Hairless Care and Keeping Guide:
For Happy Hairless Dogs
The “Hairless Care and Keeping” guide seeks to help hairless dog owners learn how to take better care of their special-breed dog. We recommend related products that are helpful for the issues we write about for your convenience. All products are sold through Amazon.com. We don’t sell anything on this website.
Bath Time for Hairless Dogs
Regardless of skin type, your hairless should be washed with a gentle shampoo a couple of times per week. I’ve found that most “normal” dog shampoos are too harsh for my hairless. These products are designed to wash fur, not skin. After trying moisturizing shampoos with various ingredients, I found hypoallergenic and anti-itch shampoos work best for hairless skin.
Frequent baths are necessary for hairless dogs because they have skin exposed to the elements without the covering of a fur coat, so the skin gets dirty faster. Hairless dogs without frequent baths tend to develop skin problems like blackheads, acne, and itchiness. To prevent these issues, I’ve developed a once or twice weekly bath time with my dogs. Once they learned that they feel better after a bath, they began to look forward to it (well maybe not the actual bath, but the time just after they are done).
If your dog is particularly bath adverse, you can try my (crazy) method of dog showers. I rotate taking one of my hairless dogs into the shower with me and wash the dog making sure to rinse well. I then put the dog out of the shower to roll on a clean towel and continue my own shower. My dogs seem to have concluded that if I can survive in the shower then they have nothing to fear. Once your dog becomes accustomed to showers, you can start scrubbing them separately.
If you prefer not to shower with your dog, as is the case for most people (lol), try using a handheld shower extension instead of a bath full of water. Dogs seem to think they are going to drown in a tub of water, but don’t mind water sprayed over their bodies as much. When using a sprayer, set the water temperature to lukewarm because hot water tends to dry skin out. Avoid scalding by making sure the water temperature is stable before spraying your pet.
No matter the method you choose for washing, always be sure your pet is well rinsed. Soap and shampoo residue left on the skin causes itching.
Takeaway: Try multiple cleansing products until you find the one that makes your dog’s skin healthiest. Don’t forget to rinse well.
Next up: Moisturizing for Hairless Dogs
Related Articles: Acne in Hairless Dogs, The Skinny on Hairless Dog Skin Types
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