Bathtime

As we all know its colder now and more muddly. How often to you bath your dogs?

As seldom as possible - usually only when they roll in poo.

Tilly has had 1 bath in her life and Tommy none

Sophie has had one bath after going in the sea. We couldn't brush the dried salt out.

Rarely, especially in the winter. It's too cold to be hanging around damp.

I used to bathe my dobermanns several times a year, they seemed to get smelly and leave dirty marks on the paintwork as they brushed by, even though their coats were finer than my Staff's. I bought some special shampoo for Kuchar when we got him 7 months ago, and haven't used it yet - he just doesn't seem to smell, or make dirty marks (not on the paintwork anyway! Pawmarks are a different matter )

I dip his paws in water and squeeze them out, and wipe his undercarriage and legs with a towel when we come in from a muddy walk, and that's it, so far.

So until he stinks and/or marks the paintwork with his coat, he'll probably remain part of the "great unwashed".

Rolo is nearly a year old... he's had 2 baths... one a few days after we brought him home.... he really did still smell of the puppy pen at the breeders that was a quick dip in the kitchen sink.. 2nd one was about 4 weeks ago after a walk over the fields and he was plastered in mud... Both of which he hated... as Rolo hates water But i don't bath them unless there is a real reason, good brush and a wipe with a damp cloth to remove any dander.

new Staffy owner wrote:I used to bathe my dobermanns several times a year, they seemed to get smelly and leave dirty marks on the paintwork as they brushed by, even though their coats were finer than my Staff's. I bought some special shampoo for Kuchar when we got him 7 months ago, and haven't used it yet - he just doesn't seem to smell, or make dirty marks (not on the paintwork anyway! Pawmarks are a different matter )

I dip his paws in water and squeeze them out, and wipe his undercarriage and legs with a towel when we come in from a muddy walk, and that's it, so far.

So until he stinks and/or marks the paintwork with his coat, he'll probably remain part of the "great unwashed".

It's a good point you make about the smell as both of our 2 are the same , as they sleep on and in the bed with us any smell couldn't be tolerated but fortunately for us there is only 1 smell they make quite regularly

Rocky has only had one shower since we got him, which is nearly two years ago. Bathing too often can strip the skin of their natural oils and cause dry skin.

Laska has had 1 bath since i got her and marley has three. What is a good idea tbough is to do there feet if youve been walking when the gritters have been out to stop them digesting an awfull amount of salt.

Only when she is really stinky or rolls in something she shouldn't

Moo gets a rinse if she has been in the river, but thats only in summer, too cold in the winter so not at all XX

Dave, you're talking bottom burps here aren't you? And no amount of washing will remove THEM!

Polly (almost 2) has had quite a few baths but only because she has skin problems and when they got really bad and she has scratched herself raw it helped keep her infection free until her steroids kicked in

Charley (8 months) has had 2 baths, once when we got him from the rescue centre and he stank and the second after he rolled around in some very stagnant puddles in the woods, other than that I have a bowl full of warm water for paws after very muddy walks, a quick dunk of each paw after we get home and then they go and fight for the closest spot to the fire

One bath just to get him used to the water. He's been in water since then, but just for him to play with, so not a bath. He doesn't smell, doesn't roll in anything bad, and doesn't like the mud because he's a snob so no need for a bath for him. And never in the winter because it's too cold, and he's scared of hairdryers so he'd have to stay wet.

new Staffy owner wrote: Dave, you're talking bottom burps here aren't you? And no amount of washing will remove THEM!

Correct , but in all fairness I can give them a run for their money so it's just the OH that suffers as of course she doesn't do such things as she's a lady

Dave!


Pixee only has a bath when she has rolled in fox poo, thankful lately she hasnt. When we have a walk through the woods, which is muddy, I just rub her legs, underbelly and paws down with a towel. As we are now walking through the village for last walk after a walk along the canal, (sometimes we will have another one over the trading estate) I will need to start having a bowl of warm water done, once the gritters are out due to the salt.