How often do labs need to be bathed?

Only bathe when necessary (dirty, smelly...). The shampoo will remove important body oils from the pup which improves coat condition. I bathe both my grown adult dogs maybe every 3-4 months (or if they get really dirty/smelly). Puppies can be bathed around the same timespan. Get them used to the water way before considering giving them a bath, fill the bathtub a few inches, get some toys and play with him/her. This way they LOVE taking baths. When you do give them a bath, be sure to use a gentle dog shampoo - I have found that an oatmeal base is very good for their skin.