It’s important to know how often your little fluffball should be bathed. Bathing is an essential part of grooming and will either make or break your Havanese’s gorgeous coat. This article will run through just how often you should be bathing your Havanese.
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How Often Should You Bathe a Havanese?
Bathing every 2-4 weeks is the best frequency for Havanese. This is sufficient to keep their skin and coat clean without removing too many natural oils and drying out their coat.
Havanese owners have strong opinions on the topic of bathing. Some swear by bathing a Havanese every week, and others are adamant to only bathe a Havanese when they get dirty. So what is it?
Havanese indeed have both double coats and very tangly coats. This means that dirt and debris can easily get stuck, and it often does, especially when out on walks. This is why most owners bathe their Havanese once a week.
What veterinarians recommend:
Most veterinarians start by addressing the issue of regular dog shampoos. They often contain harsh chemicals, parabens, alcohol, and detergents, all of which are terrible for a dog’s skin and coat no matter the breed.
Overexposure to shampoo will strip your Havanese of the natural oils found on the skin and throughout her coat. These oils keep her skin moisturized and her coat healthy.
To avoid the risk of drying out your Havanese’s skin and coat, it would be more sensible to bathe her every 2-4 weeks instead of weekly.
To this day, dry skin remains to be the top reason why dogs go to the vet. Overbathing using inappropriate shampoo is the main contributor to dry skin aside from allergies.
How Brushing Helps You Keep Your Havanese Clean
Brushing also plays a big factor in how much you will need to bathe your Havanese. As you already know, Havanese have double coats that easily tangle and matt if left ungroomed.
That’s why it’s crucial to stick to a brushing routine.
Most Havanese owners brush on a daily basis, and this is a necessary amount.
The added bonus from daily brushing (aside from no tangles and matting) is that you will be continuously cleaning out her coat, keeping it muck-free.
This naturally keeps her coat cleaner for longer, allowing you to increase the time between baths.
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The Importance Of Using Natural Ingredient Shampoo
When you do bathe your Havanese, it’s absolutely crucial to only use a natural-ingredient shampoo.
As I mentioned earlier, even regular dog shampoo contains harsh chemicals, alcohol, parabens, and detergent. All of which are extremely terrible for a dog’s skin.
Natural ingredient shampoos clean just as well, but they preserve A LOT more of the essential natural oils found in the coat and on the skin.
Does this mean you can bathe your Havanese more frequently than 2-3 weeks? Maybe, but if you want to remain on the safe side, stick to the more infrequent schedule.
➡️ Our favorite natural ingredient shampoo: 4Legger Certified Organic Aloe Vera Lemongrass & Coconut
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How To Bathe Your Havanese: Step By Step
Below will be a simple step-by-step guide to bathing your Havanese.
⭐ Where to bathe her: As Havanese are small, you can bathe her in your bathtub or shower room. This will give you maximum control and keep her located in the same place. If you bathe her outside, be sure to use a leash.
⭐ What you’ll need:
● Natural ingredient shampoo and conditioner
● Non-slip mat to prevent slipping and injuries
● Bath Brush
● Two clean dry towels
⭐ What to do:
Step 1. Brush her thoroughly with a simple pin and bristle brush for 5 minutes before bathing. This will remove any loose hair currently stuck in her coat.
Step 2. Pop her in the tub, wet her down with room temperature water. Be careful not to get water in her ears.
Step 3. Use your natural ingredient shampoo to build up a thick lather. Start from the head and work your way down her body. Be sure to use your fingertips to massage her skin thoroughly.
Step 4. While she has shampoo in her coat. Use the bath brush for around 5 minutes. This will allow the shampoo to soak in, and you’ll be able to remove any excess hair. Focus on her underbelly, neck, body, and tail.
Step 5. Rinse her off thoroughly with room temperature water.
Step 6. Apply the conditioner starting from the head down. Gently massage the conditioner through her entire coat making sure you reach the skin. Try to run your fingers through the coat and detangle any knots if you find them. Allow the conditioner to soak in for 5 minutes.
Step 7. Rinse her again thoroughly for around 5-10 minutes. It is absolutely critical to get all shampoo and conditioner suds out from her coat. If any product is left in, it could irritate her skin and coat significantly.
⭐ Dry her sufficiently: Use the clean towels to dry her wet coat down as much as you possibly can. Keep her inside in a warm room until she is fully dry.
⭐ Brush her once dry: Once completely dry, gently brush her coat, removing any tangles and curls that may have developed from using the towels.
Havanese Bathing FAQs
Let’s run through some of the most frequently asked questions about bathing Havanese. I will try to be concise and straight to the point with each answer.
Can You Use Human Shampoo To Bathe a Havanese?
No. Human shampoo is too acidic for all dogs. Human shampoo can potentially ruin the acid mantle of your dog’s skin which can cause serious skin problems in the future.
Can You Use Baby Shampoo To Bathe a Havanese?
If you don’t have an all-natural ingredient dog shampoo, then baby shampoo will be your next best option. In fact, baby shampoo will be better than using regular dog shampoo, due to the avoidance of harsh chemicals.
Can You Brush a Havanese While Bathing?
Yes, it’s a good idea to brush your Havanese before, during, and after bathing to maximize results. The best brush to use while your Havanese is wet would be a Bhodi Bath Brush. This is a soft rubber comb style of brush that is specifically designed for brushing through wet hair.
Can You Bathe a Havanese Weekly?
You can bathe a Havanese weekly, but this may end up drying out her coat and skin from overexposure to shampoo. Although some owners like to engage in weekly baths, it’s better to limit bathing to at least once every 2-3 weeks. As long as you keep on top of your brushing routine, your Havanese will remain clean for a long time.
What Temperature Should The Water Be?
Lukewarm water. Neither hot nor cold is the correct temperature. I know it’s tempting to use nice warm water, but its important to remember dogs are much more sensitive to heat than we are. What might be nice for you could be too hot for your Havanese. Plus, using water that’s warmer than room temperature increases the chances of drying out her skin after the bath.
What Is The Best Shampoo For a Havanese?
We always recommend using a natural ingredient shampoo and if it’s organic, that’s even better. Our favorite is from 4Legger. They have a USDA organic certified dog shampoo that uses natural ingredients. It’s affordable and highly reviewed. Check it out here.
Last Thoughts
The best frequency to bathe your Havanese is every 2-3 weeks. But honestly, there isn’t a straightforward right and wrong answer.
Some owners bathe their Havanese every week and have good results, and others only bathe their Havanese when very dirty.
See what works best for you, but always take into consideration the health of her skin as well as her coat.