Our Groodle Luna has a gift: she can find every beach, creek and muddy puddle on the Gold Coast, usually in the same afternoon. If you live anywhere near sand or water, you know the question isn't whether to wash the dog — it's how often you can do it without wrecking their coat.
The short answer
For most Australian dogs, every 4 to 8 weeks is the sweet spot, adjusted for coat type and lifestyle. Dogs that swim, roll or adventure more often can be rinsed with plain water between proper washes.
By coat type
- Short, smooth coats (Staffies, Kelpies, Labs): every 6–8 weeks is plenty. Their coats shed dirt naturally.
- Curly and wool coats (Groodles, Cavoodles, Poodles — hi Luna): every 4–6 weeks, ideally alongside brushing, because curls trap sand and debris close to the skin.
- Double coats (Border Collies, Huskies, Shepherds): every 6–8 weeks max — over-washing strips the insulating undercoat's oils.
- Oily or odour-prone breeds (Basset Hounds, some Spaniels): every 3–4 weeks.
The Australian factors
Our dogs live differently. Salt water dries the skin if it's left in the coat, so rinse with fresh water after every beach trip — that's not a wash, just a rinse. Sand works its way to the skin and causes itching. In summer humidity, damp undercoats can develop hot spots, so drying properly matters as much as washing. And after bushwalks, a wash is a good excuse for a thorough tick check.
Can you wash a dog too often?
Yes — and it backfires. A dog's skin sits at a different pH to ours and produces natural oils that keep the coat waterproof and the skin calm. Washing too often (or with harsh detergents or human shampoo — never use it) strips those oils, and the skin responds by producing more oil and more smell. If your dog smells doggy a week after a bath, the answer is usually a gentler shampoo, not more washing.
How to wash a dog properly
- Brush first — knots trap shampoo and never rinse clean.
- Wet the coat completely with lukewarm water.
- Lather a gentle, dog-specific shampoo. One DSSLV dog shampoo sheet dissolves in your hands into a rich lather — no bottle to juggle with one hand on a wet dog.
- Work from neck to tail; avoid eyes and inner ears.
- Rinse until the water runs completely clear — leftover shampoo causes more itching than dirt does.
- Towel-dry thoroughly (see: Luna's post-bath burrito, above).
Why we made shampoo sheets
Luna is the reason our dog shampoo sheets exist — 32 washes in a glovebox-sized envelope, plant-derived and gentle on sensitive skin, phosphate and bleach free, grey-water safe for washing wherever the hose reaches, and no plastic bottle to leak in the car after a beach day. They're part of the same plastic-free system as the rest of the DSSLV range — and the whole story starts with one very muddy Groodle.
Quick FAQ
How often should I wash a puppy?
Only when actually dirty — puppies' skin is extra sensitive. Lukewarm water, gentle shampoo, and make it calm and positive.
My dog hates baths. Any tricks?
Wash outdoors on a warm day, use a non-slip mat, keep water lukewarm, and pay the consultant fee in treats. A lick mat smeared with peanut butter stuck to the tub buys you a full shampoo cycle.
What about between washes?
Fresh-water rinses after swims, regular brushing, and drying wet coats properly will keep most dogs fresh between proper baths.