dog shampoo/conditioner

Frugalista

hethmar wrote: »

Take it thats a "wet T-shirt"

Absolutely! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

chris_n_tj

Frugalista wrote: »

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 .

Frugalista this is by far the best post I have read on washing a furkid. Precise and to the point, warts and all.
This is why we use a groomer

In fact it should be a sticky. xx

gettingready

chris_n_tj wrote: »

Frugalista this is by far the best post I have read on washing a furkid. Precise and to the point, warts and all.
This is why we use a groomer

In fact it should be a sticky. xx

Absolutely.... Re-reading it again - I doubt I will even try to wash my 40kg of a long haired, doble coated GS in a small bathroom with glass screen and tottaly crap shower.

Got dog wet wipes in a 99p store for the time being.....and will be off to groomers as soon as she is fit for that after her op...

Last time I gave her a bath at home was about 2 years ago (maybe 3?) and it was 3 of us.

Now I remember why .. week worts of cleaning after etc etc and the result was nowhere near as good as at the groomers.

chris_n_tj

My friend uses these and speaks highly of them. x

http://www.dialadogwash.com/

gettingready

Thanks but use the same groomer for yeaars....

krlyr

To be honest I would have saved the 99p and gone with a damp flannel/handtowel to wipe her down! Does my two find for when they're only mildly dirty.

gettingready

Actually £1.98.. bought 2 packets...

Frugalista

chris_n_tj wrote: »

Frugalista this is by far the best post I have read on washing a furkid. Precise and to the point, warts and all.
This is why we use a groomer

In fact it should be a sticky. xx

Why, thank you ... :o:o. I felt I hadn't gone into enough detail!

gettingready wrote: »

Absolutely.... Re-reading it again - I doubt I will even try to wash my 40kg of a long haired, doble coated GS in a small bathroom with glass screen and tottaly crap shower..

We also have long haired, double coated dogs. Admittedly, they are maximum 28kg (the big boys) but I don't think that makes a lot of difference.

Our bathroom is tiny - my butt is virtually sticking out of the door whilst I'm leaning over the dog in the bath and our shower is gravity fed (barely more than a trickle ) - so we are hardly working with state of the art equipment here either.

I guess the difference here is that we are grooming our dogs for the show ring and no groomer can present them to the high (personal) standard we set for ourselves - and we don't have the disposable cash to pay for something we can do ourselves anyway.

OH and I are self taught and are very proud of our reputation for immaculate presentation of our dogs. In fact, OH is much better at it than me .

Someone once said to me "Lot's of people groom their dogs just because they have to if they want to win, whereas Mr Frugalista grooms his dogs because he loves them - and it shows."

Apologies for the "trumpet blowing" :o:o:o

gettingready

Frugalista - thanks, you connvinced me.. all I need now is your post code and door number. Will drop Zara off after work thins evening, thanks again..

lostinrates

Getting ready, mine don't have big coats, but with one in plaster AGAIN, I tend not to worry about how clean they are (beyond normal acceptability, (no filfthy bits, clean face, ears, eyes, under tail and 'bits') but I do find mine appreciates a 'bed bath' the day after coming home from the vets, when she cannot have a normal bath, Just freshening her up with a facecloth and even some dry dog shampoo seems to get 'the smell of vets' out of her nose and perk her up.

We have one to bath at the weekend, but she is heavier than dh, and definitely takes both of us to do! She used to love the shower at our last house but she is not keen on a bath.