Wanted to ask a quick question, might be a stupid one... Is it good for Kiba 1 year old to be swimming almost daily? I normally just hose him down after but as most labs sometimes he gets himself very dirty, how often should I be applying shampoo?
I only use shampoo if Obi has rolled in something gross, or has got too doggy smelling and we're about to visit the family, or if he's itchy and needs to rinse off what's causing the itch (which is pollen exposure). That all works out to very few shampoos actually.... We shampooed him about a week ago and I actually think that might've been the first time in a year! Obi swims (in a freshwater lake) several times a week. So I wouldn't worry about shampooing Kibs. A hose down and towel off will be plenty.
Swimming is great I never use shampoo on my dogs, just plain water. Shampoo strips their natural oils and you end up with a smelly dog with dry skin. .
I only spot shampoo Charlie if he has folled in Fox poo, other than that he has NEVER had a bath whether he has been in the sea or not, he is 6 1/2 years old and has a great coat, no dry skin x
Ours almost never get a bath with shampoo, unless they have been in something that won't rinse out. After swimming they just get toweled off. I try to get them into fresh water if they have been in the Ocean, which is pretty easy to do in Oregon. They always look like they have been bathed, but they haven't.
We had a hot tap fitted outside too. Pretty handy. We wash with shampoo if there is a rolling incident. She won't get onto our bed if she stinks! Not particular about hosing after being in the sea, just if she rolls in dead fish. We encourage retrieves in deep seawater if she has had a roll though, usually does the trick.
Hi Meg is 3....she swims couple of times a week..she digs daily....she has never had a shampoo...I just make sure she's had a good dunk at the end of her walk. You can't beat Yorkshire water to keep her coat tip top
We just spot shampoo here too, Benson has had one bath...in 3.5 years. Bramble and Casper never. They are just hosed after a muddy water hole session. I do like the idea of having a hot tap outside though..
Another vote for spot-cleaning (remember the trauma of bathing Belle who hated it). Coco has never had a bath. Well he was bathed by the MSPCA on the day we picked him up - he smelled tarty! I sometimes hose him down after swimming in the sea, he LOVES the hose game. I think that's why he's a bit whiney this morning - he's had a frolick in the sea and I haven't hosed him - he didn't swim as the tide was out making it too shallow, he just bounced & fetched.
We don't shampoo either. Wife was complaining about the river making him stink but we discovered through another lab owners discovery that Milk Bone brand treats made him smell. We cut them out, as did they, and then i snuck him a few as an experiment and the wife started complaining again. Anyone else notice this ?
Same, shampoo only for smelly stuff (here, skunkings require a full dousing with skunk enzyme shampoo/remover and/or peroxide and dish soap which is harsher), plain warm water in the tub for mud and nonstinky dirt, cold hose or preferably freshwater swim in the warmer months if possible (live near a glacial lake).
Nothing like a dip in the Thames to build up a healthy immune system! H's coat is so soft and fresh after his Alpine swims and Lake Annecy in France. He only gets a bath if more than three different friends complain that he smells on three different days within a week. I've just made up that rule but think I'll stick to it.
