MumOf2LabBoys Posted July 16, 2005 Share Posted July 16, 2005 Hi DOL-ers, Ralphy has never been bathed. He swims regularly and is brushed every second day. has flea control applied monthly etc. He has a little 'normal' doggy odour, but nothing overbearing. Should he be being bathed? i ws having this chat with a colleague who was stunned that hehad never been bathed? Our immediate family's Labs always seem to stink...and they are doggy washed monthly....pooeeeeeeew !! Comments and advies appreaciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldielover Posted July 16, 2005 Share Posted July 16, 2005 I would rinse him off with warm water after a swim (cool water in summer is fine!), and maybe bath him once every 3 months with a mild shampoo like Fido's puppy & kitten. He shouldn't need too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dali-love Posted July 16, 2005 Share Posted July 16, 2005 Ok, this goes totally agains my proffession but why bath a dog when it is not nessecary. In The Netherlands dogs get a bath roughly once/twice a year when they stink too much after swimming in a creek. So to answer your question no as long as the smell does not bother you and the dog does not have any skin problems I don't think you HAVE to wash it... MEL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagsalot Posted July 16, 2005 Share Posted July 16, 2005 Ok, this goes totally agains my proffession but why bath a dog when it is not nessecary. I agree. My kelpie x isnt a smelly dog. He probably gets a bath about 4 times a year, if that. If he gets wet and starts to stink, then ill bath him, but if hes not smelly i dont see the point. Plus his coats always extra shiney and he always looks clean. As i do dog washing everyone always comments how my dog must be so clean as he must get so many baths. Most of them dont believe me when i say he hardly gets any as he's not a smelly dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted July 16, 2005 Share Posted July 16, 2005 I can't remember the last time I washed my dane, I only wash her when it's really neccessary, if they don't smell are there are no other issues then why put ME through that ordeal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted July 16, 2005 Share Posted July 16, 2005 Another one here who thinks that people over wash their dogs (and I am a groomer ). The more you wash them, the more you need to continue doing it. I wash my dogs every week I would leave things as they are Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina77 Posted July 16, 2005 Share Posted July 16, 2005 My ACD never smells , she swims daily and I rinse her off when I get home , she does occassionally get a bath when her coat feels a little oily and I think that's from human hands handling her But that would not be more then 1 bath a month and even then it's not thorough . You could wipe him down with a face washer , his head and back etc , otherwise why wash what's not dirty ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SALTWOOD Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 I wash my dogs to suit myself and our lifestyle. If they are not stinky I don't wash them but there is no way I will have a dog in the house and on my lounge if they stink! I have one that loves to roll in anything the wildlife has left overnight - she gets the spray "instant" shampoo immediately after she does that, to remove any traces of that lovely doggy perfume she has just rolled on. Also, I prepare my dogs before showing them and that includes washing them beforehand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MumOf2LabBoys Posted July 17, 2005 Author Share Posted July 17, 2005 Thanks for the comments everyone, much appreciated. being in the rain makes him smell so nice...so until he stinks...he can remain unwashed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chi'ma Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 my chi hardly gets washed, but i do use wipes for yer bum and front bum. just for hygiene reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Posted July 17, 2005 Share Posted July 17, 2005 Generally I only have to bathe my dogs once or twice a year. Bathing them to much will just irritate their skin usually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Shepherd mom Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 My BC cross gets bathed twice a year - I think her long coat helps repel dirt from her skin. She gets regular brushings and if she gets pongy, a squirt of doggy deodorant and she's good to go. My shepherd gets bathed every two months as he feels dirtier and if he swims in unsavoury water he get's very itchy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greentea Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 (edited) We try not to overbathe our boy, probably aiming for once a month. It ends up being much more frequent for the following reasons: 1. After doggy day care he comes back smelling really stinky and I don't want stinkiness in our bed! 2. He often barges into the bathroom when I'm in the shower and often comes charging in to lick the water and ends up soaked so I just wash him while he is there! 3. When he does a poo sometimes it gets caught in the hair on his backside and before I can get to it with some 'Wet Ones' he drags his pooey bottom along the pavers, thereby making himself really pooey and so I have to bathe him again! Lucky he isn't a Dane or any other large breed, in fact we just pop him into the bathroom sink and wash him there. It is so easy. Takes a few mins and a few more mins to blow dry! His skin is a bit dry, I have upped his intake of oily fish but I wish I could just wash him less, hopefully he will stop what we have called 'the poo parade' (rubbing his pooey bum on the pavers) Edited July 19, 2005 by greentea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 (edited) Greentea- could his scooting be from impacted anal glands perhaps? Next time you're at the vets just ask them to give 'em a squeeze Gorgeous photo!! ETA - just re-read your post, sorry. re . his scooting is from poo getting caught Edited July 19, 2005 by Dru Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 (edited) We wash our dog "weekly" in a hydrobath with a flea and tick rinse or Fido Itch-Free Rinse. This is mainly because our dogs get really dirty rolling on roads and concrete while working. By the end of the week when you pat/scratch them your hands are black - they don't smell. They love having a bath and the water is always filthy. We only use shampoo on very special occassions - Fido Puppy and Kitten Shampoo only because it smells nice. Edited: Because I can't spell or my fingers have stopped working. Edited July 19, 2005 by Tilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becks Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 Being wire coated breeds, mine don't get bathed very often as it softens up the coat. During the busy show season they may get bathed every 3 -4 weeks but when I can get away with it, it will just be legs and ends. We've had a break from the shows at the moment and as they go onto the beach every day there is little point in washing them regularly. Greentea - if your dog is getting a poo clogged bum just trim away the hairs surrounding the anus so it doesn't get clogged but if he is doing firm poos it shouldn't be a problem anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 Greentea - if your dog is getting a poo clogged bum just trim away the hairs surrounding the anus so it doesn't get clogged but if he is doing firm poos it shouldn't be a problem anyway. Absolutely agreed! If he is always doing poo that is runny enough to stick, it might pay to check his diet. Soft poo all the time doesn't help to stimulate the anal glands and this could be adding to his problem as well (as mentioned by another poster). But back to the original topic. My American Cockers are bathed religiously every week because otherwise a) they mat and b) they really DO pong!! My Stafford bitch and my Rottweiler are rarely bathed. Dolly Stafford doesn't normally smell of anything so if I CAN smell her, it's time for a bath. Luther, the Rottweiler is essentially an outdoors dog (his choice - stoopid great lug!) so I refrain from bathing him so that the natural oils stay in his coat and keep him more weatherproof. My Yank puppies haven't been bathed yet, although I did spend quite a few hours of quality time playing with them in and out of their pen yesterday and I must confess they are beginning to get to a rather "high" state so they will be having their first bath on the weekend before they go to the vet for their needles next week. My skinkids object highly to water at ANY time so they usually smell worse than the dogs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becks Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 Good point Ellz I like to get my puppies into the bath a few times while they are still small enough to not put up a fight! It is one of the things I do as part of the puppy socialisation along with getting them used to clippers etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 (edited) Our tibbie girls used to get a weekly hydrobath from neighbour. But I found it stripped their skin too much of oils. Now I only give them a weekly Bottom & Blouse bath. I use a baby bath, fill it with a couple of inches of water...just enough for the tibs to sit in. I dilute a mild shampoo in some water & give their rear end, underbelly, & chest a good wash. With a dampened cotton face-washer, I give the remainder a rub over. Pics of the old days when in the hydrobath (Angel & neghbour tib, Brockie). Edited July 21, 2005 by mita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Divine Angel Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Jasmine gets a half bath when she's been playing in the mud. We say, "Jasmine- bathroom!" and she runs up the hallway and jumps into the tub and sits down with one paw in the air. When that foot is washed she holds up the next one... Yes, she plays in the mud quite often!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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