American Pit Bull Terriers only need to be bathed once every eight weeks or so — or when they find a mud puddle to their liking. Bathing them too often removes natural oils from the coat. Some groomers prefer a high-quality medicated shampoo, which helps keep the skin in better condition, while many breeders avoid products containing tea tree oil.

This breed is known to have sensitive skin, and some Pit Bulls can be prone to skin problems. You should definitely stay away from generic, economy brands, but any shampoo can dry the skin if you use it too often.Washing, rather than scrubbing, the coat minimizes the possibility of stripping coat oils or irritating sensitive skin. After completely wetting your dog, saturate a large bath sponge with shampoo and gently glide it over the entire coat. Do not pour the shampoo directly onto your dog. Work in the direction of the hair growth and do not rub or scrub. Rinse and repeat.

A conditioning rinse is not recommended because it may soften the coat’s natural texture. The final rinse should leave the coat squeaky clean. Make sure that no soap residue remains in the coat. If your dog’s skin seems itchy or flaky the day after a bath, this is often due to inadequate rinsing.

The key to a successful bath is organization. Keep all your grooming tools in a basket so you can set up for the bath in only a moment. (This is handy when your zestful terrier finds something interesting in the yard to roll in and you must move quickly!)

Check the temperature of the water against the inside of your wrist or with your hand. Hold the hose close to your dog’s body to eliminate excessive spray. If you don’t have a hose attachment, use a plastic cup to scoop water and pour it over your dog. Work from the highest point to the lowest on your Pit Bull with the water and shampoo; use your fingers to work the shampoo throughout the coat.

To keep water from getting into your dog’s nose when you rinse this area, hold your hand as a barrier around the nose, and let the water flow from behind the ears toward your hand and sort of break against the hand. Rinse your dog with a gentle flow of water until his coat feels clean and the water runs clear.

When drying the coat, use a blotting technique, squeezing the hair instead of rubbing the towel back and forth. If you use a hair dryer, test the air flow against the inside of your wrist first, then hold it about 10 to 12 inches from the dog.