Top 10 RR Bathing Tips

[Keeper]

Top 10 RR Bathing Tips
Generally the RR doesn’t roll in mud and abhors wet grass…and detests bath time, here’s a few tips to get through it. Depending on the season, your dog’s activities and activity level, and many other factors — the amount of bathing your dog requires is very individual.
Your sensitivity to smell and the amount of hair that sticks to your new black sweater is a good indication of how often (s)he needs a good grooming and bathing, but if not, consult your vet. Put these ten tips to good use, and make his baths more joyful and less frustrating for both of you.
Top 10 Dog Bathing Tips
1. Groom meticulously before the bath to loosen dead hair, dirt and flakes.  This is also a good time to check his ears, feet and body for scrapes, cuts, fleas, ticks.
2. Place a drain screen over the drain so that hair doesn't clog your pipes.
3. Put down a rubber mat to prevent slipping.  Or a bath towel can also help.
4. Check the water's temperature to make sure it's not too hot or cold.
5. Clean the ears before the bath…when they shake in the tub it is better than your oyster carpet or opalescent designer wall paper.  Put a drop of vinegar in each ear and follow with cotton balls in each of your dog’s ears so that water doesn’t get into them. (But don’t forget to take them out after!)
6. Close the bathroom door so he has no escape route if he's prone to quick getaways! Have a pocket full of dog treats to lure the RR into the shower or tub.
7. Use proper dog shampoo, preferably shampoo that suits his skin, and any special conditions he may have. Itches?  Oatmeal can be used as a gently scrub after the soap and before the long rinse.
8. Make sure to rinse thoroughly.
9. If your dog skin is dry you can apply a conditioner made for that.  Leave on recommended time and rinse again.
10. Dry him out very well so he doesn’t shrink  (aahahaha!)  Actually a towel or damp chamois cloth is a great way to dry the coat.  I keep the towel around the dog until they are outside…then they shake and run circles like a race horse!  Couple laps around the yard and they are almost dry.  Ahh!  The sweet benefits of a wash and wear hound.

[Rosebud]

How wonderful.

This is just perfect as I gave all five of the fur-babies baths this past Sunday.

Of course the 3-musketeers and their sidekick Honey bunches the cow-dog were not at all to thrilled to be bathed outside with of all things the water-hose while little hair-less Sandy got a nice warm shower.

But they were quite content when they were given their nice new knee bones to chew on while they layed on their soft beds outside in the shade to dry.




Michelle

[Keeper]

We moved into a home originally built by a heart specialist whose most wonderful possessions were his wine cellar, and his 2 Golden Retrievers.  The reason I mention this is of the two extremes he went to with both. 

Many expensive cases of wine in a mouldy, dusty, musty cellar full of spiders!  But the best temperature devices inside and a washing station and small kitchen replete with cut crystal wine glasses just beyond the rubber sealed wine cellar doors.
Expensive showdogs meticulously groomed with outside hot and cold running water shower...but the dogs slept in an unheated barn, the run filled with loose hay, cedar chips and a huge slimy bucket of water. 

I refuse to use the disgusting run he had for his dogs...but the hot and cold water shower at the back of the house have cleaned mud off more than one dog in the years since we've been here. 

If you are building a new house, put in the freeze proof faucets and a Y-connector, add a moderate priced hand-held shower and voila!  Doggie Spa!      You may also want to add concrete splash pad, patio blocks, or a cedar deck to keep the water from making another mud pit of the shower area.

[melissap]

 

Cool - Lord knows that you need lots of wine to deal with the ever "Ball obsessed" retrievers in the house

The hot running water must be a God send! I must confess, bathing is Greg's job, while I take on the responsibility of cleaning the bathroom after the bathing has taken place!

Melisssa

[Keeper]

so does that mean I can drop 5 dogs off this weekend?  What time is the conveyer belt turned on??   

[melissap]

 

Sure Sandy ~ Greg is right next to me and he is giving me a thumbs up on washing all of your dogs too

He can take it on ~ hahahaha the bathroom my not survive!
but hey it needs to be remodeled any way!

[ShellyK]

Bathing Tip #11 

Since Kodi was a pup, I've made the bathtub a place where he gets treats. 

I get the 'Pupcorn' treats (I know, not the healthiest treat in the world, but I figure I eat cheetos and survive, so a couple pupcorns now and again are okay for my dogs...) and ask Kodi to get in the tub.  He gets in, I give him a treat.  Sometimes when he's outside, I'll throw some treats in the tub.  It's gotten where he'll just hop in there occasionally, looking for treats.  REALLY helps when it comes to bathing time.  He hates the baths, but loves the treats more.  I say get in, he gets in, has a treat, then has a bath (with a couple treats during and after.)

Note: this is the bath tub in my guest bathroom, not the one I use every day.  And I do scrub it before any guests come over.   

~Shelly

[jmass03]

how often do you guys bathe your dogs? roman begins to smell funky after two weeks or so but im afraid that if i bathe him too often it'll be asking for skin problems. ive been bathing him with johnsons baby bath since hes still a young pup. my last dog i used to bathe him with this stuff from the vet, it was a mild pet shampoo that smelled nice and minty, it was made specifically for dogs with skin problems.

[Rosebud]

I bathe the dogs 3-5 times a year.

Everyone gets a bath right after Sally goes out of heat. The dog blankets and bed linens go to the laundramat to be cleaned in the huge commercial cleaners.

The also get a bath after every trip to the lake during the summer.

[caro]

I bathe as little as possible.  My show dogs get bathed right before a show, but not if they are showing every weekend.  The rest of the family get bathed only when they have found something particularly nasty to roll in or if they have a skin problem.  I use an oatmeal shampoo usually or sometimes a medicated shampoo.  I think bathing too often removes a lot of the natural oils in the dog's coat and you end up with a dog with dry, itchy skin.  I have used on occasion doggy wipes that you can get from the pet store.  They work really well for a quick once over if you don't have time to actually put the dog in the tub and they remove surface dirt without getting the dog wet.  But they are just for emergencies. 

Caroline

[Rosebud]

I have used on occasion doggy wipes that you can get from the pet store. 

Caroline

I use them when the dogs start to get stinky and I don't foresee being able to bath them in the near future.

They also work great for those times when they roll in stinky immediately after they've been bathed instead of having to put them back in the tub.

I don't use them for their feet since you would have to use so many of them, instead I just use old bath towels.

If you don't want to buy doggy wipes then you can use old wash rags or cotton shop towels (from Sam's or Costco) and wet them with diluted lemon juice or vinegar and wipe them down between baths.

[RRBoy's Mom]

In Southern Connecticut, a dog daycare/grooming faciity just opened and they have a self-serve dog wash area.  I love it!  For a low price ($10 I think), they provide large tub with ramp, towels, apron, scrubbing brush, air dryer and good quality shampoo (or bring your own).  The place is clean and heated.  I love not having to chase a wet dog around my house or to clean up dog hair in the tub when we are done.  Wish it had opened sooner.

[melissap]

 
Hey Melody - There is a Dog O Mat here in the Michigan mitten too - Located in AnnArbor to be specific & in the event that someone may find it a good resource to bathe those four footed friends!!

Melissa P

[Keeper]

I have used on occasion doggy wipes that you can get from the pet store.  They work really well for a quick once over if you don't have time to actually put the dog in the tub and they remove surface dirt without getting the dog wet.  But they are just for emergencies. 

Caroline

I use Baby Wipes - Costco or Sam's Club has the industrial sized package.
Good for cleaning ears.
Wiping mud from bellies.
Bitches in season.
Freshening and shining a coat when company is coming!
And for dogs who love to eat long grass, twigs, Long hair off the carpet (where do they find that?) or clean their teeth with the knotted string ropes.  Helps rid a frantic RR from the dreaded Clingon Monster.  All RR owners have had experience with the  dreaded Clingon Monster!

I use the Aloe wipes for the dogs.

Sandra