Bath time
 

Hey guys, I was wondering how often you bathe your dogs, and if your dogs tolerate brushing?

Mine has been better with being in the tub as I take her in the daily (to wash her feet off).

Today I bathed her because she got really dirty... she also rolled around on grass where the other dog had pooped (even if we had picked it up its still gross).

I have been "stripping" her hair by hand because she doesn't allow herself to be combed or brushed... she just does not like it. I've tried 4-5 different brushes already...

I bathe mine weekly or every other week. Mine all fit in the kitchen sink so it makes it easier.

I bathe them weekly, or sometimes it ends up being more than that if they end up getting dirty. And yes, my dogs tolerate brushing. I bought a grooming table and do all my brushing, trimming, - and for my one girl also do wrapping and training the stack position on the table as well. After awhile they learn to accept all the brushing and stuff as something they just have to tolerate. They become so much better with time. My one yorkie actually starts to fall asleep on the table when I brush her. I don't know if she's realized that it actually feels good like a massage or something. But yeah I guess the point I'm making is that over time they will accept it no problem. For the bathing I actually just take them in the shower with me. Its definitely a really easy way to do it.

For brushing, I use a pin brush a lot. And also a nylon bristle brush too. I consider brushing a dog as kinda an art. I'd consider wrapping a dog as an art as well. There is a certain technique of brushing that won't bother the dog as much or break the hair off either. The use of your hands to pull apart and work through knots and matts tends to work good too. Using a diluted conditioner as a spray before brushing is something I do often. And not yanking the brush through the entire hair strands helps. I may just hold the hair part way down and brush the ends of the hair first while working further up the hair strands. I hope that makes sense. I've had to learn over time what works best and I do notice that if you can brush in a way that doesn't break the hair and leave hair in the brush, that the dog doesn't seem to be as bothered by the brushing.

Yeah, my goes in the bath tub with me. LOL. So much easier.

Every week to week-and-a-half If I am busy and miss the bath day. I brush every day to every other day with my dogs with a pin brush and some spritz that freshens between baths. I can't even attempt to use a slicker or I will be killed, but a metal comb and ball-tipped pin brush that goes all the way down to the skin works fine.

I have found some dogs just really hate any brushing whatsoever. One little snag on a tangle and it's the end of the world, then Fight Club. You may possibly have to run the dog in the yard with a ball beforehand to tire em' out, or use a safe calming aid from a petstore to calm grooming anxiety and safe yourself from blood loss.

My Micky loved being brushed after we got him a gentle child's brush (for reference, he was a yorkie/chihuahua mix with scraggly hair that, unlike a full yorkie, didn't need to be groomed). However, he hated baths- we got him in the sink maybe once or twice a year, and even then only his back side was bathed- his front paws were on the counter and someone had to hold him constantly so he didn't jump out, while he whimpered the entire time.
Sunny's the opposite- doesn't mind baths (he gets professionally groomed) but every time we get his brush he wants to chew it or runs off. Unfortunately, his hair texture is soft but very fine, almost like down feathers, so he tangles easily. (And the second you try to brush one of those out...forget it. Mr. Squirmy isn't having it!)

I might have to do that.

She lets me bathe her but she quivers when doing so... but at least she's getting better than before which she would bolt and quiver. As for brushing she allows hand stripping... but it's a pain...

I used two shampoos on her. The skin soothing one, and the good smelling one.The first one smells like butt, so I used the second for it. Both are natural. Just the latter is an aromatherapy.

All my dogs shake during baths - that's just normal. I don't think brushing is pleasant feeling when there are tangles - I know it's not pleasant feeling when I brush out tangles out of my own hair. So, it's not surprising that dogs don't generally *love* being brushed. Pain is pain, end of story.

The more often you're able to brush, though, the more pleasant of an experience it will be for her, since it will hurt less.

What brushes, specifically, are you using...? If using a slicker brush....I'd stop. I think those are the worst brushes unless there truly is a double coat. They're painful.

I'd get a "tangle teaser" from Amazon or ebay - cheap, and work amazingly well...and are gentle. Use a mustache metal comb for any mats when needed.

AND, be aware of your *own* energy while brushing her....are you tense, nervous, irritated, frustrated....? If so, it will translate into the entire experience.

I bathe mine about every 2 weeks. I have to brush Marcel every other day to keep his coat decent - it's SO tangly, no matter what.

Bath in kitchen sink very Sunday. We use wipes in between as needed.

The first week we gave him a bath, he picked up on how nervous my husband and I were. He hyperventilated and got the zoomies afterwards, which made me cry. (His little heart was beating so fast, I was convinced I was killing him.)

A month later, he still gets the zoomies afterwards, so he has to partially air-dry.

I've been told it gets better with time.

Brush and comb daily, shortly before his bedtime. Tick check at the same time (and every time he comes in from outside.)

We've been giving him a small taste of puppy toothbrush gel everyday since he brought him home and he thinks it's a treat. It made it super easy to start him toothbrushing recently.

All of mine get the zoomies after baths, I think it's a yorkie thing lol.

Thanks guys.

zoomie after bath
 

what is a zoomie?

When they run like crazy and nothing can stop them.

zoomies
 

Thanks..

Like others here, I bath my in the sink Cali every week. She rarely tangles but if she does I use a wood pin brush. She is in full coat and I brush her daily.

Additionally, she loves to play in the tub with her ball:D

That can get annoying when it does happen. lol Usually because if she does get it she bumps into things and sometimes things come falling down.

She doesnt do it often.

She did not like her bath today. But after I bathed her I took a shower and I left her (after she was dried off) in the same room. She was oddly curious and wanted to join me. So makes me wonder. If I want to get her to take baths happily-- do I need to join her ? Cause thats a tad awkward. llol I only even did that cause I wanted her to get used to it- and I wanted to be able to supervise her without crating her.

She doesnt like the crate.

When you need to put her in a safe spot you could always get an exercise pen. I sing to mine when I'm bathing them. I make up stupid songs lol.

:thumbup: Yep, it's a yorkie thing lol. Total of 5 yorkies all had the zoomies after their bath, also jumping on the bed, rolling n rubbing, that's normal lol.

That would work if she wasn't persistent little scruff by climbing, jumping or lounging at things to knock them down.

What I am however thinking of getting her is a playpen made for toddlers and covering the mesh with something she can't climb out of or destroy.

If you are doubting whether she can climb up straight up a fence(even if twice her height or more)-- she has no problems climbing things. The fence would have to a solid piece like a piece of wood-- because the holes/gap in the fence giver her the grip she needs to climb-- and if she can't climb it she tries to topple it by ramming into it. She's oddly smart, the other dog is more obedient with that as she doesnt touch the fence and seems to fear it a bit.(or respect it).

A barrier for her is just another game.

As for singing- I'd feel silly so all I do is just talk to her while I bathe her. I make sure to leave the shampoo on for 4-5 minutes as the instructions say.


Today we were doing BBQ and I decided to groom my dog by plucking out the dead hairs (I saw a video on how to do it and I do it well enough that I dont actually pluck out the regular hairs out).

You can tell which are dead because they feel more wire-y and hard. I found a ton near her butt area (like on top of her back- but more near the rear end) she has a ton of dead hair. I do this in portions because its just a lot. She wasn't properly groomed when she was given to me I suspect because after I take some of the hairs out-- dandruff follows. Tons of dandruff. Butt dandruff.

I am thinking of getting that expensive 50 dollar comb next month- it's super thin and they showed how it works It's called the de-shedder or something...

I had a dog once who got the zoomies after baths, wasnt a yorkie. She doesn't try to jump on my bed anymore because its just too darn tall now. Rolling and rubbing she does it regardless of the shower. Kinda gross me out when she does it in the grass as when I take her out she does her business in random spots and even if you pick up the poop- and she rolls in the grass days later its still.. idk gross?

So I gave her designated rub n' roll areas.

Dead hair will normally fall off and can be combed off. I don't think plucking the hair is going to feel good to her.

I mean I am not pulling it and she doesn't seem to care it. I am just grabbing it out. Not sure if it makes sense. I am not actually pulling hairs out from the skin, they're already separated and very much dead.

I feel much better after a shower, hair cuts, etc. I would assume a dog does too-- I know for sure sasha likes getting hair cuts (she didnt use to- but got used to them and after sometime I think she learned its good for her). Sasha doesn't shed, but maggie does(who doesnt need haircuts)

Bathtime Blues & Skin Care
 

Our little girl has gone through lots of changes with her hair. We keep her in a modified full coat - not floor length. She wears a top knot. At some point her top knot hair had some breakage and seems to still be prone but it's growing and thickening again. She tends to have dry skin so we are careful. We have had to treat her with medications for hair thinning and a single bald spot.


We have had good success with EarthBath brand dog shampoo and conditioner. We bath her about once a week in the utility sink. She fits in the kitchen sink but likes the more enclosed feel of the deep tub. I cut a piece of nonslip drawer liner with a drain hole to fit the sink so she doesn't slip around and installed a gentle spray nozzle for better rinsing.


We brush before the bath to remove some hair. Shampoo. Rinse Rinse Rinse. Use conditioner and Rinse Rinse Rinse. Any residue will cause dandruff and gooey hair. Also, I read (and agree) that you should use lukewarm water - not warm water. Test on your wrist like baby formula. That helped ALOT! I clean her eye-goo after bath to get a fresh face.


The only spray conditioner she'll tolerate is John Paul Oatmeal Conditioning Spray. I never spray it right on her hair as it's just too much. When she is mostly dry, before the final comb through, I spray it on my hands and put on her coat. Sometimes she'd get kind of frantic at the end of bath and I discovered she needed to go potty after the relaxing bath. That took care of that!


She really objects to products with a strong scent. So the nonallergenic unscented EarthBath shampoo & conditioner and the John Paul spray are what we found.


We use a pin brush if necessary and never let it touch her skin. Our favorite comb has "rotating teeth" and reduces pulling. She prefers the comb to the brush.
https://www.amazon.com/Evolution-She...rotating+teeth


Also, never brush against the hair growth pattern and like someone else mentioned, start at the bottom of the hair and work toward the skin slowly. She does not object at all but can be wiggly. Before her comb out I use one of my old waffle hair towels to help her dry. We can not blow her dry, her skin is just too sensitive. So we do let her run - yes, the zoomies! We love it! Luckily we have a "runway" that's safe. I think she's blow drying her own hair as she races back and forth. Then we do the grooming - on top of the washing machine with a nonslip pad. She gets her favorite treat when all is done.


Your vet can check to see if there is any reason for the dandruff your dog has. Learning to groom your dog and your dog accepting grooming can build such a good relationship between you. Be patient. Use treats. And persevere. It is very worth it to have a pup who learns to trust you and it will benefit the rest of your training. It took us a while but now it's a pleasure. (Except for clipping those pesky nails. lol) :animal-pa