I figured someone who grooms more than me could answer that
I just dont do it 
thanks for replying though
Bathing Sheltie
- Thread starter Jose
- Start date
I just dont do it thanks for replying thoughOn the other hand . . . what is your intention with the dog (Jose)? Is the dog to be a pet, active in dog sports or obedience, or shown in dog show rings? It is true that lightly misting a dog with water or a grooming spray will keep the hair from breaking during grooming. On the other hand, IF the dog is for anything except the conformation dog show ring, would it be necessarily a bad thing if the hair might be a bit shorter should it break during dry combing/brushing?
My girl was clearly shaved for summer (not by me, I just rescued her in August) but her hair should be much much longer and is filling in slowly. It's not really a bad thing her coat is not huge. I dry comb (did so with Aussies before her) and if the hair never reaches full potential, well okay by me. If it grows to huge lengths, okay be me too (I won't be shaving her to prevent it or anyting) but as dry combing/brushing does not hurt nor does it rip out from the roots preventing further re-growth, maybe the focus should be intent for the dog. If it is for the show ring, my gosh, go with the BEST regimen to optimize the coat in every way. If it is for other purposes, tangle-free, clean, and well-groomed should suffice, right?
Just another opinion for someone who sounds to be an average non-showing pet owner from other recent posts.
My girl was clearly shaved for summer (not by me, I just rescued her in August) but her hair should be much much longer and is filling in slowly. It's not really a bad thing her coat is not huge. I dry comb (did so with Aussies before her) and if the hair never reaches full potential, well okay by me. If it grows to huge lengths, okay be me too (I won't be shaving her to prevent it or anyting) but as dry combing/brushing does not hurt nor does it rip out from the roots preventing further re-growth, maybe the focus should be intent for the dog. If it is for the show ring, my gosh, go with the BEST regimen to optimize the coat in every way. If it is for other purposes, tangle-free, clean, and well-groomed should suffice, right?
Just another opinion for someone who sounds to be an average non-showing pet owner from other recent posts.
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Tabitha
Forums Enthusiast
Cara, it's true that if a dog isn't going to show in conformation you don't need to put nearly as much work into grooming. It's also true that you don't HAVE to spry their fur. But it makes the fur healthier in the long run and it takes very little effort and expense to spray a dog with water. It takes SO much more effort to properly groom a show dog than just spraying a little water on it.
I couldn't imagine only bathing my dogs 2-4 times a YEAR. I would die. I live in Florida so it's hot here too, but I'm not sure if that has much to do with anything. Maybe it has to do with me being a groomer, or the fact that I cannot stand stinky dogs (or dogs that leave a bad smell or film on your hand). But my dogs get bathed monthly. Sometimes I go a little longer, maybe 2 months max. But no matter how much brushing I do, I still bath them monthly. It's mainly their head area that starts to stink the most, and that is the area that I pet the most and kiss. So that needs to be bathed ASAP I guess a lot of it is personal preference. But I wouldn't do more than once a month, unless they need it (like they get muddy, filthy, roll in something, etc). Do what works best for you and your dog!
I guess a lot of it is personal preference. But I wouldn't do more than once a month, unless they need it (like they get muddy, filthy, roll in something, etc). Do what works best for you and your dog!Let your need be your guide on bathing. If the dog gets dirty, bathe. If the dog is smelly, bathe. If the dog has a messy behind or has had anal glands release a little bit (really stinky), bathe. You can also bathe parts of the dog like if the paws only are dirty you can put each paw into a bucket of water to clean. If the bottom is dirty you can bathe just the behind with a little shampoo and water if there has been some accident on the fur you don't want to live with.
I bathe my dogs sometimes once a week or two or every time we go play at the beach or in the forests and get dirty or once a month or two when we do nothing and stay at home like in the winter. Sometimes I give the dog a bath if we are going to a friend's house and I want the dog to be just extra special clean for them. No pattern. My dogs sleep on the bed. Cleaner is nicer when they sleep with you. If you buy a gentle dog shampoo it is OK. You can let your dog play in some warm rain for a couple minutes or a water tub or in the sprinkle from a hose too if you just want a little bath.
As to misting with water with grooming. Try it and see if you like it. I wasn't actually saying show grooming equates with misting and combing, of course show grooming goes with everything from nutrition, to evening out certain areas of fur, to daily routines, to bathing and drying, to head presentation, PLUS, PLUS, and PLUS. I used to show Persian cats. Even the temperature you keep your home affects the coat. It was a daily regimen to keep the cat sparkling ready for the shows.
Let your need dictate how you groom. The most important thing is to not have tangles and mats, to maybe trim the areas around the potty locations to help keep them cleaner (they sometimes call that sanitary trimming), and to be comfortable with the dog in your home. You aren't going to ruin the dog by some combing (with/without water) or by bathing more or less than someone else.
I bathe my dogs sometimes once a week or two or every time we go play at the beach or in the forests and get dirty or once a month or two when we do nothing and stay at home like in the winter. Sometimes I give the dog a bath if we are going to a friend's house and I want the dog to be just extra special clean for them. No pattern. My dogs sleep on the bed. Cleaner is nicer when they sleep with you. If you buy a gentle dog shampoo it is OK. You can let your dog play in some warm rain for a couple minutes or a water tub or in the sprinkle from a hose too if you just want a little bath.
As to misting with water with grooming. Try it and see if you like it. I wasn't actually saying show grooming equates with misting and combing, of course show grooming goes with everything from nutrition, to evening out certain areas of fur, to daily routines, to bathing and drying, to head presentation, PLUS, PLUS, and PLUS. I used to show Persian cats. Even the temperature you keep your home affects the coat. It was a daily regimen to keep the cat sparkling ready for the shows.
Let your need dictate how you groom. The most important thing is to not have tangles and mats, to maybe trim the areas around the potty locations to help keep them cleaner (they sometimes call that sanitary trimming), and to be comfortable with the dog in your home. You aren't going to ruin the dog by some combing (with/without water) or by bathing more or less than someone else.
I'm with Gina when it comes not liking a smelly dog - so my shelties usually end up getting a bath more because I want them to smell nice and not so much because they are looking dirty. Here in Canada it's really easy to get by wih a trip to the groomers 3-4 times a year.
I agree with Gina, I try to do it to the ones not being shown atleast every 6-8 weeks. The ones being shown get it more often..The plan today was to do a mass wash and get everyone done as the weather was nice and I could dry outside....I ended up instead line brushing everyone out since they were shedding soo much..by the time I got done doing that I realized it was too late in the day to wash, and my left wrist had given out. Maybe Sunday
VallejoSheltie
Forums Enthusiast
I'm with Mom2Melli.
Northern California here, and also took a 2 week vacation in PI to visit wife's family last year.
I would suggest monthly bathing for general cleanliness, smell, etc. If dog shampoo is expensive, you can use baby shampoo with a little Baking Soda (ie. Arm and Hammer) to raise the pH a little bit closer to dog normal.
Mine gets one every 1.5-2 weeks simply because he plays at the dog park almost every day, and it builds up.
I also have a small wash basin to wash his feet in with soapy water, and a garden hose to wash off his butt when he's eaten something that makes a mess.
A spray bottle with water and shampoo works great and saves a lot of shampoo too.
Also, considering the heat in PI, the occasional water only shower/bath might be a treat in your dogs case.
On a related note, I've noticed my guy loves to be cool, and is totally enjoying the 50-60 f temps we're having right now, so I am going to take a spare piece of granite I have left over from a kitchen remodel and make him a nice cool spot to lay on in the living room. Place it directly on my wood floor and let it stay closer to the ground-concrete slab-wood floor. Thermal conduction should mean that it is always the coolest place in the room for him to lie upon. With your heat, you might be able to do similar with a thick piece of tile or such.
Dogs don't really sweat, they primarily cool themselves by panting and cooling via the foot pads. Any assistance you can give there, or with a small fan maybe, will definitely make your dog much happier.
Northern California here, and also took a 2 week vacation in PI to visit wife's family last year.
I would suggest monthly bathing for general cleanliness, smell, etc. If dog shampoo is expensive, you can use baby shampoo with a little Baking Soda (ie. Arm and Hammer) to raise the pH a little bit closer to dog normal.
Mine gets one every 1.5-2 weeks simply because he plays at the dog park almost every day, and it builds up.
I also have a small wash basin to wash his feet in with soapy water, and a garden hose to wash off his butt when he's eaten something that makes a mess.
A spray bottle with water and shampoo works great and saves a lot of shampoo too.
Also, considering the heat in PI, the occasional water only shower/bath might be a treat in your dogs case.
On a related note, I've noticed my guy loves to be cool, and is totally enjoying the 50-60 f temps we're having right now, so I am going to take a spare piece of granite I have left over from a kitchen remodel and make him a nice cool spot to lay on in the living room. Place it directly on my wood floor and let it stay closer to the ground-concrete slab-wood floor. Thermal conduction should mean that it is always the coolest place in the room for him to lie upon. With your heat, you might be able to do similar with a thick piece of tile or such.
Dogs don't really sweat, they primarily cool themselves by panting and cooling via the foot pads. Any assistance you can give there, or with a small fan maybe, will definitely make your dog much happier.
The only time mine smells is when Honey's anal glands go. And even then, we just use wet wipes to clean her up. I use wet wipes for everything though from Ruutu's under parts (he pees on himself) to Honey's butt.