dog shampoo/conditioner

gettingready

May need to give Zara a bath at home bofere the vet trip on Monday for her op.

Have not done it at home in ages (was taking her to groomers) so..

What would be a decent shampoo/conditioner that I can get in Tesco/LIDL/Sainsburys?

I really have no time to go anywhere else or order online.

I only see Bob Martin (would never use THAT on any of my pets) when looking at Tesco online.

Can someone reccomend something?

I really can only get to Tesco or LIDL or possibly Sainburys....

Thanks a lot

EDIT - Long haired German Shepherd

UnluckyT

a lady that used to clip my poodle and the parents to her used to use to use a human shampoo from the co op to wash them with as the dog ones irritated her skin.
it was just a normal reasonal priced one, smelt similar to the dry hair jojoba sort. if not maybe baby shampoo? or something specially for longer hair or conditioning for the long fur to help when brushing as id imagin it can get tangled and knotted.
i think thats all we used to use when i small if we ran out of propriety stuff on the cats and dogs.
hope it helps.

fannyadams

always washed all my dogs in value baby shampoo
dont' use conditioner but don't have long haired dog.
have fun washing her in the bath! we do ours outside but only cuz they're not allowed upstairs EVER!

gettingready

ok thanks for that - anyone else can tell me it is ok to use human shampoo just this once?

Wellyboots6

I used baby shampoo on Tyson and he smelt lovely and didn't itch like I thought he might.

krlyr

Supposedly the pH level of a dog's skin is quite different to ours so human shampoo is generally not recommended. Doesn't seem like Tesco/Sainsbury offer much selection online in terms of dog shampoo though.

con1888

Vet told me baby shampoo is fine as a one off, if using it regularly can dry out the skin as different ph but once wont hurt.

I have a dog shampoo I use but they told me this anyways when I mentioned my old dog rubbing in fox poo. Baby shampoo and tomato sauce.

Frugalista

I have a large longhaired breed (with a double coat similar to a longhaired GSD) and have used baby shampoo in an emergency.

My dogs are always bathed inside and we manage it with minimum mess. Firstly, make sure you have plenty of rubber mats in the bath to prevent slipping. I have used rubber car mats in the past (99p shop).

Don't pour the shampoo directly onto the dog as you will just end up with patches with a lot of residue which is difficult to rinse out. I dilute a good quantity with warm water in a large plastic jug and apply it using an old shower "puff" (one of those bundles of plastic net things). Don't forget to do the chest and inside the back legs, etc.

I don't put the plug in the bath as the dogs don't like standing in the water, but I do use a watering can or bucket to put the shower head in whilst I am lathering up the dog.

You will need to shampoo Zara twice as the first shampoo will barely get through the coat and you need to make sure you are right down to the skin. Also, unless you have a power shower, you need to rinse for at least 10 minutes both times!! I find a couple of watering cans/ buckets gently poured over them for the final rinse works really well.

I would also recommend using a conditioner on her tail, knickers and the back of her front legs as it will help with the grooming. Value conditioner is fine - just make sure it is well rinsed out.

A word of warning - DO NOT WET HER HEAD AS SHE WILL SHAKE LIKE CRAZY!! I usually shampoo up to the top of the neck and wash their head later if it really needs it. Mine know they are not allowed to shake until I say so - but if Zara starts you may be able to stop her by holding onto her withers and back. I usually let mine shake in the bath (pull the shower curtain across first to contain the worst of it), towel them, let them shake again and towel for the second time, before letting them out. If you can get her outside pretty quickly, she could have a good old shake and a walk around before you bring her back in.

I have a professional blaster nowadays - but in the early days of showing our dogs we used an ordinary hairdryer. Using a good quality bristle brush, groom from the skin out, using the hairdryer to blow the coat in circles whilst you brush.

If you can get her to lie down (on yet more dry towels) whilst you brush, she may well go to sleep. If not, give her plenty of breaks if she gets bored as it will take a good 2-3 hours to get her completely dry!!

I'm assuming that you will have someone to help you with her? I can do most of mine on my own - but OH has to help with a few of them.

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask if you need more info .

gettingready

Thanks a lot everyone - especially Frugalista....for all the details.

Will be by myself, never done it by myself alone so....

Last time Zara was bathed indoors, it was 3 of us.

Hmmm


Will report after the "event"

Frugalista

gettingready wrote: »

Thanks a lot everyone - especially Frugalista....for all the details.

Will be by myself, never done it by myself alone so....

Last time Zara was bathed indoors, it was 3 of us.

Hmmm

Will report after the "event"

Will she stay in the bath without trying to jump out?

Will she turn around for you to do the other side properly?

Can you lift her out on your own and keep hold of her to stop her running around the place shaking water everywhere?

If the answer is Yes to all of these - then go for it :T

If the answer is No to any of these - then you really need someone to help you.

Trust me on this - I've got the T-shirt .

Good luck :rotfl::rotfl:

hethmar

Take it thats a "wet T-shirt"