How often do you bathe your dog and which shampoo do you use?

I only bath when anyone has really a muddy undercarriage, then I just rinse the worst of the mud off. When Biscuit was in his terrierist prime he regularly rolled in fox poo, and I would wash the relevant bits with whatever horse shampoo was to hand. The penny did drop after a while and he rolled far less, but not before I had to take him or his jabs stinking of fox poo because we had gone out for a quick wee before getting in the car and had no time for a wash. Fortunately the vet was very understanding, goodness knows what other people waiting thought....
A friend of mine who is on a facebook group for sighthounds told me that tomato sauce is recommended for removing the smell of fox poo.
 
Stiff Knees said:
I've only ever had ours to the groomers once (when the bathroom was being refitted), the groomer did a great job and when they came out they smelled amazing and looked so shiny you could see your face in them, but their facial expression was one of horror, they looked traumatised so I never took them back, that level of attention from strangers was just not their thing, although they probably would have been more settled second time around. 😬
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I haven't bathed a dog in the last 45 years. That must make me dreadful. Not getting at anyone who takes their dog to the groomers but am not sure I see the point. My longcoat GSD gets combed with an undercoat rake every 2 or 3 days, is clean, his coat looks fluffy, there are no tangles and he doesn't smell so I don't see the point in doing more than that. I never bath my horses either. If they come back from a long ride in hot weather I may wash the sweat off but that is it. I never get shampoo out and wash them.
 
paddy555 said:
I haven't bathed a dog in the last 45 years. That must make me dreadful. Not getting at anyone who takes their dog to the groomers but am not sure I see the point. My longcoat GSD gets combed with an undercoat rake every 2 or 3 days, is clean, his coat looks fluffy, there are no tangles and he doesn't smell so I don't see the point in doing more than that. I never bath my horses either. If they come back from a long ride in hot weather I may wash the sweat off but that is it. I never get shampoo out and wash them.
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I think it depends on the dog. My terrier is white and wire haired. She gets into the hay barn regularly so gets very dusty which doesn’t always brush out. About an inch or so from her skin is white but the rest is a grey colour. Son was stroking her the other day while watching tv and his fingers looked like he’d been scratching the horses, not the dog! This dog sleeps on my bed too so it’s going to be bath time shortly.
 
My 2 springers go to the groomers every 3 months, so unless they roll in anything awful I dont bath them in between visits. The terrierist on the other hand loves nothing more than to dawdle behind and drop his shoulder at the first sniff of fox, so Im afraid he is a fairly regular visitor to the bathroom. His morning walk usually finishes more or less as I am getting ready for work so he is often delivered to the bathroom by my husband and I plonk him under the shower just as I am getting out. He does have his own range of shampoo though, he doesnt get to use my nice stuff!!
 
amymay said:
I have Bichon, Paddy. Hence going to the groomers.... 😉

I could do it myself, but she’d end up looking like the collie in the spec savers advert if I did 😀
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Lol, so would P dog, who is an unregistered Shih Tzu. When I got her via rescue, the photos were horrible - her coat was long, matted and in dreadlocks dragging on the ground, she also stunk to high heaven! I've tried to clip in between groomer friend doing her, but she looks a right old mess and patchy to be honest 🙄😳
 
Another who doesn’t bath my dogs. They paddle in the sea most days then wash the salt out by going in a stream on the way back.
Very occasionally they need a bit of them washed if they roll in something but it’s rare. Luckily not much fox poo in this area or mud either. Lucky me!
 
Suzie (the westie) gets bathed fairly regularly, maybe once a month or so. Her skin gets itchy and she often has a dirty bottom, so she needs regular baths.
If she's rolled in something, Juno (the collie) gets a hose down if I'm at the yard, or a flannel wash at the office or home. I've showered her once I think (she's just over a year).
 
Berpisc said:
A friend of mine who is on a facebook group for sighthounds told me that tomato sauce is recommended for removing the smell of fox poo.
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In all honesty it just makes them smell of tomatoes as well, and you can smell the fox poo! Plus it used to turn the small white greyhound (the only one who rolled in it regularly) a lovely shade of orange 😂
 
Last dog was a show type cocker who had the most ridiculous coat I've ever come across and was bathed and clipped monthly to keep on top of it, plus extra baths if she'd rolled in anything stinky. Neither of us enjoyed it but needs must. New dog is a labrador and rolled in something nasty looking for the first time last week leaving a great black streak the length of his shoulder. By the time we'd got home the only bit left was under his collar and that came off with a damp wipe leaving no smell behind. It was a revelation!
 
The sibes rarely, their last bath was May 2018 (I remember because I took a picture of them looking grumpy and damp in the garden!) and I've no plans to do them any time soon. They're too old and sensible to roll in smelly things now and have non-greasy coats. Lots of brushing instead.

Little dog has a bath and blast before a big show, which is about once a month at present as he's too young to do anything else fun with yet and I am filling my time. :p I use a squidge each of volumising shampoo and a 'back to black' type, neither of which will soften the coat.
 
I don’t- he gets hosed off if he’s dirty and has a towel coat to dry off in if it’s cold. He loves being dried with a towel at the end of a walk...! I hand strip his rogue fluffy bits a bit at a time whenever I’m fussing him and chop off any knots and the fluff between his toes when I remember.
 
I seem to be doing it once a week at the moment. He is obsessed with rolling in poo and hosing him off is not enough to get rid of the smell. We use an Oatmeal one which smells lovely.

He had a bath on Saturday, dog walker has just text to say he is caked in poop so he will have a bath later too.

He actually really enjoys a bath and stands there with a very content look on his face.
 
Ted goes to the groomers every 10 weeks or so for hair clip/bath and only bather in between if he's rolled in some variety of poop! No idea what shampoo is, think one I picked up in tk maxx one time!
 
I have a Boston Terrier who loves a shower! He knows if he gets a bit wet or muddy on a walk he’ll get a warm shower and will often take himself upstairs and get in the shower if bathroom door is open! He will also do this if you say “bath time”!

I use Earthbath Aloe and Oatmeal which keeps his skin soft as he can be prone to dermatological and itchy reactions and this seems to keep them all at bay. Use on the horse as well

Fortunately he has a ridiculously short coat, not sure I could cope with lots of hair!
 
I've always got my BTs used to being bathed in the sink but only bath them if they have rolled in something smelly, usually fox poo. In warm weather Stan gets hosed down and then dried off with a towel, when it's cold he gets done in the sink in warm water. He's fine about it either way and I just use any shampoo that's hanging about in the stables. It's a bit worrying really but I used to find the smell of fox poo really vile but as I get older I find it bothers me less!
 
Levrier said:
In all honesty it just makes them smell of tomatoes as well, and you can smell the fox poo! Plus it used to turn the small white greyhound (the only one who rolled in it regularly) a lovely shade of orange 😂
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Oh dear, not a good result! I have to say I didn't fancy the idea much but at present don't have a dog interested in rolling in fox poo. I will stick to shampoo if necessary :)
 
Very rarely. They go in the shower most days for the mud to be rinsed off in winter but next to never use shampoo. Maybe give a shampoo wash once or twice a year.
 
My poodle has a bath once a week or once a fortnight. Helps keep his coat clean and easier to brush him. He gets muddy and dusty and best way to keep him clean. I also wash all his bedding at the same time. I just wash, conditioner, then let him dry naturally, dries indoors in winter - always hot in our house!
 
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