Shampoo?

[MauserMama]

Can anyone suggest a shampoo you're having luck with?

Thanks!

[LyonsFamily]

What are you trying to treat? Is it just a smell, itchy skin, or just looking for an overall shampoo for monthly maintenance? I'm a dog groomer, so there's a whole bunch I could suggest, but I'd like to know the specific need so I don't write 2 pages.

[Manstrom]

I've used mane and tail for years. For my pets and myself (mainly in my pre military long haired days haha).

[LyonsFamily]

I've used mane and tail for years. For my pets and myself (mainly in my pre military long haired days haha).

I use the mane and tail conditioner and their spray on Odin to help with his dry skin and it works really well. Whatever shampoo you use, make sure you dilute it down for a dog. Even the store bought shampoo that doesn't have dilution instructions rinses much easier when it's at least 50/50 with water. Some you can go up to 1/32. I keep the mane and tail conditioner at a 1/15 dilution. One small bottle will last an entire year of 6 or more baths. I get a ton of clients in with itchy skin and white powder in their fur. That's a direct result of a dog that was bathed and not properly rinsed out.

[Dutchringgirl]

deer poop, works great every time

[Sugars Mom]

deer poop, works great every time

[MauserMama]

What are you trying to treat? Is it just a smell, itchy skin, or just looking for an overall shampoo for monthly maintenance? I'm a dog groomer, so there's a whole bunch I could suggest, but I'd like to know the specific need so I don't write 2 pages.

Just an overall shampoo. Also, should I bath him monthly? I've read so many different things online but would love to hear your suggestions. I'd like to really work on his coats shine. I've just gotten some Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil and it says to be given daily. Also, I have him on a premium food that consists mostly of salmon and brown rice. I've read these things are also necessary for a healthy shiny coat. your thoughts?

Thank you so much!!!

[MauserMama]

I've used mane and tail for years. For my pets and myself (mainly in my pre military long haired days haha).

I've used mane and tail on myself before too. I also use it on my horse Thunder. He and Mauser haven't met yet. Thunder's back home in Texas. But yes, mane and tail is great!

[MauserMama]

Deer poop will have to hold of until I'm back in Texas. haha
Thanks for your input though!

[Dutchringgirl]

HAHA. I dont bath mine but once or twice a year, depending on how much poop Thalie rolls in. I have a shampoo laying around that works just fine. For their coats I give them Coconut oil, it does a great job at keeping them soft. Thalie has always had a shine but her fur was not very soft until I started with the coconut oil. I dont think it would matter much if they dont have a skin condition, some people like to bath them often and some not alot.

[LyonsFamily]

What are you trying to treat? Is it just a smell, itchy skin, or just looking for an overall shampoo for monthly maintenance? I'm a dog groomer, so there's a whole bunch I could suggest, but I'd like to know the specific need so I don't write 2 pages.

Just an overall shampoo. Also, should I bath him monthly? I've read so many different things online but would love to hear your suggestions. I'd like to really work on his coats shine. I've just gotten some Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil and it says to be given daily. Also, I have him on a premium food that consists mostly of salmon and brown rice. I've read these things are also necessary for a healthy shiny coat. your thoughts?

Thank you so much!!!

You don't have to bathe him monthly. I was just going to suggest a more mild shampoo if you wanted to. Odin gets bathed probably every 2 months, but it's not on a schedule, just usually when my husband says he smells and can't sleep on the bed anymore or when he goes swimming/jumping in a chlorine pool.

I typically use Espree Baking Soda and oatmeal shampoo for just regular maintenance. I like to stick to oatmeal shampoos because Odin has dry skin and scratches himself when he gets anxious. There is a decent one at Walmart called Oster Naturals. They have a few scents. Just stay away from anything Hartz; their quality ingredients are awful. The mane and tail stuff is great too if the skin isn't looking too dry. Like I said before, I use their conditioner and spray. All shampoo should be diluted some. I use an empty human shampoo bottle for mixing. You can mix anywhere from 1:1 to 1:32. I use 1:15 for regular shampoos, but pretty much just guess at the consistency. You don't need it to be really sudsy, just enough foam to work down to the skin and scrub.

Salmon oil is a good idea. I use human grade fish oil because it's cheaper and I don't like the idea of feeding something to my dog that's labelled "not for human consumption." I try to stay away from fish oil that contains "mixed tocopherols" or "vitamin E as a preservative" as well. because 95% of the time, it's soy derived.

For extra shininess, get a boar bristle brush. One with real bristles, not synthetic.They redistribute the oils on the skin and make the coat look awesome. You can get human ones for a lot cheaper than the dog ones and they usually work better. Sally Beauty supply has them for under $10. They were 2 for $3 at my local one today. Any beauty supply will carry them though, and you can order online. These are the 2 on sale right now:
http://www.sallybeauty.com/boar-bristle ... _vc=SEARCH
http://www.sallybeauty.com/boar-bristle ... _vc=SEARCH

I have the second one and really like it.

A rubber zoom groom brush will help remove loose fur and can also be used for massaging in the shampoo during a bath. I typically bathe, then after the dog is dry zoom groom for 10 minutes followed by 5 or 10 minutes of the boar bristle brush. I brush daily with the bristle brush, mainly because Odin loves the attention and we're working on the CGC which requires a stranger to brush him, but also because the shine is nice. These are the only two brushes I use, I'm not a big fan of shedding blades or furminators on shepherds because it cuts a lot of hair, not just undercoat.

[Manstrom]

deer poop, works great every time

Hmm, I am into organic and natural so I'll have to check that out haha...
Haven't seem many deer in my area but plenty of gators, hence the reason Harvey doesn't get the water time he wants

As for washing he only gets it when he needs it. That's typically when he decides to pee and roll in it
Elsewise I just give him a spritz of doggy deodorant when I give him his daily brushing.

[Olie]

I use some mild puppy shampoo and I wash Olaf rarely. He has been with me for 9 moths and I gave him a bath only 2 times. Between those I brush him regulary and rinse with apple cider vinegar when he gets a bit smelly.

[Marjolein]

Sorry, can't help, I do not have a lot pf luck with doggy shampoo at all

[johninny]

ooooo, apple cider vinegar rinse sounds like an interesting idea for a general refresh.
i agree with others: baths only when filth or smell require it - when my hands or his resting places get sooty or oily from contact. tho diet is even more important, fewer baths help keep the coat in utmost condition to protect against natural elements and pests. i have always fed some flax seed oil or olive oil every day. as for shampoo, i like all natural ones - no chems - and tend toward oatmeal based ones. most of the time, it is essential for me to use non-soap natural shampoos, because i bath him in the bay, where he can have his whole body submerged and thoroughly rinsed of the shampoo. then rinse again with fresh water with a hand-held gentle but big-flow nozzle. so most winters are without ANY bath - and just about the time he is starting to get grimy, the water turns warm enough for me to venture in with him up to my thighs. to him it is just a slightly different version of the all-in ''water massage'' that he gets almost everyday during the warmer seasons. also agree that getting the rinse done thoroughly may be more important than anything else. difficult for one person to do without a body of water - or a deep soaking tub which would be a real hairy mess! concern over the rinse is why you need to look at the ingredients to see if there is one tiny bit of anything in the shampoo that would not be helpful if some remained behind on the dog after the rinse - thus a preference for shampoos with natural oils, herbs, oatmeal, cedar,etc. also, i have noticed in recent years a fascination with things like tea tree oil as a shampoo ingredient. i use it myself for shampoo, but tea tree oil is toxic when ingested and we have to assume that whatever we wash our dogs with, some small amount of it will remain in the coat and get ingested by the dog. so even all-natural needs to be safe for ingestion; have to make sure that shampoos do not have a heavy load of toxic natural stuff that will linger; it's all in the fine print.
i claim no particular expertise or broad experience with dog shampoos, but because it is a dog and because the bath is often outside and even IN a natural body of water, a shampoo that i use will have NO phosphates. right now, i am without an oatmeal shampoo and i do not remember the brand by name - only visually in the store. the others i use are nature's dog by canus goat's milk with cedarwood oil [ not used in open water]; espree cedar shampoo [ especially during insect season] which has coconut, jojoba, and aloe vera; and earthbath 'mediterranean magic' which has rosemary to deter insects and prevent infections and is the most sea-life friendly, so it and the oatmeal are preferred for bay bathing. also very occasionally use efa HyLyt creme rise packed with fatty acids - seems unobtrusive and supposedly hypoallergenic but with a convincing creamy consistency to it. what do i know?! please if someone out there knows i am doing something wrong, please tell me, but the above [ WITH A GREAT AND DIVERSE DIET ] really seemed to do the trick by any measure - beauty, feel, skin and coat health [not one problem in over 12 years of one dog] and resistance to insect pests.

[Schlussdibusti]

I use Solid Gold Herbal Pet Shampoo
http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/products ... &code=5460

The frequency depends on environment. A dog living in New York City would need more frequently a bath than a dog living in a rural area (assuming the deer poop rolling is not normal occurrence).

[MauserMama]

Thank you so much Johninny!

[MauserMama]

Also, thank you Schlussdibusti!

[johninny]

you are welcome. it just occurred to me that - other than water massages [ without soap] in the bay in the warmer months, my main way of cleaning the dogs is to towel them off thoroughly with a towel [ i keep a hamper of clean dog towels, etc ] whenever they come in wet from rain. barring some smelly catastrophe, it is surprising how clean they will stay just doing that with care and consistency. makes for really nice coats and it is SOOOO much easier than soap in the tub or the yard. the dogs actually compete for the first and longest towel-dry session when they come in wet.. [ they ''get'' it after 1 or 2 toweling sessions and then adore the process and expect it like a treat.] in the end, i usually give a bath one or 2 times a year - preferably the beginning [ if needed, otherwise, daily water massages will do it] and end of warm season. as i am outrageously allergic to dogs, very clean coats are important to me; so this is not some lazy compromise. it serves me as well as regular baths and better for the dog. works until there is non-summertime drought.
the 2 pups i have had for 9 weeks and no bath yet and they are very clean from the rains. before a recent rainy week, i was thinking, ''oh no, i'm just going to have to get each into a bath tub and go through hell.'' but then the rains came and i got a reprieve! i imagine that strategy might work well in WA unless you are east of some high mountains.

[Sugars Mom]

I too mainly do the towel drying, and I find Sugar rarely needs an actual bath. It does rain here quite a bit in the winter, so lots of towel drying here!!