows what to expect and gets calmer each time
- If your pup gets nervous during grooming time, giving them an all-natural calming agent can help keep them calm
- If your dog shows any signs of distress during grooming, stop and re-evaluate your technique
How do I encourage my dog to take baths?
Some dogs love the water, unfortunately this is not true for all dogs!
Milo hates water and getting him to take a bath is not an easy task, no matter how dirty he is!
Here are a few ways I’ve found to encourage your dog to take a bath:
- Bring his favorite toys during bath time to distract him
- Change the location of the bath from outdoors to indoors until he eases into the routine
- To avoid falls cushion the floor to avoid your dog from slipping
- Make sure to check the temperature of the water. Have it at warm or room temperature instead of cold water
- Only use dog shampoo with soft scents to bathe your pup
- Be patient and take our time so your dog gets used to it
How Often to Bathe Your Dog
The frequency at which a dog needs to bathed varies depending on the dog’s coat and activity level.
The more time your dog spends rolling around in the grass, the more often they will need to be bathed.
And no dog is exactly the same! So when you’re coming up with a good bath time routine for your dog, think about how often they get outside playtime, how often their fur gets tangled, how long their coat is, and how much they shed.
For example, Milo has a very short coat and his fur doesn’t get dirty often. But he does love to roll around outside quite often. So I bathe him about once every three week – unless he gets dirty in between baths!
Dogs with longer fur coats need to be bathed more frequently since their coats gather more dirt and debris. Plus, the loose fur they accumulate by shedding gets stuck in their coat and bathing helps to remove this extra fur!
A good rule of thumb to follow is to bathe your dog no more than once every other week. This is because bathing your dog too often can dry out their skin and remove the oils that are essential to your dog’s coat!
Milo’s Bath Routine
When I give Milo a bath, I have a routine set up to create less work for me, and a better experience for him!
Milo’s Bath Routine
- Brush him lightly to get rid of debris and extra fur
- Grind his nails if needed (so that the nail powder and clippings get washed away in the bath)
- Put his bedding in the washer
- Remove his collar, wash it, and set it aside to dry
- Make sure the water is set to lukewarm and the shampoo is in the shower
- Take Milo to the shower and convince him to get in (with treats)
- Express his anal glands
- First wash with shampoo
- Brush him while in the shower
- Second wash with shampoo
- Towel try him off
- Clean his ears and dry them
Use these tips to keep your dog clean between baths and keep them smelling fresh! They are fairly easy to do and help to maintain the overall hygiene of your pooch. Plus, all the grooming supplies you need to keep your pup clean, well-groomed and smelling fresh are very affordable and readily available! And remember, it is essential to take care of our pup’s hygiene just like we take care of our own!
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