[Inga]

My boys wear Calvin Klein inbetween baths. Keeps them smelling like the handsome boys they are.

[HuggaPug]

I'm with you Graco- I really don't think I'll ever give my St Poo boy a short do. It's worth it to me to keep him stylish plus it is so relaxing to do my own dog cause he doesn't fight like alot of client's dogs. I think I was beside you at the Carolina Groomfest- I had the Parti Poo and got 3rd in Entry Div. Are you going to Hershey?

[Michiyo-Fir]

Labs or lab mixes don't generally need a lot of bathing. I would say once a month to the groomers' is fine.

I have a Papillon and she has a long coat so she gets bathed every week to 2 weeks with Vellus shampoo and conditioner. She also gets a blow-dry and she gets brushed with a pin brush.

I don't use sprays either because Nia almost doesn't smell at all unless she's been playing with a lot of dogs and they've gotten her very dirty with their saliva.

[Graco22]

Originally Posted by meghf

I agree with you Graco! It's so strange to me that standard poodles have such a prissy, froo froo image. Quick history lesson, although I'm sure you know, standard poodles were originally water retrievers, most think they're originally german dogs although some say french. The show coat you see nowadays actually used to be a functional clip for the water retrievers. The hunters felt their fur was too heavy when wet so the shaved most of their body but left puffs of hair on their joints and organs to keep them warm. The tail poof was a way to keep tabs on the dog from afar. So really, even dogs in a clip like this, it's supposed to be functional. Correct me if you know something different than what I just said, that's what all the research I've done has said.

I think another reason some people think they're froo froo has to do with the way they carry themselves. Buddy prances, he picks up his feet and holds his head up and prances around. Even when he's in the middle of getting dirty and being a dog he's still prancing. So I'm sure that adds to it.

No corrections at all! You are absolutely correct! I am always telling clients when they see the photos of my standard in continental that the trim HAD a function..and what it was..Its not that someone just made up a "funny" trim. Of course, its much more stylized now..lol

And to Fillebelle, I groom MANY labs, lab mixes, boxers, huskies, etc. just as regularly as I do the "foo foo" dogs. LOL

I also apologize for hijacking the thread. I am done now..lol

Originally Posted by HuggaPug

I'm with you Graco- I really don't think I'll ever give my St Poo boy a short do. It's worth it to me to keep him stylish plus it is so relaxing to do my own dog cause he doesn't fight like alot of client's dogs. I think I was beside you at the Carolina Groomfest- I had the Parti Poo and got 3rd in Entry Div. Are you going to Hershey?

Sorry, just saw this..LOL I was at South Carolina, but was in open there. PM me!

[tunisianswife]

oh, I'm one of them with the bows in the hair, shih tzu lhasa group. LOL

I do bathe them weekly because they sleep w/me, are up on furniture.

hair brushed daily w/a pin brush and then a comb just to make sure we have gotten out any tangles. shampoos for all occasions-homeopathic flea shampoo, whitening(which I don't use every time), oatmeal almond for the itchies, deodorzing. also a conditiioner.

I wipe down their private areas and faces daily with the wipes that are in the pet section at walmart. they do smell nice and are a nice material.

I found a nice smelling spritz cologne refresher spray @petsmart called "Spa line" or something like that. has the word Spa in it. I think they also have a line of the shampoos too.

right now, I am using the Evolution shampoos and conditioners. got them on clearance for $1.48 a piece from dogs.com

[im_nice1]

no problem with the hijacking... the info on functional cut of poodles was v interesting and news to me...

all info was v good..will keep an eye out for the spa line of deos..otherwise calvin klein here we come (just wondering if the famous designer would kill himself himself if he knew his spray was being used on dogs? )

and once a month grooming plus wipes would have been great for her lab coat if she didnt go to puppy daycare twice a week for socialising and playing her butt off with other puppies...and returning home covered in mud and saliva and doggie smell. . so i guess i will have to add in some home baths too.

[Kathyy]

Well all the bathing really helps get out all the loose fur and helps Sassy's itchies stay away. I am allergic or used to be and would bathe the dogs when I got itchy. Bathing didn't help with the stink she used to have, the home cooked food took care of that in time. Crossing my fingers here but since she has stopped stinking I haven't had to bathe her because *I* was itchy.

Saliva is tough to get out but you could try a simple warm water rinse. I like doing that just so I don't have to use all that extra water to get shampoo out. I have missed suds before and it is awful. Non stop itching until you get back out there and wash the dog all over again.

[Graco22]

[QUOTE=im_nice1;617658]no problem with the hijacking... the info on functional cut of poodles was v interesting and news to me...

all info was v good..will keep an eye out for the spa line of deos..otherwise calvin klein here we come (just wondering if the famous designer would kill himself himself if he knew his spray was being used on dogs? )

QUOTE]

There is a line of doggie colognes that are knock offs of the designer brands for humans...They smell great, and last a long time. I use them exclusively at the salon now. Tommy Holdigger, Beautifur, Arfmani, White Dalmations, C-K9, Pucci, Miss Claybone, DGNY are my favorites from that line, but there are others. A little bit goes a long way too.

[FilleBelle]

Those names are too funny, Graco!

[poodleholic]

I think the breed has a lot to do with how frequently to bathe. I have Standard Poodles and a Shih Tzu, all of whom get bathed every other week, with the exception of my puppy (SPoodle), who gets bathed once a week.

I don't use anything in between baths to make them smell nice; they smell nice naturally. I do use baby wipes to clean them after potty breaks, and if their feet get wet and/or dirty.

[Rayne01]

My schnauzer gets a bath once a week. I don't use anything between baths to make her smell good, but I do clean her up after she comes in from romping outside with our other dogs. Usually she fights with me but today was different. I went into my bathroom to take a shower. I turned the water on to let it warm up and La-la scratched to come into the bathroom(her food and water are kept in there) so I let her in. I turned to my sink to grab a razor, then turned around to let La-la back out. When I looked for her I didn't see her, so I turned and found her. She was in the shower, playing in the water. Needless to say, she got a bath, and I did not. I had to kick her out of the bathroom for me to take a shower. She is so goofy.

[Angelwing]

You can bath everyday if you like, providing you use a good quality shampoo. But most people don't have time for that. I use Nature's Specialties.

[michelleboston]

I bathe Bailey every 1-2 weeks, depending on what he gets into and how dirty/smelly he gets. I use Harry Barker Prickly Pear Cactus 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner. He too has long hair so I brush him almost every day and wash his beard 1-2 times a day. I don't use any sprays in between but use doggie wipes or unscented baby wipes as needed.

[LoveCairn]

Here is an easy & affordable way to keep your dog smelling good between baths. you could try using one of the following & see how it works for you & your dog, it works great for me & my pup =) : Baby wipes (or doggy wipes), Baking Soda, Cornstarch, & Baby powder.. They are all non toxic and if baby wipes and baby powder are gentle enough to use on our human babies then they are safe for our four legged friends. If you decide to try any of these, hope it helps!

[yappypappymom]

Neat thread topic..enjoyed reading how everyones keeping their pooches all nice & tidy, & that poodle info about the clip was downright interesting!!

I clicked here because my naughty ball of fuzz had me wondering just a few hours ago "IS there A DAY that will EVER come that I DON'T HAVE to give him a bath"?!?!...he just turned 3 months yesterday, & if he come across something stinky, yucky or gross, he simply MUST roll all over it!! I am talking about bugs, slugs, gum, mud, poo - you name it! He even managed to get INSIDE an empty bag of Doritoes & turned himself orange even!! Its obvious that HIS idea of smellin "good" & MY idea of smellin "good" are the exact opposites of the spectrum

Will be interesting to see how in the long-run we will handle the thread topic of "in-between" bath care. LOL..(as of now, "in-between" part equates to a day or so if I am lucky)...

[PappyMom]

Recently, we've been using Shampoos/Conditioners from Isle of Dogs...and I have to say..they are FANTASTIC. I was bathing every week or so..and lol..Rox and Giz haven't needed a bath in almost 3 weeks. They still smell great..and are still softer than ever.. They have deep conditioning masques, and shampoos specially formulated for skin problems. I've fallen head over heels for it...

I also picked up a thing of doggie perfume from Target..Pomegranate fusion..lol..smells amazing!

[NRB]

Graco22 I hope you're still around on this thread cause I got a question for you:

lol, glad this thread came up because I want a shampoo for a wire coated dog that will NOT overly soften the coat.

My dog is Standard Schnauzer, kept in a stripped coat and has very little doggy oder. The groomer who strips her frowns on baths, I guess because it will soften the coat???. I am not a fan of frequent bathing, as I don't want to dry her skin out. I take her to the barn with me every day, she gets to be a dog and have fun there. I prefer to use a wire brush and brush off the sawdust, dried mud and manure. But there are times I need to do more. Ie: when she's rolled in deer poop, is blood red from playing in the wet red Virginia clay, or has been in a patch of poison ivy. I've been using my horse's stuff (Orvis and Cowboy Magic shampoos) But it's time I bought a dog shampoo. I'm totally stumped when standing at the shampoo section in the pet store. Any ideas for the wire coated breeds?

(as an aside I also covet a Standard Poodle but fear that the coat would be like velcro and attract all the sawdust and manure at the barn like a magnet)

[HORSEandHOUND]

NRB I have dogs that go to the barn with me too, and what i've found that is helpful is waterless shampoo. there are several on the market, but i'll use it on their paws or if someone rolled in something. cowboy magic's green stain remover is great too.

[Graco22]

Originally Posted by NRB

Graco22 I hope you're still around on this thread cause I got a question for you:

lol, glad this thread came up because I want a shampoo for a wire coated dog that will NOT overly soften the coat.

My dog is Standard Schnauzer, kept in a stripped coat and has very little doggy oder. The groomer who strips her frowns on baths, I guess because it will soften the coat???. I am not a fan of frequent bathing, as I don't want to dry her skin out. I take her to the barn with me every day, she gets to be a dog and have fun there. I prefer to use a wire brush and brush off the sawdust, dried mud and manure. But there are times I need to do more. Ie: when she's rolled in deer poop, is blood red from playing in the wet red Virginia clay, or has been in a patch of poison ivy. I've been using my horse's stuff (Orvis and Cowboy Magic shampoos) But it's time I bought a dog shampoo. I'm totally stumped when standing at the shampoo section in the pet store. Any ideas for the wire coated breeds?

(as an aside I also covet a Standard Poodle but fear that the coat would be like velcro and attract all the sawdust and manure at the barn like a magnet)

It is true that you don't want to bath often on a wire coated breed, as any bathing does soften the coat. The best shampoo I have found for stripped terriers/dogs is All System's Crisp Coat. It does the least softening, and gets em squeaky clean. You will have to order it, won't find it in stores.

Yes, a poodle would be a burr/sawdust/manure magnet! LOL But boy would one have a good time at the barn...and you can wash them as often as you like! LOL

[NRB]

thanks Graco22 I'll look online for it.