Bathing Your Dog More Isn’t Fixing Their Skin or Behavior—Here’s Why

You bathe them.You buy the “good” shampoo.You try to stay on top of it.

And somehow… they still smell.
Still itchy.
Still uncomfortable.
Still a little “off.”

It can feel confusing — like you’re doing everything right and nothing’s actually helping.

In this episode of The Dog Who Asked for More, Em talks about something most of us were never taught: sometimes more bathing doesn’t soothe the skin — it stresses it.

We explore how your dog’s skin barrier quietly affects comfort, behavior, and regulation, why frequent baths can backfire for sensitive dogs, and what started to shift when care became gentler instead of more frequent.

Not doing more.
Doing less, on purpose.

Because sometimes “bad behavior” isn’t behavior at all.
It’s discomfort.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your dog’s skin might be part of the picture… press play.

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Use code EMILY15 to save 15% on your order at DOG by Dr. Lisa — Em’s go-to for gentle, effective skin care products.

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Free Resources & Support

Dog Body Language Quiz

Not sure what your dog’s behavior is communicating?Take the free quiz and get a resource matched to your results.👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/dogbodylanguagequiz⁠

Free 15-Minute Clarity Call

Feeling stuck or unsure what your dog needs?Book a short call and we’ll talk through what’s going on.👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/tdwafmbooknow⁠

PetMatRx Supplements We TrustSupport gut health and daily wellness. Use code FITZ20 to save.👉⁠ https://tinyurl.com/PETMATRXtdwafm⁠

Email ⁠⁠[e-mail]⁠⁠ to get in touch with Em

New episodes of The Dog Who Asked for More release every Monday and Wednesday.

This podcast explores life with dogs and life with pets through dog behavior, reactive dogs, dog anxiety, and real-life dog training challenges. It supports overwhelmed pet parents who want to better understand dog body language, communication, daily routines, and canine enrichment so dog life feels clearer and more manageable. Episodes focus on dog behavior while offering practical help and support, exploring common behavior patterns, and addressing real-life challenges many pet parents face — including experiences like dog barking, habits, obedience, and socialization — while also speaking to the emotional side of living with sensitive dogs and navigating lifestyle with dogs.

Hosted by a canine nutritionist, dog nutrition coach, dog trainer, and retired vet tech, the show covers canine nutrition, dog nutrition, dog food and behavior, dog gut health, training challenges, training burnout, rescue dogs, dog grief, dog enrichment ideas, dog health, and dog myths — while exploring what it looks like to build a calmer, healthier life with your dog and strengthen the dog–human bond.

Affiliate Disclosure:
This episode includes affiliate links. If you purchase through them, Em may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Supporting partner brands helps keep this podcast free and accessible.