How Often Should You Bathe A Pug? A Step-By-Step Guide

Bath time. Every dog and every dog owner has to go through it eventually.

Whether your pooch loves it or hates it, bathing your dog is essential for their care and wellbeing.

But how often should you bathe your Pug? That’s the question we’ll be tackling today.

Opinions vary on this topic, we’ve consulted the experts and prepared a go-to guide to all things Pug bathing.


Do I Need To Bathe My Pug?

Yes, you do need to bathe your Pug. Even so, it’s important not to over wash your Pug. Overwashing risks removing the healthy, natural oils found on your Pug’s skin.

It’s important to get smart about the dos and don’ts of bathing Pugs. This breed has very sensitive skin meaning that some products may cause irritation.

Top tip: avoid scented or perfumed products. Look for doggie-friendly soap products with only natural ingredients.


Why Do I Need To Bathe My Pug?

Bathing is essential to keep your Pug clean. Bathtime is an opportunity to remove excess oils, dirt, and grime from your Pug’s coat, skin, and nails. This is super important for keeping your Pug healthy and reduces the buildup of unpleasant odors.

Keeping your Pug clean helps to reduce shedding, condition the skin, and prevent yeast and fungal infections of the skin. Plus, your pooch will come out smelling like roses.


How Often Should I Bathe My Pug?

When it comes to creating a bath schedule, it’s important to find a happy medium. Opinion varies on this matter, I like to bathe Sid 4 every 8-12 weeks.

The general agreement is that you should not be washing your Pug too frequently (so forget daily or weekly bubble baths).

Pugs do not need to bathe as much as we humans. Unless there is a medical reason why they require frequent bathing (e.g. a skin condition).

To preserve the skin’s natural oils, aim to bathe your Pugs unless they are really dirty or stink.

Although regular baths might sound harmless, too much shampooing can start to damage your pet’s natural skin environment.

Your Pug’s coat and skin contain the perfect balance of natural oils. These oils have natural moisturizing properties and protect the coat from the elements.

If you bathe your Pugs too much, you can damage this natural balance, leading to unpleasant symptoms like dry skin and poor coat quality.

In between baths, we recommend keeping up with a regular grooming routine. Regular brushing is great for improving coat quality and giving your pet a polished look without reaching for the shampoo.


What If My Pug Doesn’t Like Baths?

This is a very common question. In the dog world, baths are a love it or hate it ritual.

If you’re lucky enough to have a Pug that likes bath time, that’s great. If not, don’t freak out just yet.

If your Pug hates baths with a passion, then there are some steps you can take to make sure they get clean without any unnecessary trauma on your part or theirs.

1. Don’t use cold water

If your Pug already dislikes bath time then adding cold water into the equation could be a disaster.

Make bathtime as pleasant and comfortable as possible with a lukewarm bath. Not too hot, not too cold.

2. Use a soothing voice

If your Pug is anxious or restless, keep them calm by using a soothing voice to talk to them. Offer plenty of affection and reassurance.

If they like belly rubs, give them belly rubs. If they like being scratched behind the ears, scratch them behind the ears. You want to teach your pet that bathtime isn’t so bad after all.

3. Make it fun

Make bathtime fun by bringing out floating dog toys. This will distract your Pug from any nerves they are feeling and will hopefully keep them entertained whilst you do the work.

4. Reward with a treat

Last but not least, have a treat ready to reward your Pug for getting through the process. Offer a treat whilst in the bath and another once you’re done.

It’s no different from getting a lollypop after visiting the dentist. We all need a little boost from time to time.


How to Bathe My Pug

It’s crunch time. Your Pug needs a bath. They stink, they’re dirty, and the dreaded B-word can’t be put off a second longer. So, what should you do?

It’s time to prepare your equipment and get ready to bathe.

What you’ll need:

  • A scrub brush or mitt
  • Dog-friendly shampoo
  • Dog-friendly conditioner
  • Cotton balls or pads
  • A non-slip mat

Step 1: Find your spot

Find a comfortable and suitable location. A bath, shower, tub, or large sink are all great options. Once you’ve chosen where to bathe your Pug, place down a towel or non-slip mat. This will help prevent any unnecessary slipping and sliding.

Step 2: Protect eyes and ears

We want to avoid any excess soap and water from getting into your Pug’s eyes and ears. Water in the ears can lead to discomfort and infection. Try to avoid getting water into the ears and eyes when washing your Pug. Some people also like to place a loose cotton ball into each ear for added protection.

Step 3: Balance water temperature

Pugs have very sensitive skin, so make sure the water is not too hot or too cold. Aim for lukewarm water (just as though you were washing a human baby).

Step 4: Dampen your Pug’s coat

It’s almost time for the soap. First, dampen your Pugs skin and coat with lukewarm water. Keep things gentle at all times so as not to scare your pet. Avoid powerful shower jets or buckets of water. A gradual and gentle trickle will suffice.

Step 5: Clean face, ears, toenails, and coat

It’s time for the main event.

Gently clean your Pugs face with water (that’s right no soap). You can use a soft flannel for this.

Make sure you’re getting in between those skin folds, behind those ears, and into the corner of the eyes where tear stains and sleep tend to build up over time.

Next, trim their nails if necessary. And, lastly, give their coat a good massage using a doggie-friendly shampoo. Lather up and get your Pug squeaky clean and smelling fresh.

Step 6: Rinse, rinse, rinse

Rinse out the shampoo, making sure to get rid of every last scrap of dirt. Ensure that all of the shampoos are rinsed off, and re-rinse as many times as is necessary to do so.

Step 7: Apply conditioner

If you’re using a leave-in conditioner then you can apply it after rinsing. Just make sure that the formulation is dog-friendly and contains natural ingredients.

Apply the conditioner and comb through until sleek and smooth. If the conditioner is not a leave-in product, then be sure to rinse thoroughly again.

Step 8: Dry thoroughly

Last but not least it’s time to dry off.

Your pooch will be keen to get away but it’s important to dry off completely if you want to avoid the dreaded ‘wet dog smell’.

Use a towel to gently dry your Pugs coat. Avoid excessive rubbing as this can cause irritation.

Keep patting down until dry.

If your Pug isn’t freaked out by the hairdryer, you can use it on the lowest setting.

It’s important to dry every nook and cranny – including the facial area and skin folds. Leaving these areas moist could lead to bacterial buildup and skin infections.

Top-tip: Wash your Pug’s towels separately unless you want some seriously hairy laundry!


The Aftermath

The bath is complete. But get ready.

Did you know that Pugs are well known for getting the post bathtime zoomies?

It’s true, after being restrained in one place for a while and putting up with all that washing, your Pug might jump for joy and get rather excited.

Let them calm down and offer a tasty treat and cuddle to reward them for their stellar patience.


Pug Bathtime Bliss

Bathtime needn’t be a chore. By making bathtime a positive experience for your Pug it’s definitely possible to get into a simple bathing routine.

How often should I bathe my Pug?

We recommend bathing your Pug about once per month. Just like Goldilocks, it’s not too much, not too little.

Check out Pablo the Pug having a bath in the video below: