I keep saying this but I am a new German Sheperd owner and have never raised a pup. I heard that its not good to bathe german sheperds more then 2-3 times per year, is that true??? If so then what do you do to keep them smelling better????
Bathing too Frequently
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Molly is going to be 4 this year and I think she has only had 3 or 4 baths her entire life. I really only bathe her when she rolls in something stinky out in the yard.
She isn't really stinky otherwise so we don't really have a normal grooming routine. The only thing I do is brush her about once week to get the dead undercoat off of her.
She isn't really stinky otherwise so we don't really have a normal grooming routine. The only thing I do is brush her about once week to get the dead undercoat off of her.
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I only bath Shane once every few months, that only cause he manages to find something dirty to get into! Shane doesn't really smell bad...if anything, he smells like Frito's...which I don't mind! GS don't need to be wash all the time, but do you have to brush them!
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i was just thinking about this the other day -- i used to bathe my dogs about once a month and never had any problems with a dull coat or dry skin (used natural shampoo with oatmeal, tea tree oil, etc...). i was looking thru my calendar and realized that they've now not had a bath in 6 months and they're still just as shiny and virtually odor free. thinking back over the last 6 months i have improved their diet & grooming habits, so at this point i'd have to equate it to those things. they're both on a canidae+wellness blend, and also eating raw about 3-4 days per week (which includes hole raw eggs and flaxseed oil). i could lie and say i brush them daily... but really its just a couple times a week.
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I have also heard that diet can play a big role on how our dog's smell. Molly has pretty much been eating premium dog food her whole life and I've never noticed any unusual smells to her. She doesn't have "doggie breath" either. She does chew her nylabones every day and that helps keep her teeth clean, but she also enjoys a good marrow bone every once in a while. The vet even asked me if I brushed her teeth and we don't
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I also make sure to wash her blankets often because I have noticed that those get a little smelly from time to time.
So I think as I am reading a lot of information today, I need to get him on a better diet, I have to be honest, he eats junk. I don't want to tell you the kind of dog food I feed him, I might get kicked off the board for cruelty, but my hint is I get it at the grocery store. I am rookie so don't think I am being mean on purpose but my other dogs were fine on Grocery store food and I really can't afford alot of pet store food. Any suggestions???
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Canidae i've found is the most reasonably priced high quality food. Also, if you look at it in terms the the amount of food you feed - you actually arent paying too much more. Grocery store brands use alot of fillers which requires your dog to have to eat more in order to meet its dietary and nutritional needs. high quality diets generally require only half the amount if you compare the suggested feedings.
I'm not sure what part of Ca you're in, but at Ralphs grocery store - the only decent food I've found is the Lassie/Natural Way brand.
Costco/Kirkland also has good quality food for a great price.
I'm not sure what part of Ca you're in, but at Ralphs grocery store - the only decent food I've found is the Lassie/Natural Way brand.
Costco/Kirkland also has good quality food for a great price.
I bath my pup when needed, which is when she gets dirty.
So if she gets dirty say two weeks after her last bath, I will bath her. If she manages stay relatively clean for months on end, then heck, I won't bother with a bath.
Her coat is in excellent condition, and does not have any odor.
I do groom her coat daily.
Her littermate however, has not been bathed ever. But he tends to just hang out within their large, enclosed property, so he doesn't really get too filthy.
The puppies are now 8 months.
This is how I deal with baths. I know owners who oppose to frequent baths, but to me, that is all relative and totally dependent on necessity.
So if she gets dirty say two weeks after her last bath, I will bath her. If she manages stay relatively clean for months on end, then heck, I won't bother with a bath.
Her coat is in excellent condition, and does not have any odor.
I do groom her coat daily.
Her littermate however, has not been bathed ever. But he tends to just hang out within their large, enclosed property, so he doesn't really get too filthy.
The puppies are now 8 months.
This is how I deal with baths. I know owners who oppose to frequent baths, but to me, that is all relative and totally dependent on necessity.
When you feed the premium foods the dogs don`t eat as much so they sometimes only work out to be marginally more money to feed than the grocery store brands. Another bonus is less poop to pick up and fewer trips to the vets for health issues. I feed Orijen {not for growing pups. Too much protein}, and Honest Kitchen with some fresh meat mixed in but these foods are very pricey. I think Innova is more reasonably priced as is Blue Buffalo , **** Van Pattens food, and Wellness. I am sure others have done some cost comparisons to help you choose.
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Probably not. My dog eats Canidae, has always eaten quality food but she smells really bad today. Since her last bath, she has been swimming in the ocean, swimming in the pool, laying in a dirt pile (constantly) and running through the garden.
She's just a dirty dog, always has been and there's nothing I can do except bath her often with puppy shampoo. EarthBath puppy is very mild and she doesn't get dry skin no matter how often I use it.
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I have also heard that diet can play a big role on how our dog's smell.
Absolutely!
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The skin is the biggest organ of the body, so if your dog smells, it's bc he's detoxing all the junk inside of him through the skin.
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I bath my dogs maybe twice a year -unless they roll themselves in something smelly- and they don't smell at all. They also don't have that greasy feel a lot of dogs (with unhealthy diets) have.
Not only do you feed less amount when feeding a high quality kibble (bc the dog is getting more nutrients from it), you will also save $$$ long term, since your dog will be healthier for it.
Absolutely!
The skin is the biggest organ of the body, so if your dog smells, it's bc he's detoxing all the junk inside of him through the skin.
I bath my dogs maybe twice a year -unless they roll themselves in something smelly- and they don't smell at all. They also don't have that greasy feel a lot of dogs (with unhealthy diets) have.
Not only do you feed less amount when feeding a high quality kibble (bc the dog is getting more nutrients from it), you will also save $$$ long term, since your dog will be healthier for it.
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When switching him over to the new food, make sure to switch him over slowly as to not upset his tummy. Sometimes switching food over cold turkey messes with their stomachs. So add a little bit of the new food to the food he is used to eating and then slowly increase the amount of new food to his diet as you decrease his old food. It usually takes me about a month to get Molly completely on a new food if we have to switch. Just some suggestions
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show people bath their dogs frequently, sometimes twice a week depending on how many shows and the amount of goop they put in it. Chopper seems to take it quite well. But usually I put him on the table and blow him out with a high powered blow dryer. It blows the hair and dirt off his skin/coat and distributes natural oils.
Does that mean you don't bathe Chopper, you just blow him off?? Or do you do both???? Oso is at the groomer now and they said that his skin doesn't seem to be bothered by the bathing. I don't see any signs of skin irritation and his coat is beautiful. The only raw spot is on his nose because he is digging a tunnel all the way to China, hahaha. Yes, he is a digger.
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My dog gets bathed monthly-Three days before I put frontline on, she has a great coat and skin. Her only skin problems have come from brushing too hard and fast so now instead of brushing her I will just blow her off with a high velocity dryer. I'm a groomer and she follows me around at work so I will just point the dryer at her sometimes while I'm drying another dog.
I have noticed since switching to canidae her coat is softer and shinier than ever before, diet definitely helps!
I have noticed since switching to canidae her coat is softer and shinier than ever before, diet definitely helps!
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I bath my dogs quite often, twice a week. I think they enjoy bathing, maybe it is to hot here.
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I only bath her every once in a while, maybe once in the spring, twice in the summer and once in the winter. I just love the way she feels after a nice bath. Other than that, I brush her daily and she does not have a doggy smell, unless she is wet, and that is not too bad.
She tends to get dirter in the winter because of the the sand on the sidewalks.
She tends to get dirter in the winter because of the the sand on the sidewalks.
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