2SpoiledAussies
Well-Known Member
My grandmother raised and showed Shelties, and learned the tricks of the trade to grooming. Later, she started a dog grooming business. I've bathed dogs there many summers, and it is so much fun. No one ever left her, because the other places in town didn't make the dog's clean last a month+. She recently had to quit her business, and her customers have been devestated. This is a great technique for all dogs, and it can be converted to home-use.
First of course, brush out tangles. The only brush we EVER used was a slicker brush. It is gentle on the dogs, great for mats, and can be used all over their body.
Then is the Bath. We have found Nature's Speicalties, Plum Silky to be the best. It makes the dogs smell clean, and feel so good! Water it down (A LOT) for the body, but don't water it down for the face (that way it doesn't run into the eyes). It is best to have a faucet head that will move around, but isn't required. At home, I actually bathe my dogs in the shower because we have the removable shower head in there! Always start with warm (not hot) water at its face. Not only will this make the dog not be scared of getting its face wet, but if it has fleas (I doubt any of your pets do, but better be safe then sorry) it will make it to where the fleas won't hide in the ears and come out later (This has happened to my one of my old dogs at Petsmart). Then wet down the whole rest of the body. Next you will rub the concentrated soap into the face. Get it nice and clean. Then rub the watered down soap throughout the body. Make sure to get the undersides and the neck. Massage it in! This is probably the most important part. Don't just clean the hair, but the skin too! This is what will make them clean longer. And it is much healthier for dog's hair if you bathe them about every month (different breeds are different, but a month is a good average), because it keeps the natural oils. Then rinse!
Then drying. At her grooming shop, we always set them under a fan from 30 minutes to 2 hours, then dried them with a force dryer. If you can't set them under a fan, then that's ok. And if you don't have a force dryer, the strongest blowing thing you have is great. We lent our force dryer out, so the last time I bathed my dogs, I used a hair dryer. It is best to brush while you are drying. Blow back and for the with the hair, until the root are dry. You can tell if they looked clumped and pushed against the skin then they are probably not dry. If your dog is shedding this will take a while, but it is a great way to get all that hair gone.
We always used cologne at the shop, but I never do at home. But it might be good to invest in some if you are trying not to give too many baths, or need a smell gone. Any will work, most don't last long though.
Hope this has helped! I'm sure I forgot something, so just ask any questions you have! And here are the 2 products I mentioned, and where we get them:
Nature's Specialty. Plum Silky
Brush: http://www.petedge.com/product/Grooming/Grooming-Tools/Combs-Brushes-Rakes/Oscar-Frank-Universal-Small-Slicker-Brush/pc/190/c/214/sc/276/43318.uts
Nature's Specialties, Plum Silky: http://www.naturesspecialtiesmfg.com/product/16_82/plum-silky---16oz
First of course, brush out tangles. The only brush we EVER used was a slicker brush. It is gentle on the dogs, great for mats, and can be used all over their body.
Then is the Bath. We have found Nature's Speicalties, Plum Silky to be the best. It makes the dogs smell clean, and feel so good! Water it down (A LOT) for the body, but don't water it down for the face (that way it doesn't run into the eyes). It is best to have a faucet head that will move around, but isn't required. At home, I actually bathe my dogs in the shower because we have the removable shower head in there! Always start with warm (not hot) water at its face. Not only will this make the dog not be scared of getting its face wet, but if it has fleas (I doubt any of your pets do, but better be safe then sorry) it will make it to where the fleas won't hide in the ears and come out later (This has happened to my one of my old dogs at Petsmart). Then wet down the whole rest of the body. Next you will rub the concentrated soap into the face. Get it nice and clean. Then rub the watered down soap throughout the body. Make sure to get the undersides and the neck. Massage it in! This is probably the most important part. Don't just clean the hair, but the skin too! This is what will make them clean longer. And it is much healthier for dog's hair if you bathe them about every month (different breeds are different, but a month is a good average), because it keeps the natural oils. Then rinse!
Then drying. At her grooming shop, we always set them under a fan from 30 minutes to 2 hours, then dried them with a force dryer. If you can't set them under a fan, then that's ok. And if you don't have a force dryer, the strongest blowing thing you have is great. We lent our force dryer out, so the last time I bathed my dogs, I used a hair dryer. It is best to brush while you are drying. Blow back and for the with the hair, until the root are dry. You can tell if they looked clumped and pushed against the skin then they are probably not dry. If your dog is shedding this will take a while, but it is a great way to get all that hair gone.
We always used cologne at the shop, but I never do at home. But it might be good to invest in some if you are trying not to give too many baths, or need a smell gone. Any will work, most don't last long though.
Hope this has helped! I'm sure I forgot something, so just ask any questions you have! And here are the 2 products I mentioned, and where we get them:
Nature's Specialty. Plum Silky
Brush: http://www.petedge.com/product/Grooming/Grooming-Tools/Combs-Brushes-Rakes/Oscar-Frank-Universal-Small-Slicker-Brush/pc/190/c/214/sc/276/43318.uts
Nature's Specialties, Plum Silky: http://www.naturesspecialtiesmfg.com/product/16_82/plum-silky---16oz