I need grooming help!

FG167 · 09-22-2011, 07:22 PM

Kastle collects about 1/2 lb of dirt in his fur during the week. It is disgusting and highly noticeable when he gets his weekly/bi-weekly baths (he pees on himself when he throws a temper tantrum...*sigh*). Is there a good way to keep the dirt under control? I am assuming (and hoping!) that the bathing will decrease soon and then should I continue to bathe him? Brush him daily? He actually start to smell like dirt if I wait too long in between....

Here are two pictures just because

**JakodaCD OA** · 09-22-2011, 07:27 PM

he may not like it at first, but I would get a metro air force blower..I am telling you I can NOT live without mine , I've had it for over 12 years..My dogs LOVE getting blown out, haven't had one yet who hated it..but it is noisy, kinda like a loud vac,,and most puppies do need to get used to it.

It is a lifesaver tho,,I hardly ever bathe my dogs, I just blow them out once a week with the blower,,(gotta do it outside!)..it blows off dead hair, dirt, dander, whatever isn't nailed down to the dog..Best investment I have ever made.

paulag1955 · 09-22-2011, 07:51 PM

We brush Shasta every day. Also, we use baby wipes on her feet when she comes in from outside. She still carries in a lot of dirt, but it does help.

FG167 · 09-22-2011, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakodaCD OA

he may not like it at first, but I would get a metro air force blower..

Which kind do you have/recommend?

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulag1955

We brush Shasta every day. Also, we use baby wipes on her feet when she comes in from outside. She still carries in a lot of dirt, but it does help.

He's starting to lose all the soft puppy fluff, is that normal? He hardly has any guard hairs yet. We do wipe his feet a lot but the dirt is collecting all the way up to his elbows and hocks. Can't see it but when I rinse, and rinse, and rinse....

onyx'girl · 09-22-2011, 08:38 PM

An undercoat rake is what I use mostly on Kacie, then a bristle brush to smooth the fluff on the legs and butt area. If you run into any matting, corn starch worked into the tangles will help. I trim the foot floofs so she won't drag in the mud, tree droppings. I don't use baby wipes, but will use a damp or dry towel to get the dirt out.
Spring will be the worst, the long coat on the tail acts like a magnet and carries everything inside.

paulag1955 · 09-22-2011, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FG167

He's starting to lose all the soft puppy fluff, is that normal? He hardly has any guard hairs yet. We do wipe his feet a lot but the dirt is collecting all the way up to his elbows and hocks. Can't see it but when I rinse, and rinse, and rinse....

Is he wet when he's collecting that much dirt? If Shasta is damp/wet and dirty, we towel her off as best we can, brush her, wipe her feet and then she goes to her crate for a nap. When she wakes up, she is usually dry and a slicker brush will get out all that (now dry and loose) dirt in the dense fur of her hocks. We don't notice as much of a problem with her front legs. Also, check the bottom of his feet...if there is a lot of fur there, you might want to have that trimmed up.

Freestep · 09-23-2011, 10:44 AM

I second the Metro dryer. It works wonders at blowing dead hair and debris out of the coat. Wear a face mask when you use it on a dirty dog, though! And it's great for drying after a bath, of course. He may not like it at first, but once he gets used to it, he will probably love it. Both my GSDs love the blow dryer. It's like a massage.

Part of the reason your pup is getting so dirty is that he doesn't have any guard hairs yet. That puppy fuzz is soft and somewhat absorbent. You'll find that once his guard hair comes in, it will tend to shed dirt. So hang in there!

**JakodaCD OA** · 09-23-2011, 06:32 PM

I have this one the 4 HP...it will last you 'forever'
Air Force Commander Vari-Speed Dryers | PetEdge.com

**Samba** · 09-23-2011, 07:27 PM

Love the blow dryers. I blow dirt and hair off about once a week. You will want to introduce it slowly if it gets him cranked up. Some of mine go into bite the hose mode.

e.rigby · 09-23-2011, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakodaCD OA

I have this one the 4 HP...it will last you 'forever'
Air Force Commander Vari-Speed Dryers | PetEdge.com

I like that one, I've used it before. When I worked with llamas we had an even more powerful one that I'd use on my dogs and it also did a great job

09-22-2011, 07:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
FG167 Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 1,428	I need grooming help! Kastle collects about 1/2 lb of dirt in his fur during the week. It is disgusting and highly noticeable when he gets his weekly/bi-weekly baths (he pees on himself when he throws a temper tantrum...sigh). Is there a good way to keep the dirt under control? I am assuming (and hoping!) that the bathing will decrease soon and then should I continue to bathe him? Brush him daily? He actually start to smell like dirt if I wait too long in between.... Here are two pictures just because __________________ Falon ~ Kastle (GSD) ~ Eden (CWC) ~ Sketch (SM) ~ Click dogs' names to view individual blogs

09-22-2011, 07:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
JakodaCD OA Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Location: Old Lyme, CT USA Posts: 14,237	he may not like it at first, but I would get a metro air force blower..I am telling you I can NOT live without mine , I've had it for over 12 years..My dogs LOVE getting blown out, haven't had one yet who hated it..but it is noisy, kinda like a loud vac,,and most puppies do need to get used to it. It is a lifesaver tho,,I hardly ever bathe my dogs, I just blow them out once a week with the blower,,(gotta do it outside!)..it blows off dead hair, dirt, dander, whatever isn't nailed down to the dog..Best investment I have ever made. __________________ Diane Danger Danger vom Kleinen Hain aka Masi "Angel" Jakoda's Bewitchen Sami CD OA OAJ OAC NGC OJC RS-O GS-N JS-O TT HIC CGC "Angel" Steinwald's Four x Four CGC HIC TT Harmonyhill's Hy Jynx NA NAJ NAC NJC RS-N JS-N HIC Jakoda's Jagged Edge

09-22-2011, 07:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
paulag1955 Knighted Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Western Washington Posts: 2,781	We brush Shasta every day. Also, we use baby wipes on her feet when she comes in from outside. She still carries in a lot of dirt, but it does help. __________________ Paula Shasta - GSD (4/30/10) RIP Duchess - Shetland Sheepdog (12/25/88 - 2/14/04)

09-23-2011, 10:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
Freestep Knighted Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,087	I second the Metro dryer. It works wonders at blowing dead hair and debris out of the coat. Wear a face mask when you use it on a dirty dog, though! And it's great for drying after a bath, of course. He may not like it at first, but once he gets used to it, he will probably love it. Both my GSDs love the blow dryer. It's like a massage. Part of the reason your pup is getting so dirty is that he doesn't have any guard hairs yet. That puppy fuzz is soft and somewhat absorbent. You'll find that once his guard hair comes in, it will tend to shed dirt. So hang in there! __________________ Luka von Sontausen, CD Vinca von Sontausen, CGC Freestep's Beluga Whale, BWD

09-23-2011, 06:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
JakodaCD OA Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Location: Old Lyme, CT USA Posts: 14,237	I have this one the 4 HP...it will last you 'forever' Air Force Commander Vari-Speed Dryers \| PetEdge.com __________________ Diane Danger Danger vom Kleinen Hain aka Masi "Angel" Jakoda's Bewitchen Sami CD OA OAJ OAC NGC OJC RS-O GS-N JS-O TT HIC CGC "Angel" Steinwald's Four x Four CGC HIC TT Harmonyhill's Hy Jynx NA NAJ NAC NJC RS-N JS-N HIC Jakoda's Jagged Edge

09-22-2011, 08:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,600	An undercoat rake is what I use mostly on Kacie, then a bristle brush to smooth the fluff on the legs and butt area. If you run into any matting, corn starch worked into the tangles will help. I trim the foot floofs so she won't drag in the mud, tree droppings. I don't use baby wipes, but will use a damp or dry towel to get the dirt out. Spring will be the worst, the long coat on the tail acts like a magnet and carries everything inside.

09-23-2011, 07:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
Samba Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: USA Posts: 6,447	Love the blow dryers. I blow dirt and hair off about once a week. You will want to introduce it slowly if it gets him cranked up. Some of mine go into bite the hose mode.

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