Clean freaks by nature and generally free of dog odor, Siberian Huskies do not need regular bathing. They have natural oils in their coat to moisturize their skin and keep them resistant to dirt and water. Stripping these oils with frequent bathing dries out the skin and destroys the texture of the pointer hair.
Exceptions to this are when your dog rolls in something pongy or during his shedding season. A bath can help to remove a large amount of shedding hair.
Bathing a few times a year is usually adequate.
After brushing, bathe your dog in warm water using a good quality dog shampoo. Human shampoo is too harsh although, at a pinch, you can use baby shampoo. Choose a shampoo that is appropriate for your dog’s coat. There are a wide variety of shampoos available including ones for dry itchy skin, sensitive skin, antibacterial, tea tree oil shampoos, and whitening shampoo for white or light colored dogs. Wet the dog thoroughly and don’t be stingy on the shampoo. Using a rubber curry brush is a huge help in loosening up hair and dirt. The most important step is rinsing, rinsing and rinsing again. Then towel dry as much as possible and finish with the dryer. Shampoo left on the coat or not thoroughly drying your dog can lead to itchy hot spots. Conditioners with sunscreen are available for dogs with coats that are prone to sunburn. This helps red dogs keep a richer color and helps prevent black dogs from getting that red tinge to the guard hairs.
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