Originally Posted by
Gail949
If your breeder is telling you to bathe your dog 5-6 times a year, then she must not be a breeder that shows her dogs!
Some show dogs are out in the ring almost every week, or every other week, and they are probably getting baths weekly or every other week before going into the ring.
If you use Oatmeal shampoo which is moisturizing and soothing, I doubt you'll dry their coat out. My Berner gets a batch a couple times a month as he too enjoys to roll around in rain and mud and he has a wonderful coat.
I will say that I brush his coat DAILY and typically that will get a lot of the daily dust off, but if not, into the shower we go! I live in the Chicago, IL area, and during the winter the snow cleans him off naturally, but during the summer, he get a lot more baths.
Most shampoos these days are not that drying like in the past...just buy a high quality shampoo just like you would buy a good shampoo for yourself. I also do put a conditioner on after the shampoo, and then while blow-drying him, I usually use a spray-on/leave-on conditioner/detangler made by an Australian company. Can't think of the name right now, but there is a kangaroo on the front of the black bottle.
Best of luck,
Gail and Finn