Calling all double coated breed owners!

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

How do you keep them clean/smelling fresh? Violet smells sooooooo bad but we just had her groomed not that long ago! She runs around outside all the time and gets sooooo doggy smelling. It's to the point now that the past 2 days I've had a migrane from the super doggy smell. I have to put her outside to get the smell out of the house but then she comes in smelling just as bad or worse an its a vicious cycle! She's definitely not a 'wash n wear' type of dog. If she gets wet in the rain or something, she SMELLS. And it's not possible to wash her at home, we don't have the right kind of equipment, and we can't take her in to groom her all the time either. Plus it's REALLY exhausting trying to wash her (we take her to the groomers but we do a self groom).

Aaaaaaanyway, what tips do you have for me? Is there a dry shampoo that works or something? She has sensitive skin so I don't want to cover her in too much stuff. We used to wipe our little dogs down with doggy wipes between baths but there's no use trying that with Violet. Her coat is so thick that it would'nt make any difference.

[SpringerLover]

My Buzz dog smells. Waterless shampoo can be great, if you find one that works. I've used Show Off and I only like it for shows (when we bucket wash feathering). I absolutely LOVE the QuikClean Waterless Shampoo from Fort Dodge though. It is great and it lasts! The key is really getting it brushed into the dog!

[Red.Apricot]

I bathe Elsie when she starts smelling bad or gets into something, so it ends up being every 3-4 weeks, give or take. I brush her every other day or so, and check her butt area every night to make sure she's clean. She smells nice most of the time--my non-dog friends talk about it, too. She usually just smells neutral/sweet, sort of like clean outdoors smell. I find with Elsie that what helps the most is the brushing, making sure to really open her coat up and let air get in under the guard hairs.

[Fran101]

product wise..I really REALLY like Nature's Miracle No-Rinse Shampoo! You can get it on amazon.. http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Miracl...0387042&sr=1-6

Unlike colognes and stuff, it doesn't just cover the smell with flowers so you end up with the bad doggy smell + flowers haha.
There is a scent but the dog actually smells clean + the flowery smell.

I prefer the spray. it does come in baby wipe form, but like you said, on a large double coated dog those wipes don't go very far.

Other than that.. Raw feeding really nicked the doggy smell in the butt for us.

[Emily]

Brush brush brush... Free up that undercoat and get air down to her skin! I think that will make a big difference. Our groomer at work is amazing with the dense double-coated dogs like Huskies and she's taught me that it's really all about loosening the dead undercoat and getting air to the dog's skin.

I don't think a waterless shampoo would hurt though! And brushing it in would be good for her as well.

[Kimbers]

The fluff butt rarely smells, but when he starts to, he just gets a bit of dry shampoo brushed into his coat. I actually make my own; ground lavender stalks and some baking soda works wonders.

[Saeleofu]

Honestly? Bathe/groon as often as needed. My dogs never really smell doggy, but they get bathed every 1-2 weeks, and Logan gets brushed regularly (Gavroche has nothing to brush lol)

[*blackrose]

Originally Posted by Emily

Brush brush brush... Free up that undercoat and get air down to her skin! I think that will make a big difference. Our groomer at work is amazing with the dense double-coated dogs like Huskies and she's taught me that it's really all about loosening the dead undercoat and getting air to the dog's skin.

I don't think a waterless shampoo would hurt though! And brushing it in would be good for her as well.

^ That's what I was going to say.

When you self groom her, do you blow her coat out all the way? If not, that may be another factor. A friend of mine has a Lab who REEKS in the summer because she goes swimming all of the time in the pool and the creek and her coat never completely dries. She actually had mildew start to grow between her under and top coat. O.o They shaved her down and restricted her access to water and it solved the problem.

[MicksMom]

Brushing, waterless shampoo, and a spritz of diluted conditioner if needed (it also helps with the static in the winter).

[Red Chrome]

I bathe once a month with good shampoo and follow that with a nice pet "perfume" that is all natural! I love it! My dogs never smell doggy until they start blowing coat and in need of a bath! lol