How often should I bathe Beagle
How Often Should I Bathe My Beagle? + How to Bath & Shower
Beagles are a breed that have particularly sensitive skin, and this makes them prone to conditions like dryness and various other skin allergies (that they are also genetically predisposed to). This can be made worse by bathing as things like scented shampoos can act as an irritant, and frequent washes that serve to strip their skin of its natural oils.
With that in mind, how often is too often when it comes to bathing your Beagle? I spoke to our vet about this to get a professional opinion, and heres what he said about washing regularity and how often Beagles need a bath.
How often should you bathe a Beagle? You should only bathe a Beagle every 2 to 6 months in order to maintain a balance between their skin health and hygiene. However, the reality is this probably isnt practical, as Beagles love to run in mud, so will need more regular baths and showers.
If youre a dog owner, you know that bathing any dog every couple of months is almost impossible, especially if you live in a wetter climate where mud is common.
So, in practical terms, if your Beagle gets his coat muddy, and he starts to stink, you need to give them a bath outside of the regular bathing schedule.
However, due to Beagles skin conditions, there are a few things you ought to know in order for their grooming and bathing regime to be happy, healthy and effective.
How to bathe your Beagle in 5 simple steps
Smaller Beagles can be bathed in a usual bathtub with a shower, but if you have a smaller Beagle or a Beagle puppy, you can bathe them in a sink with a sink sprayer.
I would not bother filling up the tub. I would instead recommend you use the shower or sink sprayer, but if you want to fill up the tub, I would advise only filling it insofar as your dogs ankles. This means they can still have their feet touching the floor and theyre paddling, not swimming.
This is especially important if your Beagle is young, anxious or not a very confident swimmer.
1. Gently wet your Beagles coat
The first step is to gently wet your dogs fur with the shower orsink sprayer. When doing this, you need to keep an eye on two things: the waters heat and intensity.
The water should be lukewarm: not too hot and not too cold, and if youre using the shower, you dont want to scare them off with the jets! I would only turn on the shower/sink sprayer halfway, so what you have is a gentle trickle rather than an intense spray.
It is incredibly important to get the temperature and the consistency of the water right, because not only do you risk harming your Beagle with burns, but you also risk scaring them and making them associate baths with unpleasant memories, feelings and sensations making it incredibly difficult for you to give them baths in the future.
2. Use a specialist dog shampoo
Then, get a gentle, soap-free dog shampoo and use your fingers to lather and work the shampoo into the coat.
As mentioned, Beagles have extra sensitive skin, which is why a soap-free shampoo is the best option.
What is the best shampoo for a Beagle smell?
3. Rinse the shampoo away
Rinse the shampoo out and repeat the process as many times as necessary to get all of the dirt out.
4. Use a specialist dog conditioner
Once youre done with shampooing, get your conditioner specially formulated for dogs (scent-free again to avoid skin issues and allergic reactions for your Beagle) and apply it evenly to the coat, brushing it through with a wide-tooth comb.
Give the conditioner no more than two minutes to set and then rinse again thoroughly.
5. Dry your Beagle thoroughly
To avoid that nasty wet dog smell, you need to dry your Beagle completely. Dry your dog with either a towel or a hairdryer on the lowest setting.
Additional Beagle bathing and washing tips
Now you know how to bathe a Beagle, I wanted to get into a little bit more detail about how you wash some specific parts of their body in the bath or shower.
Cleaning a Beagles face
When youre bathing your Beagle, it is important to take steps to ensure they dont get any water or shampoo in their eyes. The dog friendly shampoos are designed not to sting, but I dont think its entirely comfortable.
One way of doing this is by applying protective ophthalmic ointment to your dogs face before bath time.
To clean your Beagles face, use a flannel soaked with lukewarm water (no soap!) and gently wipe every nook and cranny of the face. This includes the outside ear flaps and the corners of the eyes to get rid of any stubborn tear stains.
I would do this instead of pouring water on their face not many dogs like this!
Cleaning a Beagles ears
Because a Beagles ears hang, they dont get a lot of air circulation, which unfortunately makes them more prone to infections. To avoid this, a Beagles ears should be cleaned weekly.
Specially made dog ear-cleaning solution contains ingredients that helps to break down and remove wax, as well as anti-bacterial agents that soothes inflammation and prevents infection.
You should apply this solution to a damp cotton ball and gentle wipe the inside of the ear (use a different cotton ball for each ear in order to prevent spreading infection) and check for any injuries, infection, inflammation or scrapes.
If you notice something unusual, apply antibiotic ointment and go to your vet in order to seek further advice.
Handy Hint: Did you know that theres a very good reason why Beagles have such big ears? I think you might be surprised by the reason for these long and floppy ears that make them stand out from other breeds.
Taking care of your Beagles toenails
If your Beagles nails get in the way of their movement, this is a good time to get them cut. You can either do them yourself or take them to a vet or a groomer if you dont feel confident.
It is important to be careful when you are cutting your Beagles nails, as inside each nail is what is called the quick which is extremely sensitive pink flesh that holds the blood vessels and the nerves that go into the nails.
If you cut into the quick, this will cause bleeding and extreme pain for your dog. It will also make it incredibly difficult to cut their nails in the future.
To cut your Beagles nails, use a sterile pair of scissors to avoid infection and gently trim the very ends of the nails off this might take longer, but it is better to cut off too little than too much.
After cutting the nails, give your Beagle a treat so that they have positive associations with the experience.
Handy Hint: Many Beagles will get the zoomies after a bath. Heres why dogs go mad after a bath wash.
Caring for a Beagles coat
Beagles have what is called a double coat, which means that there are two layers of fur. The top layer is thick, waterproof and usually a brown colour, whilst the bottom layer is softer, more sensitive and yet also dense because it acts as an insulator.
It is usually white and is more likely to shed during the winter months. Luckily, with Beagles being short-haired breeds, their coat, despite its complexities, is reasonably easy to care for.
- Brushing:Brush out dirt, prevent shedding and distribute natural oils throughout your Beagle by brushing them at least once a week with a bristle brush, a hound grooming glove or or a finer brush if you want to remove excess dirt or hair.Brush your Beagle more frequently up to three times a week during shedding season.
- Trimming:Beagles dont really need trimming, but if you choose to trim them, it is advisable to lightly trim them with electric clippers. You should also pay attention to any fur around the feet or on the pads of the feet that you might want to trim for tidiness.
- Freshening up:To keep your Beagle clean between baths, doggy dry shampoo is quick and easy to use you just need to sprinkle it on your dog and then distribute it with a brush. You can also use a spray-on dog conditioner in order to keep the coat looking shiny.
Conclusion
Although you should always keep in mind the allergies and skin issues that come with owning a Beagle, bathing them can be a rewarding bonding experience that helps to keep them squeaky clean, happy, and free from infection!
With any dog, it is important to strike that balance between not enough grooming and too-much grooming. Whilst it is important to ensure your dog is clean, tidy and healthy, over-bathing can cause its own issues, making it ultimately more counterproductive.
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Its rather comical that a beagle can typically be so brave and adventurous, but when it comes to bath time, they can become a downright scaredy-cat. Beagle grooming neednt be an exercise in futility.
As a matter of fact, my beagle Skyler when he was a puppy, used to urinate as soon as you got him over the bathwater. We dubbed it the Piss De Rsistance. And boy, did he resist.
However, over time he got better and better, and the floodgates eventually closed to less than a trickle. I learned over time, that certain things can be done to provide a less stressful and more bonding experience for your beagle. They are:
When Should I Start Bathing My Beagle?
Start em off early. If you begin grooming a Beagle when he or she is a puppy, you will find that in as soon as a few short weeks, he will begin to enjoy this time. Many dogs find brushing to be soothing, in as much as humans enjoy a nice back massage. In addition, bath time can be a great way to bond with your Beagle.
How Often Should I Bathe My Beagle?
Fortunately: Their short and smooth coat repels a lot of dirt and debris. Unfortunately: For this reason, you may not realize that a bath is needed when it in fact is. Whether or not they appear dirty, routine baths are a necessary part of grooming.
Normal, healthy skin excretes a thin layer of body oils every day. In about 3 weeks, it continues to accrue along with a small number of dead hairs that fall back into the coat and become trapped.
At around the 3-week mark, these components can start smelling stale. Therefore to keep your beagles coat in its best condition, I personally keep him groomed at the 3 weeks to the 1-month mark. However, if your pup decides to mind something elses business by rolling in it, clearly then it can be done at that time.
Youll not want to bathe your pupster more frequently, as that will strip them of their natural protective oils.
Where Should I Bathe My Beagle?
Outdoors For some beagles, it can be easiest to bathe them outside in the backyard. My beagle prefers his grooming outside. I swear its therapeutic for him. This can also be a good option for dogs who try to jump out of the tub. Always test the temperature and pressure of the water that youll be using, before applying it to your pup.
Bathtub/dog tub/sink For other dogs, a bathtub or a dog tub may be suitable. Observe your pet, if they seem upset you might like to try outdoor bathing instead.
If youre using a tub, always directly supervise your dog and be present with them. Let the water run down the drain so the water doesnt fill up the tub. This is important for safety reasons as dogs can drown. Again, always test the temperature and pressure of the water beforehand.
Apply a non-slip mat to the floor of the tub to prevent any slipping or injury. This will also help your dog to feel more comfortable as dogs like to be on secure surfaces. You can also place a few non-slip mats next to the tub and around the bathroom to make the general area less slippery.
Professional bathing services If you need help bathing your dog, contact your local vet clinic, they usually provide bathing services and professional groomers will often work in tandem with vet clinics.
How Can I Make My Beagle More Comfortable During Bath Time?
Teach your puppy or dog to be comfortable with handling in general, by patting and stroking different parts of their body. Praise and reward them for being calm and allowing you to handle them. This will make them less likely to react negatively when you put them in these various areas while bathing.
Before bath time, a good hearty walk and then, after having a rest when arriving back home, you can try bath time. This way your dog will probably be a bit tired having expended some excess energy and therefore will likely remain calm.
Start by introducing your dog to the bath equipment youre going to use, one item at a time such as towels, buckets, shampoo containers, hoses, etc. Also, practice standing in the tub but without using any water, this way your dog can gradually get used to being in it.
What Tools Should I Use For Bathing?
Shampoo For dogs with healthy skin and coat, choose a mild and gentle hypoallergenic shampoo.
Conditioner can protect from the suns harsh rays, dry air, temperature extremes, and contact friction damage.
Bath brush works well for the main coat to ensure that you are reaching down through the coat to the skin, and a soft washcloth is best for sensitive spots. Eyes should be wiped with a soft washcloth.
Grooming mitt or de-shedding tool to pull out dead hairs from the coat. This is important since the majority of them will fall back into the dense coat. If they are not removed, this blocks healthy airflow and clogs skin pores.
Canine eye wipes These are great for keeping stains off the eye area and for wiping away eye boogers.
Ear cleaning solution and gauze pads or cotton balls Lack of air circulation makes their hanging ears susceptible to infections. The solutions break down and remove excess wax, while some contain mild antibacterial ingredients to soothe minor irritations and discourage infection.
Dental care items An effective toothpaste and a quality 3-sided toothbrush.
Random tip: Beagles tend to have a problem with impacted anal sacs, which are located on either side of the anus, causing a very unpleasant odor. These anal sacs need to be drained every six to eight weeks. Your vet or your groomer can drain the anal sacs for you, or you can have them teach you how to do it yourself.
What Tools Should I Use For Grooming?
Dry dog shampoo These are powdered products that are designed to be rubbed into your beagles coat, and can be used in between normal baths. Dry shampoo absorbs dirt, grease and other particles from the fur. They are easy to apply and remove. Simply rub the powder into your dogs coat, wait for a specified duration of time, and brush the dry shampoo out of his hair.
Quality bristle brush You should be grooming your beagle with a brush at least once per week, and twice per week is ideal.
Mitt (glove) or de-shedding tool This is much different than a brush. Its main purpose is to remove dead hairs from deep within the coat. During heavy sheds, you may want to go over your Beagles body a few times a week. During minimal shedding times, use the glove or tool once per week.
Canine nail clipper or nail grinder Personally, I opt for the nail grinder for grooming my beagle. I find that it yields more control by grinding the nail down slowly and consistently. The nails on a Beagle need to be cut about every 5- 6 weeks. Heres an easy way to tell if theyve grown too long. If you hear on a hard-surface floor: Clackety-clack cut them back. Some beagle owners opt to have the nails addressed by their groomer, to avoid the worry of hitting the quick (a blood vessel and nerve). This is especially true when dealing with dogs that tend to be a little listless when being held, or have darker-colored nails. The other common reason why people opt to take them to the groomers is if you mistakenly injure him or her, they will take that much encouragement to persuade them to trust you with another nail.
For more in-depth information on cutting your dogs nails, I wrote an article here:Beagle Nails: A Nail Trimming Guide
Paw wax It helps keep their paws healthy and protect them from damage. Lets be honest: Paws put up with a lot of abuse; extreme temperatures and walking over all types of terrain. Look for a paw wax that allows the paws to breathe, while offering proper protection from the elements and from drying.
Nose butter or balm It is one of the most sensitive and vulnerable spots on a dog. And since Beagles love to use their nose, the skin on the nose also takes quite a beating. Nose butter conditions your dogs nose. First, lighter weight oils bring fast relief, then medium weight oils are absorbed adding a layer of deepening moisture, and then heavy-duty butters melt into your dogs nose, bringing extra relief and moisturizing oomph.
Conclusion
Bathing and grooming your beagle will not only keep them clean and healthy but you and your home as well.
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