How often should I wash my dog (and with what)?

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Brenden_E

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Now this is something I had to learn the hard way.
The answer; as little as possible. When you wash your dog with those doggy shampoos it strips away all the natural oils from their hair. This can often lead to matting if you don't continually brush them to replenish the oil.

If your dog smells, instead use baby powder and comb it through their hair to make them smell like a rose.
Also, I have found that "No more tears" baby shampoo works better than dog shampoos and it doesn't irritate their skin. It is very often cheaper too! You can get a 6 pack at makro for a few hundred rand where doggy shampoos often cost this much for 1 bottle.

Any other dog questions? Ask away!
 
Brenden_E said:
Now this is something I had to learn the hard way.
The answer; as little as possible. When you wash your dog with those doggy shampoos it strips away all the natural oils from their hair. This can often lead to matting if you don't continually brush them to replenish the oil.
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+1!!!!!

I was told this by a client, and at first thought he was BS'ing me. Then I realised that he was indeed correct, and yeah, it does work :)
 
I don't know...

Landlords at my place probably never wash their dogs, and while they're the sweetest animals... they pong :/
 
Jakesan said:
Can you recommend something for ticks? for both puppies and big dogs
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The best thing is frontline. You put that on and ticks and fleas fall right off. It uses the dogs natural oils to spread, so you can't put it on for 2 or 3 days after washing your dog. But it's effective for weeks if not months. Ours never ever have fleas or ticks and we put it on maybe once every 2 months.

You can get it at most pet & vetshops.

If your dog loves to swim, then you can't use it. You can ask your vet for the water safe version (I forgot the name).
 
mr_norris said:
I don't know...

Landlords at my place probably never wash their dogs, and while they're the sweetest animals... they pong :/
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Comb them through with baby powder and they should be fine. But it does happen every now and again that you have to wash them. For instance ours took a swim in some rotten water that smelled like sewage. No amount of baby powder will mask that, you'll then have to wash him.

The general rule is to keep washing to a minimum and only when really needed. For instance washing your dog once every week is terrible for his coat.

Edit: Interestingly this also applies to humans. Don't wash your hair every day! I used to and my hair was so dry. Instead rinse it with water and wash maybe once a week. Doesn't smell, and you don't get "grass" hair. The shampoo companies make you believe you need to, so they can sell more of their product.
 
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Brenden_E said:
Edit: Interestingly this also applies to humans. Don't wash your hair every day! I used to and my hair was so dry. Instead rinse it with water and wash maybe once a week. Doesn't smell, and you don't get "grass" hair. The shampoo companies make you believe you need to, so they can sell more of their product.
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I've solved the hair washing problem.

I have no hair :D On my head that is...
 
I also realised this years ago. I never bath my dogs. Two of them were rescues and I bathed them as puppies when I first got them but thereafter never.

They are all big dogs and people are always commenting on how good their coats look, especially the Rottweilers. They cannot believe I never bath them. I only brush them from time to time being all short haired breeds but when I had a Sheperd I had to brush more frequently.

I do not have a flea problem (cannot find fleas on my dogs) and have the occasional tick (im on a farm after all). Everyone else I know seems to have a constant problem with fleas and skin conditions and smells- all sorts. Of course they are always bathing their dogs and trying a new shampoo and a new flea treatment or some new product.

Me? I just shake my head......
 
Freshy-ZN said:
I also realised this years ago. I never bath my dogs. Two of them were rescues and I bathed them as puppies when I first got them but thereafter never.

They are all big dogs and people are always commenting on how good their coats look, especially the Rottweilers. They cannot believe I never bath them. I only brush them from time to time being all short haired breeds but when I had a Sheperd I had to brush more frequently.

I do not have a flea problem (cannot find fleas on my dogs) and have the occasional tick (im on a farm after all). Everyone else I know seems to have a constant problem with fleas and skin conditions and smells- all sorts. Of course they are always bathing their dogs and trying a new shampoo and a new flea treatment or some new product.

Me? I just shake my head......
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With Frontline the ticks don't seem to latch on at all (even in tick infested bush). I don't know what exactly it does, but it works. Those flea and tick shampoos kill the little buggers, but doesn't stop new passengers from boarding.
 
The OP's advice may be fit for your normal pet dog, but it is quite a different story with show dogs in how often you bath then and with what. Dogs with long coats should be bathed and conditioned once a week.
 
We normally wash them once a month with Doc Martins Tea Tree. They like it and it keeps their skin healthy.

Most memorable wash ever was when they got out and tackled a skunk. You could smell them from 10m.
Took two washes with tomato juice to sort that out. Ever try and wash a smelly dog with tomato juice? Messy.
Halfway though the one broke free and ran off. Picture a shouting man, covered in some reddish liquid, chasing a dog that is also dripping with it.
 
I got this crazy Jack Russell that loves playing in the shower. She's probably the cleanest dog in town (till she goes outside)
We try not to get soap and shampoo on her. It's easier than keeping her out of the shower and her coat seems fine.
She even has her own towel and will wait in the shower until she's been dried off before she will exit the shower.

I have to check her daily for ticks since she sleeps on the bed with us. Her coat seems fine. No fleas either.
 
Tux said:
I got this crazy Jack Russell that loves playing in the shower. She's probably the cleanest dog in town (till she goes outside)
We try not to get soap and shampoo on her. It's easier than keeping her out of the shower and her coat seems fine.
She even has her own towel and will wait in the shower until she's been dried off before she will exit the shower.

I have to check her daily for ticks since she sleeps on the bed with us. Her coat seems fine. No fleas either.
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My little sausage dog loves getting into the shower with me which makes washing her a breeze but I have to convince her almost daily that its not showertime yet ..
 
evilstebunny said:
My little sausage dog loves getting into the shower with me which makes washing her a breeze but I have to convince her almost daily that its not showertime yet ..
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A little ot, but my cat sits and waits outside my shower when I'm in there, and when I get out she goes inside, wet and all. Used to bathe her once every 2 weeks since I got her at 8 weeks so she isn't too annoyed being wet. Her coat is silky and the last time I bathed her was mid December...
 
Anybody telling me its bad for my dog to shower with me every day should take it up with her.

Jack Russells with ideas in their little skulls are more dangerous than wimmen :D
 
My dog has long hair that gets so tangled its impossible to comb out and she gets very angry if you try and cut out the knots... Not sure what to do :(
She doesn't mind bathing, its just the combing that's an issue.
 
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