[Tico]

Hello all

I have finaly switched my dogs food to Canidae. He was on Pedigree. when I bought him he was about 4 months and eating royal cannin a choc lab. I never really wanted a big dog but he was great at the breeder. He is still good and calm he doesnt bark in the house at all he will run around though he is about 8 months now. His coat started to look bad this month he was on the pedigree for about 2 1/2 months. So i bit the bullet and started to buy canidae at the feed store by me it isnt much more about 10 more dollars than pedigree. 40 pound bag for 33 bucks.

Could the pedigree be causing the odor he has only been on the canidae for a week or less. I keep him in the living room mostly he does go around the house. his cage smells at times I try to keep it clean twice a week and you can smell him if you get close. pet co baths him about 2 a month. With buying the new food expense I cant do pet co 2 x a month. Any suggestions on bathing a 83 pound lab at home inside and drying him? Cant do this outside soon because in Chicago it gets cold soon.
Should he smell it is like a musk odor not real strong but enough to make people say something.

[RonE]

A healthy lab won't normally be odorless. He'll smell like a dog and bathing weekly or biweekly is not good for his coat.

If the odor is more than just normal lab fragrance (which I happen to find comforting,) possible causes could be diet (as you suggest,) oral problems (teeth or gums,) ear infections (common in labs) or other medical conditions. In other words, a vet check might be in order.

Should he smell it is like a musk odor not real strong but enough to make people say something.

Some people find a normal doggy smell objectionable. Many of us don't.

As for bathing a large dog in the winter, we used one of the do-it-yourself pet washes at a local pet store and grooming facility. On the days when the groomers weren't working (weekends, mostly) they made an area available to wash your own pet. We paid $10 for 30 minutes. They had temperature controlled water, shampoo and conditioner, brushes and one of those industrial-strength blow driers (low heat, high velocity.) I usually took one or both of my children with me. Bathing a 110# lab was like washing a truck and the truck was always in gear.

[Tico]

I am going to check his ears this cant be normal. I will also look for one of those do it yourself places.

Thanks alot.
Tico's Mom

[RonE]

Some of the carwashes in our area are even adding facilities for do-it-yourself dog washes.

[bluesbarby]

The feed store near me has a dog wash area - I just discovered it the last time I was there. You might check yours.
When we had our golden retriever, inbetween washes if she started to smell we would wipe her down with bounce sheets. Worked like a charm and didn't effect her skin (she had really sensitive skin).

[MegaMuttMom]

I find labs to more smelly than a lot of dogs. But then again, I have a very sensitive nose.

[Love's_Sophie]

You can bath him at home and towel dry him then let him air dry, that is if he will sit still for ya!! Air drying is the best for Lab coats anyway, as it helps maintain the 'oils' that are to remain in the coats; so even if you can find, as suggested, a 'self serve' bathing spot, towel dry him well, then let him air dry.

Always clean a Lab's ears well, too, as they tend to be a huge part of their 'odor' and some Lab's are worse than others.

When you bathe him, allow him to soak for a good long while, and try to bathe him twice; once to remove 'grease, and dirt' then another time to remove any stronger odors, and to soak.

[Occy]

I find a good brush out helps to remove serious doggy odour.

My guys get a bath every three months in the colder weather and whenever i can be arsed or whenever they smell in the warmer months