Rottweilers are well known for their shiny sleek black and tan coats. These dogs are short-haired and shed a lot so it can be hard to tell when they need a bath. The frequency of baths still remains a bit of a controversy in the dog grooming world. Some people say you should fill your dogs regularly while others insist that over-grooming is actually worse for a dog’s coat.
So, how often should you bathe a Rottweiler?
Generally, it’s recommended to bathe your Rottweiler every one to three months. How often you bathe your Rottweiler depends on their age, what activities they do, and whether it’s hot or cold in your location. Obviously, if your Rottweiler smells bad, is muddy, or has persistent fleas, they’ll need a bath no matter what.
In this article, we’ll give you a clear picture of how often you should be bathing your Rottie. Keep reading so that you can be sure of when it’s time for a bath,
How Often Should You Bathe A Rottweiler?
There’s no concrete answer for how often you should be with your Rottweiler.
One good rule of thumb is that your Rottweilers never go for more than three months without a bath. Baths offer many great benefits for pets. Bathing your dog can help keep them relaxed and clean as well as maintain their health. Giving your dog a bath can help diagnose inflammation or irritation and treat skin conditions and external parasites like fleas.
However, sometimes bathing your dog every three months just isn’t enough. If your dog gets dirty, you’ll probably need to give them a bath no matter what, even if you just bathed them. If your dog starts to smell and get oily they’ll also need a bath much sooner than the three-month mark. Some dogs naturally have more oily coats or may have more oily coats due to their diets.
Can Baths Help Control Shedding?
On top of bathing your Rottweiler every 4 to 12 weeks, you can also add in regular brushing to help control their shedding.
While Rottweilers don’t shed as much as a golden retriever, for example, the amount of fur they lose is definitely a con of owning one of these dogs. Luckily, baths and brushing are great tools to help reduce the amount of fur shed. To control excess shedding you should try to brush your Rottweiler at least once a week outside. For Rottweilers that shed a lot, you’ll probably need to give them a bath around every 4 to 6 weeks to help with that extra fluff.
Beyond shedding, there are a few other things you’ll need to think about when deciding how often to bathe your Rottweiler.
What Impacts How Often You Should Bathe A Rottweiler?
Not every Rottweiler is the same. We know that our dogs have individual personalities. They also have individual needs for grooming. There are a few factors that you can use to decide how often you’ll need to bathe your Rottie.
Your Dog’s Age
Age plays a big role in how often you should bathe any dog.
Puppies get into trouble and get messy, that’s just what they do! Because of this, you might think that puppies need to be there tomorrow often than adults.
However, the opposite actually true. Puppies shouldn’t be bathed nearly as often as adult Rottweilers. That’s because puppies have more delicate and sensitive skin and thinner coats. Their skin is more prone to dryness and irritation from bathing. And their coats are so thin that they aren’t able to protect their skin as well as an adult’s coat can.
Try to bathe your puppy only about once every three months. This will help keep your puppy’s skin healthy and irritation free. You can also use a special puppy shampoo that is ultimately more gentle on your dog’s skin.
Older dogs can usually tolerate more regular bathing because their coats are thick and their skin is tough.
Your Dog’s Activity Levels
It’s pretty obvious that your dog’s activity level and location will dictate how often they need a bath.
Indoor dogs that only go on leashed walks generally stay pretty clean. These dogs don’t need to be bathed often at all and only need to be washed when they start to smell like a dog. Dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors or go for off-leash walks will probably need to be bathed more often out of necessity. My dog, for example, spends plenty of time on the beach. Naturally, this means he needs to get bathed more because he gets sandy and starts to smell like seaweed.
Your daily activities with your Rottweiler will definitely dictate how often you’ll need to bather them.
The Seasons
The last factor that can greatly affect how often you bathe your Rottweiler is the temperature outdoors.
Warm and dry locations or seasons will necessitate more baths. There are two main reasons for this. When it’s hot and dry outside more dust gets kicked up into the air when your dog plays and they become dirty easier. Also, when it’s warm your Rottweiler will start to shed more and more. Bathing them is a great way to help control this excess shedding.
In colder seasons or areas, Rottweilers will need to be bathed nearly as often. They won’t get as dusty and won’t be shedding nearly as much. However, if you live in a cold and wet area your dog may well roll in the mud that they find outside. Then, of course, you’ll need to give them a bath.
How Often Is Too Often For Bathing?
There is such a thing as too many baths for a Rottweiler.
While bathing is beneficial for a dog’s coat, too much of it can cause damage. Frequent bathing can cause the skin to become irritated and dry. That’s because shampoos strip your dog’s fur of natural healthy oils that protect them from the environment.
Bathing an adult Rottweiler more often than once a month probably isn’t good for their skin. While some situations like a roll in the mud might force you to give them a bath, you can try to go for more of a rinse and avoid the shampoos.
Remember that if you were tempted to give your Rottie Bath to help with shedding, you should also try brushing them once a week.
The Bathing Process
For all this talk about how often you should bathe your Rottweiler, we haven’t discussed the dirty details. Bathing your Rottweiler isn’t ever a seamless process and quite a few steps go into the perfect bath,
Pre Bath Essentials
There are a few things you’ll want to do before you even start washing your Rottweiler.
Gather all of your supplies beforehand so you’re not reaching for anything when your dog is already wet. You can also brush your dog before giving them a bath to help decrease the amount of fur lost during washing. While you’re brushing your dog make sure to give their body a good once over. Check their ears, teeth, paws, and nails to make sure there aren’t any foxtails present.
It’s also not a bad idea to entice your Rottweiler with a tasty treat before bath time to make the experience a little more enjoyable for them.
Washing
When you completed your pre-bath routine you can start washing your dog.
For Rottweilers, make sure that you use a lukewarm or colder water temperature. These dogs are more prone than other breeds to overheat. Gives their bodies and paws a good scrub with a nation before anything. It’s best to try and avoid their faces altogether. Water or soap in their ears and eyes can be painful and problematic. You can just use a damp cloth to wipe down your Rotties face during the bath.
The video below shows some great tips if you’re new to dog washing.
Drying
Drying is the final step in the waiting process.
The best way for your Rottweiler to dry off quickly is to let them shake off most of the water themselves. After they’ve shaken off a few times you can try them down with a towel. Even after this, your Rottweiler may still be a bit damp so make sure to keep them indoors for the next few hours. If they go outside damp they’ll likely pick up tons of dust and dirt.
If you feel the need you can try using a blow dryer to dry your Rottweiler off. You’ll need to keep the blow dryer at least 6 inches away from the dog at all times. Blow dryers are risky and can cause burns if used inappropriately. If possible it’s probably better to just let your Rottweiler air and towel dry.
Should You Take Your Rottweiler To The Groomer?
The decision of whether or not to take your Rottweiler to the groomer is totally up to you.
On the positive side, groomers are professionals and can get the job done quickly without you having to lift a finger. If you’re not bathing your Rottweiler too often, this might be a good option for you. But, an average dog grooming runs about $50 for a basic wash and can also be stressful for some dogs.
Final Thoughts
The amount of times you groom your Rottweiler totally depends on your individual situation.
Rottweilers don’t need to be groomed too often but factors like age, activity level, and the weather can all impact the frequency of baths. If you behave your Rockweiler too often you put them at risk of dry skin and irritation. However, if you don’t bathe your Rottweiler often enough they might start to smell and become dirty and oily.
Give your Rottie a bath at least once every three months and more often as needed and you and your pet should be happy!
