Dawn, lol. It's my "secret" for dealing with the coat blowing season. For in between I use the nicer smelly stuff, and I really liked the Earthbath products, and Furminator deshed shampoo.
We use baby shampoo (Johnson's brand) for Argos. He's pretty low maintenance, so we just bathe him during spring break up to reduce the dirt/chemicals on his coat, so we generally didn't get anything fancy.
Plus, he smells nice after and it's really gentle so his coat stays soft and a little oily. c:
We have Top Paw Super Sensitive Skin Shampoo (Hypoallergenic, Sulfate Free, Odor Control, Shed Repel) and Top Paw Oatmeal Baking Soda Conditioner (Fresh Breeze Fragrance, Odor Control, Shed Repel).
@jellyfart It was an accident, really. Conker picked up a few fleas from another dog a while ago, and I didn't want to spend a ton on flea meds so I looked up household non-toxic things that might help. Vinegar was a suggestion, so I tried it. No more fleas (there were only like, three) and a nice side effect was a very soft, fresh smelling coat. There is no vinegar smell once it's rinsed and dried. I used about 1/2 cup of vinegar. I don't really measure it out, just dumped some into my hands and rubbed it into the coat, then rinsed it out.
We use Oxy Med Oatmeal & Dr. Harvey's protection shampoo which according to their site, Dr. Harvey's is Safe and Effective Made with Organic Ingredients No Sodium Laurel Sulfate Pleasant Natural Herbal Fragrance No Perfume Cruelty Free Made in the USA
Actually, vinegar is a deodorizer for everything and it kills any soap remaining. It's hard to believe anything that smells like that is a deodorizer but it is when it's dry...good in laundry too.
@BradnJess ChoCho jumped in the super smelly and super dirty duck lake at the park during a late night walk and baby shampoo saved the night! She not only smelled good but was super soft the next day! Thanks for the suggestion!
I find the vinegar really intriguing, i might do that next time. For a dry bath, (when Toki just kinda smells bad but isnt actually dirty and it would be too soon for a bath), I've always given him a brushing with corn starch. It deoderizes him and makes him have less of that doggy feel on your hands after you pet him
He likes to eat it too... maybe not ideal for his weight, but it doesn't effect his poop and it keeps him occupied. ..,.in fact, I think I am going to give him a corn starch bath right now. Tomorrow is Pride Day in our little town and I want him to smell good when we go out to the festival. I am going to enter him in the pet contest; it'll be the highlight of his career
The vinegar idea is very interesting. I'll have to give that a try next time bath time rolls around.
@jellyfart Would you mind clarifying the application of the corn starch? Do you put the corn starch on Toki and then brush it in? Put it on the brush before brushing? I think I would like to try this on my dog because she usually isn't dirty...just a little smelly. In her old age getting in and out of the bath tub is hard (and she freaks out if I pick her up to set her in), and I can't bathe her with the garden hose because then everything becomes The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny and it's odd (but humorous) trying to bathe her while she is battling water.
With the cornstarch, I grab a few handfuls and rub into his fur. Make sure to rub it in to the double coat, then brush out. Some use a pin brush to get the last bits out. I just use a towl to get the last bits out. That's it! Not too elaborate.
@WhoBitMe That's what Conker's first encounter with a puddle was like! Ultimate Showdown to the extreme.
@jellyfart That's interesting! I'll have to try that with my oily dogs. I've read about cornstarch being used for other grooming purposes too but never really gave much thought to it.
I use baby powder and corn starch with the big guy. It works great! The dead coat also just slides right out. That used to be one of the common dog grooming solutions back in the day, and it's still used often at shows.
We use Virbac - Allermyl for allergy flairs, depending on the dog and skin issue. Also Lamber Kay - Oatmeal Baking Soda & Aloe works well (be warned has lots of suds), and more recently Earth Bath - Tea Tree & Aloe.
Frankly I don't notice that much difference between the three products in terms of itching and scratching by my dogs.
However, practically speaking if not going into the show ring, rinsing with water once a day or every several days seems to keep them pretty clean during the week. Their coats look beautiful in general with or without shampoo.
If shampoo is needed, at this point I tend to favor Earth Bath though since it rises out quickly and cleanly. However, if you ask our dogs they would tell you they hate the smell of shampoos in general. They immediately attempt to rub off the scent or seek cologne cover up rolling in the nearest desiccated earth worm after a full bath. Rinsing down with water they tend not to do that as much.
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Dry coat items such as corn starch does work but goes only so far and then at some point really you should bathe the dog to wash out the build up.
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I would like to mention (to those new to bathing dogs) that bath is NOT a bubble bath where you would fill the water into the tub up, like humans do and dunk or soak. That type of method often freaks dogs out once the water level cover paws.
A "bath" should be more of a gentle shower rinse with use of a portable shower head attachment and non slip mat on the bottom of the slippy tub. Even if you use a sink the shower head and a sink mat works well.
Wanted to point this out since I recently saw a you-tube video of someone attempting fill the tub with water and dunk. Poor dog was rather upset due to fear of the water level and at same time being restrained to sit in it.
Comments
Plus, he smells nice after and it's really gentle so his coat stays soft and a little oily. c:
@Losech can you elaborate more on the vinegar? Like, how much water to vinegar, and why vinegar? I've never heard of this and i'm curious
I used about 1/2 cup of vinegar. I don't really measure it out, just dumped some into my hands and rubbed it into the coat, then rinsed it out.
Safe and Effective
Made with Organic Ingredients
No Sodium Laurel Sulfate
Pleasant Natural Herbal Fragrance No Perfume
Cruelty Free
Made in the USA
He likes to eat it too... maybe not ideal for his weight, but it doesn't effect his poop and it keeps him occupied. ..,.in fact, I think I am going to give him a corn starch bath right now. Tomorrow is Pride Day in our little town and I want him to smell good when we go out to the festival. I am going to enter him in the pet contest; it'll be the highlight of his career
@jellyfart Would you mind clarifying the application of the corn starch? Do you put the corn starch on Toki and then brush it in? Put it on the brush before brushing? I think I would like to try this on my dog because she usually isn't dirty...just a little smelly. In her old age getting in and out of the bath tub is hard (and she freaks out if I pick her up to set her in), and I can't bathe her with the garden hose because then everything becomes The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny and it's odd (but humorous) trying to bathe her while she is battling water.
With the cornstarch, I grab a few handfuls and rub into his fur. Make sure to rub it in to the double coat, then brush out. Some use a pin brush to get the last bits out. I just use a towl to get the last bits out. That's it! Not too elaborate.
@jellyfart That's interesting! I'll have to try that with my oily dogs. I've read about cornstarch being used for other grooming purposes too but never really gave much thought to it.
Frankly I don't notice that much difference between the three products in terms of itching and scratching by my dogs.
However, practically speaking if not going into the show ring, rinsing with water once a day or every several days seems to keep them pretty clean during the week. Their coats look beautiful in general with or without shampoo.
If shampoo is needed, at this point I tend to favor Earth Bath though since it rises out quickly and cleanly. However, if you ask our dogs they would tell you they hate the smell of shampoos in general. They immediately attempt to rub off the scent or seek cologne cover up rolling in the nearest desiccated earth worm after a full bath. Rinsing down with water they tend not to do that as much.
_______
Dry coat items such as corn starch does work but goes only so far and then at some point really you should bathe the dog to wash out the build up.
_______
I would like to mention (to those new to bathing dogs) that bath is NOT a bubble bath where you would fill the water into the tub up, like humans do and dunk or soak. That type of method often freaks dogs out once the water level cover paws.
A "bath" should be more of a gentle shower rinse with use of a portable shower head attachment and non slip mat on the bottom of the slippy tub. Even if you use a sink the shower head and a sink mat works well.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=23307
Wanted to point this out since I recently saw a you-tube video of someone attempting fill the tub with water and dunk. Poor dog was rather upset due to fear of the water level and at same time being restrained to sit in it.
Snf
The title of this thread makes me think of Billy Madison lol.