bathing

[smokie]

i just got a 3 1/2 month old beagle and i have heard that you can not bathe them to often how often can he be bathed as he is a indoor dog and would like to keep him clean. and as for the not getting his ears wet how can i prevent that.

[show dog]

I have house beagles too. They get bathed when they stink (roll in something obnoxious), before a confirmation show (maybe once a week in show season) or if they begin to feel really oily (also that hound smell). So sometimes it is weeks between baths and sometimes days! Use a dog shampoo, I find Best Shot very effective. Dog shampoo is pH balanced to dog and not human or dishes. Rinsing is very important to remove all the shampoo. To keep ears dry I learned to hold them at the base and wash around the area. Towel dry after bath. Dogs get used to the bath and mine run in the door and will jump in the tub to get rinsed after a muddy run.

[Guest]

Mine generally only get bathed when they roll in something or are muddy from romping through fields and trails. Other than that, they only get a bath once every few months at the most, and they don't generally smell "doggie." If you feel the need to keep them smelling fresh around the house, I bought a "dry shampoo." It's a white power that is supposed to cling to dirt particles, and then you brush it out. I don't know how well it works in that regard, but it sure softens the coat and smells good. I know some people who do basically the same thing using baby power. My wife has recently started wiping down dogs with baby-wipes if they get slightly muddy or start to smell a little. I like the dry shampoo stuff.

As for the ears, you can buy ear cleaners with drying agents. I do this about once a month, after a few days of rain, and immediately following a bath.