I heard that it's not good to bathe Chessies. Wouldn't that wash off the oils that help keep them dry?

Question

My dog is a water dog and is used for retrieveing ducks In freezing water.

People might bathe water dogs a lot, but do they actually use their to retrieve birds?

Answer 1

You can bath your dog on occasion and not cause problems. You are right about the oil on you dogs coat. There are a couple of reasons for it. 1. It helps keep their skin healthy, like lotion. 2. It helps it heal when they get minor nicks and cuts. 3. It helps keep them dry and warm, including helping them shed water after they get out of the lake retrieving ducks. I usually bath my dog after hunting season is over, and before the snow flies.

Answer 2

It's not good to bath chesapeakes often - they need the oil in their coats to help protect them from the cold water. If you're using her to retrieve this fall, you probably won't want to bath her until after hunting season.

Answer 3

"The dense, harsh, short-haired coat is easy to groom. Brush with a firm bristle brush to remove the dead hairs. While the Chesapeake needs the occasional bath to prevent any noticeable odor, they should not be bathed so often that the oily texture is stripped out. The oily coat helps protect it from icy waters. This breed is an average shedder."

Answer 4

Getting them wet wont hurt at all, soap is what will remove the oil from their coat.
For what it's worth I considder it a bath every time they jump in to retrieve a duck. Just have to convince the wife that the 'marsh smell' is natural.

Answer 5

You are correct. Frequent bathing will strip the coat of it's precious oils.

For more on grooming check out this website:

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/chesapeakebay.htm

Answer 6

As long as you bathe your dog with dog shampoo and not human shampoo it will not hurt them at all. Dog shampoos are specially made for what the dogs coat and skin needs. You can find these shampoos anywhere and not very expensive.

Answer 7

If you bathe them only occasionally when they really need it (stinky dirty) it wont harm them. Poodles and labs are water dogs too and people seem to bathe them all the time w/ no problem.