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-Miracle-No-Rinse-Shampoo/dp/B003TULRLO/ref=sr_1_6?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1330387042&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]

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. 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

 

[momto8]

We just bathe every 2 weeks and brush every other day and don't have too much issue's with them smelling If somebody rolls in something when we are out riding ect then they get a quick bath in between

 

[Grab]

The Chows really don't have odors.. Aesop got a bit "dusty" smelling a bit ago when he was out in some..well...dust, but once we brushed and blew out the coat, all was well again. We bathe every few months (if that) and keep the undercoat blown out with the forced air dryer.

 

[Finkie_Mom]

Yeah, mine don't ever get that "doggy" smell. And I think the last time I bathed them was November! One of the reasons I picked this breed

Though they shed like crazy when they are blowing coat, so I guess that's the trade-off

 

[naturalfeddogs]

What do you feed? That could have something to do with it. You may need to switch to higher quality food. I have Australian Shepherds but I raw feed so there is no doggie odor. Have you checked the ears? May need cleaning, and could be yeast from the carbs in your food.

Lots of grooming to get the undercoat cleared out, then a good bath. Could you use a degreasing shampoo maybe?

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

I've been brushing her daily for the past week or so because she's blowing her coat so I don't think that's the problem. Also she's fed raw but we're only a few weeks in. She was fed Taste of the Wild before.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, I'll look into the products recommended!

I tried putting some baby powder on her yesterday, and brushing it in, and it helped SOME, but she still smells doggy. We're going to have to take her in and groom her pretty soon here.

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

^ 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.

Yes, I make sure to get her as dry as possible, for that very reason. I know they can develop some pretty gnarly stuff if the water just sits down there.

 

[Beanie]

Mine are pretty wash n wear, but when it's time for a bath, it's just... time for a bath. I've tried waterless shampoos but they only give me about a day or two, then they're back to stinking. No way around it really.
Auggie smells right now, his coat definitely has that "dirty" look going on... I'm trying to put it off because he's just going to need another bath after Louisville anyway and I really don't like to wash them that often... urgh.

 

[Toller_08]

Bathing regularly is really the only thing I can suggest. I'd also suggest buying a force dryer if you can (I paid a couple hundred for mine and it works really well) and get a mesh plug for your bath tub so that hair doesn't clog the drain (but the water still goes down). That way you won't have to be taking her to a dog wash and paying every time, and it'd be much easier just to wash her when she needs it. Regular brushing is good, as is a good diet, but it's only going to do so much. My dogs don't smell bad, but if I wait longer than 6 weeks to bathe them, they start smelling a little doggy (regardless of being raw or kibble fed).

 

[monkeys23]

Her detoxing could be part of the problem too.

I guess go to town with the undercoat rake and give a good bath/blow out?