Coat Question's....

[hawk]

After reading the thread about "Rain" a few questions came to mind. In the past Newfies coats were fairly oily~don't know if this is the correct term~which helped when doing water work.

Now a days with all the high tech shampoo's and conditioners and the frequency of bathing I wonder how this effect's the water resistance of their coats?

I know that there are many different types of shampoo and conditioners but is there a basic group of them for dogs doing water work and one for the more dry activities?

 

[OurnewfDarwin]

I'm a total novice---we we only bathe our newf every 8-10 weeks. Brushing and blowing out his coat prevents the breakdown on the oils and lowers the need for actual washing.

 

[hemingway]

I'm a total novice---we we only bathe our newf every 8-10 weeks. Brushing and blowing out his coat prevents the breakdown on the oils and lowers the need for actual washing.

ditto! hem stays pretty "oily" but shiny and soft...people are always asking me if he just had a bath!

 

[CMDRTED]

Yup, that hasn't afected my 5 at all. They stay "oily."

 

[R Taft]

My washing "program" is a good comb through, all the trimming (feet and ears).......6 sticks, on huge lake with beautiful clean water and throw them as far as i can :lol: for each dog.......

The day Lukey got "best in Group" we had no time to wash and bathe the dogs, due to some mishaps at my work and car problems.......We decided to do this method, blew them dry (no shampoo's at all) and did some tough-ups with horse no-tangle spray.

Everyone commented on how good the dogs looked :lol:

I think good coats come from the "inside". healthy dog = good coat. I just wish we could show the natural coat........Annabelle looks like hippy at present. Katy and Lukey are constantly trimmed.

I have not shampoo'd our dogs since. Mind you we have no fleas, tick or problem water here, so we are lucky that way. We do not get the Staph/fungal infections (rare) when dogs are left wet, so I think our climate makes a difference

 

[Leonard and his bud Snuffles]

ditto! hem stays pretty "oily" but shiny and soft...people are always asking me if he just had a bath!

I get the shiny/soft comments a lot too. Snuffles' last bath was in July 2010. I find brushing as well as drying after swiming (few times a year) as well as blowing his coat out now and then seems to keep him in shape.

 

[sbarkhouser]

Ok, so being the crunchy person I am...I've seriously considered (often and still) going no-poo and this post made me think of it for the dogs. Anyone use this philosophy with their dogs too??

 

[M & M's Mom Linda]

We only wash every 4 months...a little more for the holiday season. Barry took them both out today and blew the the dust and dander out...that helps.

 

[hawk]

Hmmmm~does no-poo mean no shampoo?

 

[sbarkhouser]

LOL....yes it does Hawk. Google it, although I'm sure you're already familiar with the idea.

 

[ardeagold]

Part of the key is using shampoo with the proper pH for a dog. That means using dog shampoo and not human shampoo. Their pH is around 6.5-7, ours is around 4.5-5.5. That means their skin is more alkaline and ours is more acidic. So you want to use a shampoo that's right for their coat and skin so you don't dry it out.

Interestingly the new Panagenics shampoo by Eric Salas is to be used with distilled water to wash the dog (you put it in a sprayer versus soaking down the dog with tap water). Distilled water has a pH of 7.

 

[Pipelineozzy]

I have some that haven't been bathed for a year...and their coats are lustrous and healthy. They are blown out on a regular basis..and in the winter, they snow roll and play...in the summer..they get wet from natural sources. I think their coats are actually less "fuzzy" and damaged than when I used to soap them up and scrub them all the time. The blower works wonders.

 

[Lauren W]

They are blown out on a regular basis.. The blower works wonders.

When you say "blown out" what exactly doe sit mean. I am thinking it is either using the blower to get all the loose hair to come out or using a blower when you brush? Would love to know the secret.

 

[hawk]

Great to know about the PH~ we usually use dog shampoo though recently tried Mane and Tail which is for horses~seems to work nicely. Are ALL dog shamposs the same PH?

 

[Pipelineozzy]

When you say "blown out" what exactly doe sit mean. I am thinking it is either using the blower to get all the loose hair to come out or using a blower when you brush? Would love to know the secret.

I use the blower as an alternative to brushing a lot of the time. It removes dead hair..removes dander, and freshens the coat. With ten of them, there is no way I am going to get the ALL brushed out every week..but if I can keep them blown out it makes a huge difference in how the coats look and feel. I just take them outside and use the blower like I would if I was drying them....go over them completely with it..and if I find a spot that makes a lot of hair fly..I go over that area until there is no more hair flying I actually pretty much NEVER brush without blowing them out first, and I NEVER bath them without blowing them out first to get rid of loose hair before I begin. No point in shampooing hair that isn't going to stay anyway right? ON the main body..I go AGAINST the lay of the hair..but on the furnishings..pants and feathers..go WITH or you will cause snaggles in the hair. And I do it again AFTER I brush them out to get the loose stuff that the brush missed. I have a REALLY old circuteer dryer...(and can't believe I haven't killed it yet..bought it in 89!) I've been asked several times WHY my Landseers are so white...and I think that's the main reason, the dirt never gets ground in if you keep the coats blown out. And, dirt can actually "cut" coats, this helps prevent that too.

 

[hemingway]

When you say "blown out" what exactly doe sit mean. I am thinking it is either using the blower to get all the loose hair to come out or using a blower when you brush? Would love to know the secret.

Yes- and I do the same thing...I use the dog dryer on him every other day (or so) to get off dead skin, dirt, loose hairs, etc. works like a charm! also brush him out regularly.

 

[heather pluciennik]

Yep Morgan gets a good blow a couple times a week. Only bath when she smells like our lake which is about once a month. Could go all winter with out one as long as she's blown on a regular basis. More if needed. Dog shampoo only!

 

[Capri]

Yes, a regular blow is just as good as a bath.. I'm missing my dryer.. it's still at home after my move.. getting it back in TWO more weeks..!!

Healthy dog on the inside = healthy coat.