How Often Should I Bathe My Pitbull? (Bully Bathing Guide)

By Coty Perry

Pitbulls should be bathed as often as once a week or as infrequent as once every three months. It depends a lot on the activity of your Pitbull and what type of trouble they get into. Only bathe them when absolutely necessary and avoid using soap more than once a week. 

Bathing your Pitbull can be a fun experience but a popular question we get is, “how often should I bathe my Pitbull”? In this guide, we’ll cover all the basics of bathing your Bully from how often, to what products you should use. 

Can I Give My Pitbull a Bath Once a Week?


It’s perfectly normal to bathe your Pitbull once per week but we wouldn’t recommend doing it any more than that unless you have to. This will dry out their skin and can lead to rashes and other issues. 

It’s also important to keep in mind the activity of your dog. Of course, if they go out and roll around in the mud twice in one week, it’s okay to give them a bath but you may want to avoid using any type of soap on them more than once a week. 

You can also turn the hose on your pup and quickly spray them and wipe them down. 

How Do I Keep My Pitbull Smelling Good?

Have you noticed that your Bully is starting to smell in between baths? There are a number of reasons for this but a few things you can do to prevent it. Using an aromatherapy shampoo during each bath can help with fighting long term odors. 

Brushing your dog is another great way to distribute their natural oils throughout their coat and remove dead hair. Giving this dog breed a good brushing two or three times per week is a good habit to get into and can actually lead to them smelling better between baths. 

Also make your thoroughly dry your pitbull after a bath. No one likes the smell of wet dog!

If you notice that they still smell and you’ve tried everything else, rubbing their body with baking soda is a simple but effective way to neutralize any odors they may be carrying with them. 

You’ll also want to look towards other factors that could contribute to a smelly dog. Their breath is one of these factors. Make sure you’re feeding them high-quality dog food with the proper ingredients. This will lead to less gas and better tooth and gum health. 

What Can I Use to Wash My Pitbull?

Let’s face it, our dogs can get pretty gross at times. They roll around in whatever they find out in the yard and will lick just about anything so it’s important that we give them a thorough wash every now and again. 

Unfortunately, you can’t just pick up any soap and expect to use it on your dog’s skin. Pit bulls have sensitive skin because they don’t have a lot protecting them from the elements. As a result, you want to make sure you’re only using the best Veterinary grade shampoo. 

Veterinary Formula Clinical Care is a great option designed to help with various skin conditions. It contains ingredients like oatmeal and allantoin to help hydrate and moisturize skin while leaving your pup smelling great. 

Burt’s Bees is another great option for Bullies because it uses natural ingredients like buttermilk and honey to soothe skin and promote the development of your pit bull’s coat  

What If My Pitbull Has Sensitive Skin?

While we think it’s important to just consider that all Pitbulls have sensitive skin, what if your dog’s skin is especially sensitive to certain things? If that’s the case, you’ll want to consider using Paws and Pals Shampoo

This formula is especially sensitive because it uses aloe, jojoba, and coconut oil to relieve itchy skin and moisturize your pitbull’s coat. A specific blend of essential oils are used to ensure that it doesn’t irritate your dogs skin and it’s tear-free so it won’t hurt if it gets in their eyes or nose either. 

Do Dogs Feel Better After a Bath?

Many reports say that dogs do feel a lot better after a bath and it’s part of the reason why they get so excited after. 

Dog owners should keep in mind that not every dog likes baths and sometimes it leads to stress. Your Pitbull might put up with the bath but once it’s over, they couldn’t be happier. As a result, they’ll let all their energy out once it’s over by running around the house. 

In some cases, another reason why dogs enjoy the “post-bath” excitement is because they’re smelling something new. They’re now coated in a scent they may not have smelled before and as a result, they’ll roll around all over the place to try and get rid of the new smell. 

How Do I Dry My Pitbull After a Bath?

You have a few options for drying your Pitbull. Thankfully, these are short-coated dogs so they don’t require any fancy drying techniques. Pat your dog down with a towel and let the air do the rest of the work. 

If you’re really committed to getting them dry, you can use a hairdryer but we’d recommend doing so sparingly so you don’t dry out their skin or accidentally burn them with the hot air. A quick towel pat down of your dog’s hair and a romp throughout the house should do the trick. Remember that short hair dog breeds are low maintenance when it comes to grooming!

How Do I Wash My Pit Bull’s Face?

Washing around a dog’s face is especially anxiety-inducing because you’re afraid of getting soap in your pitbull’s ears, eyes, and nose. 

You want to make sure not to squirt soap directly onto their face. Instead, put the soap on their head or near their face and work it in. 

If you’re trying to get rid of pesky eye boogers, just be careful working around their eyes and observe how your dog is reacting to what you’re doing. If it appears that they’re getting overwhelmed, spray them down and give them a break. Take your time, don’t rush, and be sure to keep talking to them in a soothing voice to assure your Bully that it’s okay. 

What Do I Do If My Pit Bull Doesn’t Like Baths?

It’s perfectly okay if they don’t like baths, you don’t have to give them one any more than necessary. Thankfully, Pitbulls really don’t require much bathing and will do just fine with a quick hose down every now and then. 

How Do You Bathe a Pitbull Puppy? 

Bathing a Pitbull puppy requires a more sensitive approach. Be sure to use lukewarm water and we would recommend not using any soap for a while. Puppies have especially sensitive skin and excrete a lot of oils which helps in the development of their adult coat. You don’t want to wash these oils off their skin. 

Be especially gentle when washing around your pit bull’s ears.

Why Does My Pit Bull Get the Zoomies After a Bath?

While there are a number of reasons why your Pitbull gets the zoomies, we believe it’s because they’re excited that the bath is over and they want to run around and get all the soap smell off their skin. 

Final Thoughts

So, how often should I bathe my Pitbull? In reality, you should only bathe them when necessary. If they get dirty or they smell, go ahead and give them a bath. Other than that, a quick hose down will do the trick! 

Also every dog owner should make sure their dog’s shampoo is right for their skin and supports coat health as well!

Photo of author
AUTHOR
Coty Perry
Coty is a self-proclaimed cat whisperer and animal lover. Growing up his mom ran a dog training business out of his childhood home so you can say it was complete chaos 24/7. Today, when he comes home after a long day of writing about animals, he’s greeted by his two loving cats Marley and Cozmo.