I wouldn't bathe every day. We have fawns, so keeping skin clean is a huge deal but even I only bathe every 2 weeks (which is SUPER OFTEN). For intermediate times, we use baby wipes (unscented, "free of all chemicals" hypoallergenic) sprayed with a tea tree based coat spray.

Our shampoo is earth balance brand, tea tree

 

I use an oatmeal based natural shampoo.. I don't think "people" shampoo, even for babies, is supposed to be used on dogs.

 

To be honest prior to this, I used Premium Dog shampoo- dye and scent free but I thought the baby shampoo would be milder. Thank you for your help.

 

I've been using Isle Of Dogs copper coat and it's really nice. The line is very mild so you could use it as often as you need to. They make one for black coats:

Isle of Dogs - No. 18 EPO Black Coat Shampoo

 

Thank you ZeldaRules. I am going to order some of this. It sounds perfect.

 

It doesn't have a fragrance and it keeps Prime smelling clean long after he is bathed so I believe. You can also contact them to ask about what products they recommend for your dog's coat. I use this after shampooing him:

http://www.iodogs.com/p-359-naturaluxury-nutrient-masque.aspx

 

Selsun Blue

 

best method I have used...Dawn dishsoap--TWO latherings--then a FLEA shampoo ONE lathering--THEN one more DAWN lathering

FOUR LATHERINGS TOTAL solved alot of stinky dog problems --if you only bathe once a month you need to wash out the oils--it starts to make grease and stink

 

Wow. That is a LOT of washing. Maybe if the dog has rolled in motor oil.....

I like Bio-Groom, and the most I do is two latherings, mainly because my dogs like to dig and lie in the dirt, and tend to get filthy. Usually though, the only time I bathe them is if the get stinky. Ilka does get a bath before a trial, whether she is stinky or not.

 

ZERO shampoo:
- but a great diet of holistic/organic kibble plus supplemented with 2 home cooked meals of cooked meat/veggies&/or rice
No dandruff, no dog breath, no dog odour in home...cleaner than most kids, playing on the street.

 

We use DermaLyte by DermaPet. We buy it at her vet's office. We bathe every 1 1/2 - 2 weeks because I'm allergic to her and it helps keep her dander down. The shampoo is super mild, hypo-allergenic, no animal protein, has essential fatty acids, no soap, no dyes, environmental formula and has coconut oil which gives it a nice scent. I'm really happy with it and her coat is very healthy.

 

My breeder told me 11 years ago, don't bath pup.
- spray bottle instead, mix of Avon Skin-So Soft & water

 

I shampoo my doberman with baby shampoo once a year.............I also wipe her off with wipes..............

 

I use whatever shampoo and conditioner I use on my own hair. I was using Redkin but recently added the AG products and really like them. If I have my horse trailer at the house and the Mane and Tail products are handy, I like them as well.

I don't bathe my dogs as often as I used to. Charley, if showing, gets a bath for each show. Taylor and Joe get baths every six to eight weeks or as needed if they roll in something. I do wash their bedding and all blankets weekly.

Their coats are shiny and not dry nor flaky.

 

I use Earthbath an all natural shampoo, so natural that you can bath them in a lake if you wanted to without it harming any other animals. After the playing with dogs I just do a rinse with the hose if its nice out to wash off any dirt and don't use shampoo, if you look into coconut oil as well for internal and external it helps eliminate odor.

 

Nova Pearls

 

Earthbath.

It's organic, all-natural, unscented, dye-free, and green (environmentally safe).

 

probably on a purebred dob you are right but he looks good with that kind of bath
and it's only once a month
he lives inside so have to keep him clean

 

I have always used Mane 'n' Tail shampoo on all our dogs, well-diluted in water. Super stuff. Ours tend to only get bathed if they've rubbed in something really obnoxious, though. A wipe down with a damp cloth and a good brush seems to deal with the day to day stuff.

 

I met Sparky yesterday and his coat was great for an old senior guy! No dry or flaky skin. Whatever Ruthie is doing it's working, lol.

I read this on the Isle Of Dogs website regarding grooming myths:

Lots of lather means the hair is getting clean.

False. Actually lather is not related to the cleaning ingredients in shampoo. The ingredients in shampoo-type products that create lather are added for emotional appeal rather than any scientific reason. The lathering ingredients are directly affected by the amount of dirt, debris and oil in the coat. Things like oil deactivate the lathering process.

 

I just use sensitive skin baby wipes even when we have shows, I find bathing him makes him too soft and dandruffy.

If he rolls in something, I just use cool water. I've used baby shampoo before when he rolled in an oil like au de dead bird substance, with no I'll effects, but I wouldn't make a habit of it

 

Tell me if I'm wrong I thought any shampoo would kill fleas ???? curious of what people think.

 

long ago in the eighties when I was into vegetarianism and health stufff--I read that instead of insecticides you can fill a spray bottle with soapy water -dish soap and kill roaches and fleas

so I tried it--works great

plenty of people use Dawn dishsoap on fur--and animal rescue people use it on penguins and birds too..when they need a bath after an oil spill

 

My breeder told me that she uses head and shoulders on all of her dogs. We tried oatmeal based & hypo-allergenic shampoos and then we finally tried her suggestion. We were amazed on how well it worked!

We only bathe Max every quarter. He's mainly inside and doesn't get that dirty.

 

I just discovered Tropiclean ( Oatmeal based) LOVE it!! We rarely bathe Sofia.. baby wipes and brushing... and of course SSS as a conditioner and to ward off the rare mosquito.

 

What's SSS? Thanks.

 

I now know why some of you do not lather up as much as I do with Sparky
I just got back from the dog show and petting a purebred Dobe
VERY short fur................

 

What kind of dog is Sparky?

I only bathe my Dobermans once or twice a year. They live in the house and sleep on my bed, they're just not very dirty. And I've also been told that you shouldn't use human shampoo on dogs, it's the wrong ph balance for them. Since bathing isn't a frequent thing I just use whatever dog shampoo strikes my fancy.

I do have a pedigreed silver-shaded persian cat, and the breeder told me if I showed him to wash him with Dawn, rinse, wash again. But that ain't happening, I never bothered to show him and I just shave his hair short once or twice a year, he sure isn't interested in a bath! LOL

 

Skin so Soft....avon product. (I'm guessing)

 

Pitties, like Dobes, and many other breeds, are supposed to have a short, close, fairly hard coat, with little to no undercoat. My Rattie has a TON of undercoat, and I still only need to do two latherings with dog shampoo to get all the dirt out. The only time I would use dish soap would be if he got motor oil on him.

ETA: I usually only give him a bath about every two or three months. And yes, he is a house dog. Good food helps to keep the "doggiy smell" at bay.

ETA: Even Leo, my longhaired GSD, only gets two latherings. She apparently had sarcpotic mange, and I have been using a special inti-itch shampoo on her every couple of weeks. Once we get this licked, she'll only need a bath if she gets yucky.