For many humans, bathing once a day is not uncommon, but have you ever wondered how often you should be bathing your Boston Terrier? For many dog owners, bath time can be a time-consuming and messy event that they would prefer not to go through more often than necessary. However, your Boston Terrier should be bathed regularly to maintain a healthy coat and keep her (and your house) smelling fresh.
There are many factors to consider when deciding how often you should bath your Boston. If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors and her favorite hobbies involve jumping into mud puddles and rolling in the dirt, obviously she’s going to need more frequent baths than a dog who spends her time relaxing on the sofa and going on the occasional stroll around the neighborhood. If your dog has allergies or skin conditions, that may also affect how often she gets a bath.
How often should you give your Boston Terrier a bath?
Boston Terriers should be bathed every 4 to 6 weeks. Some dogs can be bathed every week if necessary, and others can go as long as 8 weeks. You’ll need to use your best judgment to decide what frequency works for you and your dog.
If you notice your dog starting to smell or she gets itchy at around eight weeks, then it may be time for a bath. The frequency of your Boston’s baths may also change throughout the year. If your dog spends more time outdoors during certain seasons, she may need more frequent showers.
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What Emily and I personally do with Bella
In my household, we bathe Bella once a week. Bathing Bella weekly lasted for several months when Emily was in charge. However, lately, it has been about every four weeks since I have been doing it. The point of me telling you this is Bella did just fine with a weekly bath schedule. I think the weekly schedule not only kept her smelling fabulous but also limited the amount of hair she would shed. We used a Four In One Shampoo. To learn more about that shampoo, check out this article, Shampoo I would Recommend, plus it is pretty cheap.
Be sure to monitor your Boston is you are bathing once per week. Because it’s important to remember that bathing your pup too often can have adverse effects on her skin and coat. Bathing too often can wash away the coats natural oils and irritate the skin. Removing the natural oils can result in dry, itchy skin and a dull, lifeless coat. If you notice any negative changes in your Boston’s skin or coat, you may need to adjust your bathing schedule accordingly.
A Bath Gives You A Chance To Bond & Inspect
Not only will a bath give you the chance to bond with your Boston as well as keep her clean. Regular baths also offers you the opportunity to go over her skin and coat with more attention. Being so hands-on during bathing allows you to check your dog for any redness and irritation or even lumps, bumps, or bug bites.
Regular baths will hopefully allow you to catch skin conditions in their early stages so you can seek treatment before it becomes severe. One of the best ways to check your pooch’s skin and help her enjoy the bathing process is to take your time massaging shampoo or conditioner into her coat. Not only will this let you check every inch of her body for irregularities, but she’ll feel relaxed and refreshed when done.
The Best Products for Your Boston Terrier
Before attempting to bathe your Boston Terrier, it’s essential to make sure you have the right tools at hand to make the job easier for you and to keep your pup’s coat healthy.
Bath Brush
A tool that is not necessary but can be quite helpful is a rubber curry brush. Rubber curry brushes come in a variety of shapes and sizes so you can choose an appropriate size brush that fits comfortably in your hand. These rubber brushes can be used before, during, or after baths, whichever you prefer.
Using it during a bath can help disperse the shampoo and cleanse the coat. Using the brush before or after the shower will help to remove dead hair and skin, resulting in a shiny and healthy coat.
Check out prices for a Rubber Curry brush on Amazon by clicking, Rubber Curry brush.
How to use the Rubber Curry brush
To use the brush, hold it in one hand and gently rub her skin and coat in circular motions with the brush. Try to avoid her face and any particularly bony parts of her body, such as her legs. Dead hair and skin flakes will grip onto the rubber material, so be sure to use gentle pressure.
If you press too hard, you may cause discomfort, but if you don’t press at all, you won’t get the full benefits of the brush. As a bonus, your precious pup will receive a relaxing massage as you move the brush around her body.
Shampoo
The type of shampoo you use can have a significant impact on the health of your dog’s coat. Unfortunately, there is no single “right” shampoo. The type of shampoo you use will depend on your Boston’s individual needs as well as your personal preferences. Some dogs may need gentler ingredients, such as oatmeal or aloe, for sensitive skin, while others will do fine with any shampoo.
Check out the article on the shampoo Emily, and I recommend, click here for the Four In One post. This shampoo has a lavender smell with a calming compound in it for Bella. We have been using this shampoo for a few years, and it works well with Bella’s sensitive skin. And on the plus side, it is very affordable.
If you prefer floral scents over fruity scents or even no scent at all, you’ll need to consider that. If your dog is suffering from a skin condition, you may need to use certain types of medicated shampoo or be more conscientious about the ingredients in your shampoo of choice.
Remember to look at the ingredient list before purchasing your shampoo. Try to look for shampoos with more natural ingredients and fewer chemicals, as harsh chemicals with difficult-to-pronounce names can cause unnecessary skin irritation.
Conditioner
Many professionals choose to skip the conditioner for dogs with healthy coats, so whether you decide to use one after shampooing is up to you. As with conditioners, your options are nearly endless. If your Boston has sensitive skin or needs a hydrating or anti-itch conditioner, your local pet store or favorite online retailer likely has plenty of choices.
Again, try to look for conditioners with natural ingredients to avoid irritating your pooch’s skin, especially if you plan on bathing her fairly frequently. Be aware that some conditioners can cause the coat to take longer to dry, so if it’s chilly out you may want to skip the conditioner or use a leave-in spray conditioner.
Once again, check out the article on the shampoo Emily and I recommend, click here for the Four In One post. This Four In One shampoo is a shampoo conditioner mix. So no need to buy both shampoo and conditioner.
Other Grooming Products
Another grooming product to consider is waterless shampoo. Although waterless shampoo doesn’t help you in the bathing process, it can help lengthen the amount of time between your Boston Terrier’s baths. (Note: Emily and I have never personally tried waterless shampoo, but it looks like it would work well).
It won’t cleanse the coat as thoroughly as a regular bath, but it can help her smell better until you have the time to bathe her. Typically, waterless shampoos come in spray bottles and can be misted onto your Boston’s coat and wiped off. Waterless shampoo is an excellent option for dirty feet or just a quick wipe-down before guests arrive.
The waterless shampoos are pretty inexpensive, to check out the different types available as well as pricing on Amazon click here for details, waterless shampoo for dogs.
How To Bathe Your Boston Terrier
Before you place your Boston in the bathtub, make sure you have all of your tools and supplies close at hand. Having everything nearby will ensure that you don’t have to leave your pup’s side or give her a chance to jump out.
Make sure you have the following items nearby:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Your rubber brush
- Towels
- Cup or something to pour water on your Boston
Wet Coat
Once you have your pup in the tub, wet her coat thoroughly before applying any shampoo. It will be easier to spread shampoo throughout a wet coat. Try to avoid getting water in her ears and eyes if possible.
Apply Shampoo, Conditioner, Use Rubber Brush
When her entire coat is wet, you can apply the shampoo. Use as little as possible. Many shampoos are low-sudsing, so even if they don’t produce a lot of bubbles, they’re still cleaning the coat. If you use too much shampoo, you may need to spend a long time rinsing to make sure it has all rinsed out, so use only as much as you need. If you choose to use the rubber brush during the bath, now is the time to do so.
Rinse Thoroughly
After scrubbing your Boston’s coat and checking her skin as you go, it’s time to rinse. It’s important to remove all traces of shampoo from your dog’s coat to avoid skin irritation.
The shampoo left in the coat can be itchy and may cause redness or hot spots, so you need to make sure you rinse thoroughly. A good rule of thumb is that once you’re sure the shampoo is out, rinse one more time to be sure.
If you choose to use a rinse-out conditioner, repeat the process using conditioner rather than shampoo.
Bath Safety
The most significant thing to remember when bathing your Boston Terrier is to avoid getting water or shampoo in her ears or eyes. Moisture left in the ear can quickly cause an ear infection so if you do get water in her ears, wipe them gently with a cotton ball to remove excess moisture.
Shampoo in your dog’s eyes can cause severe irritation or even permanent damage, so if you think you’ve gotten shampoo in her eyes, rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Final thoughts…
Although the first few times you bathe your Boston Terrier might be a bit of a struggle, once you’ve both gotten used to a regular bath schedule, you’ll come to enjoy this time together. Bath time is not only an opportunity to care for your dog’s skin and coat, but it’s a great way to bond with your Boston and show her how much you care.
What tips do you have on bathing your Boston? What type of shampoo works best for your Boston? Please share your comments below.