Rottweilers are amazing dogs. They are strong, protective, and affectionate, but they also require a lot of work. One of those things that you need to consider is how much you should bathe your Rottweiler.
Typically speaking, you want to bathe your Rottweiler once every 4–8 weeks or every time he gets dirty. Rotties that aren’t outside often only have to be bathed once every 3 months, but Rotties that are out often should be bathed weekly.
Where To Clean Your Rottweiler
It’s important that you bathe your Rottweiler in a draft-free place. This means no cleaning outdoors in the winter or in a very drafty room.
This may make bathing your Rottweiler a little more effort, but if you do it correctly, everything should go just fine.
In the winter, you may wash him in the bath tub, or if he’s young enough, in the kitchen sink if you have enough room.
What You Will Need To Bathe Your Dog
Before you start, you will need a few things. They include …
- A towel
- pH balance, dog-safe shampoo
- Dog-safe conditioner
- A draft-free space
- Lukewarm water
- A Rottweiler
Make sure you get the right shampoo and conditioner that is dog-safe! You don’t want to end up hurting your dog in the process.
Getting The Right Shampoo & Conditioner
Getting a pH-balanced shampoo and conditioner is extremely important. Using a pH-imbalanced shampoo or conditioner can make your Rottie’s skin irritated.
If you’d like to learn about the best shampoo for dogs, consider checking out this article from the AKC after you’re done. If you’re looking for the best conditioner, consider checking out this article.
How To Keep Your Rottweiler In One Place
Most dogs just hate getting baths. I know mine do, and Rottweilers are no exception! So, how do you make sure your Rottweiler doesn’t go everywhere?
Some pet stores will carry a suction cup that can be attached to your Rottweiler’s collar and to the tub’s side, though this will only work if your Rottweiler doesn’t pull very hard.
So, what to do if you have a Rottweiler that really hates baths? If you have a strong door handle, you can tie his leash to the door handle and clip it to his collar so he can’t go far.
Do note, however, that if you plan on going this route, you shouldn’t leave your Rottie unattended because he can accidently strangle himself!
How To Clean Your Rottweiler
Iimportant Always comb your Rottie and make sure he doesn’t have mats before you bathe him. If you don’t, it can cause some problems.
Okay, now it’s time to clean your Rottweiler. But, how do you clean him? Let’s find out.
Cleaning The Stomach, Back, Tail & Legs
Cleaning your Rottweiler’s stomach, back, tail, and legs is fairly simple. Lather it with shampoo and wash it off with lukewarm water (make sure it’s not too hot or else your dog could get burned).
Make sure his stomach, back, tail, neck, and legs are thoroughly washed and don’t have any soap residue.
Handling The Feet
Your dog’s feet are also fairly sensitive, like his ears, so make sure you also handle them with care.
At first, your Rottie will probably be hesitant to let you handle his feet. Let him get used to you handling his feet by simply holding one foot at a time and letting it go. Give him a treat when you’re done, and next time, increase the time you handle them.
What To Do After The Bath
When you’re done, rub him down with the towel so you can get most of the water off of him. When you take the towel off, he will shake the rest of the water off, so you’re going to want to step away so you don’t get too wet!
You may need to do a few more things. They include …
Checking His Ears
After your dog has been dried off completely, check his ears to make sure they are clean and healthy.
If they have a foul odor, crusty or red, have excessive red, black, or wax build up, then your dog may have an ear infection and your Rottweiler seems to be scratching them a lot, he may have an ear infection.
Contact your local vet for suggestions on treatment.
Trimming His Toenails
Take your Rottie’s foot (if you trained him not to be nervous, you shouldn’t have any problems doing this) and trim off a small portion of the nail. If you have a safety stop, use it as a guide. Afterward, give him a treat and trim the rest.
If you don’t have a safety stop, however, then you will have a problem finding the quick. Try trimming only a small portion of the nail at a time to avoid going over the quick. Also trim any dewclaws.
Trim your Rottweiler’s nails weekly to help ensure that they don’t get too long.
Conclusion
So, how often should you bathe your Rottweiler? Well, it depends, but every 4–8 weeks should do the trick.
Some may do it once (or even more) per week, however, so it really depends on how often you want to bathe your Rottweiler.
How often do you bathe your Rottweiler? Let us know in the comment section below!