Yet again we have come home from a romp in the woods with one muddy pup !usually I let him dry off and then stand him in the bath to wash off.....he doesnt like this as he doesnt seem to like water of any kind!!
He is also getting too big to carry upstairs !

Many dog friends say they hose theirs off in the garden and let them dry off before going indoors, I have just tried this but he didnt take to kindly to this either and ran all over the place.

Would it be OK to tie him up whilst I hose? rather than rely on son holding his lead? or has anyone any better idea as to how to get him cleaner ? He is long haired and as ghe is tall it is only his legs that need doing mostly !
my dad suggested a cast iron bath in the garden - part ornamental and then functional in the winter when needed! do more experienced owners think this would be a safe option for him ? he does jump out of the bath indoors !

Any help or ideas will be appreciated!

Jude

Hi Jude,

When my lot get mucky there is no way i can carry them anywhere (great danes!) so I get 2 buckets with warm water and give them a quick sponge down. this way they don't get too cold , like using a hose, and you can control how much water you put on, so not getting them over wet. I also find they don't mind this too much, and if I am on my own I do tie them with a slip knot.
HTH

Grace

Buckets!

thats it ! a great idea you are dead right Monty did get over wet with the hose which sort of defeated the object of hosing rather than bathing in a bath full of water !

Just spoken to my sister who has been having the same problem with her dog as well and she too is going to start with buckets!!

the hose is OK if he would stand still but since he has an aversion to water of any kind it was tricky getting the aim right !

Thanx all!
jude

:) Glad to be of service ;)

Good Luck, I got mine for £1 each from Poundstretcher! (the buckets, not the dogs!)

Grace

great minds and all that my sister said Pound stretcher!!

jude

Glad to help! :) My bucket is old Boots nappy bucket (baby is now nearly 17 and doesn't need it any more!:D)

Hi Jude,
When my lot are muddy I use a bucket of warm water (warm because I've got real girly circulation!) in the garden - standing one foot in turn into the bucket and rubbing the mud off (especially from between their toes!). I tried a hose once and it was a disaster! It's usually only their feet that get really bad because with their smooth coats any body mud dries and just falls off.

I'm afraid mine just get the cold hose in the garden - my theory is they can jump in the icy cold lake, they can cope with a splash from the hose! My bitch is quite happy to live with this, my boy isn't quite so happy but seems to avoid wet and muddy ground - perhaps for that reason!!! :D
Hayley

If you live anywhere near certain BP garages, you can now use their recently installed 'Dog Washes' ;-)

Is this where they have put these machines?!!
I saw an article in the newspaper about these gizmos the other week , apparently they are a big hit in spain! and about to go nationwide in the UK !!
Has anyone had a go yet ?

I thibnk at £5 a time I will stick to buckets ! unless we have a REALLY muddy experience!

jude

haven't used the ones at the garages but a local pet food warehouse to me has a similar thing, and they only charge £1 for extra dogs! it was worth taking my Akita X cos he drops so much ahir when you bath him, at least I didn't have to clear up the mess :D
I've also used one of those mobile vans that come to your house and bath the dogs in the van outside your house. this was good as the dogs knew they were still "home" and I was there while it was done. Cost more than a bucket though ;)
The bucket works for me and mine, so I'll stick with it I think

Grace

Admin
I work for Bp and that's the first i've heard of dog washes!

Alison

They were on the TV the other day ..Friday I think

Melody :)

Did I get the garage wrong Alison? I read it in the Daily Mail some weeks ago now?

Hi well it seems not! As you can see from melody's post it was on tv! Not at work again now until saturday (only work weekends now) but will definitely find out. So what exactly are these dog washes apart from i suppose a glorified hose pipe:)
Alison

Have a look here, Alison - can't see it coping with my very hairy Rough Collie youngster, somehow :D

Marina

Thanks Marina
What will they think of next??????????
Alison

Bizarre, innit Alison - would have thought that for any dog with enough coat to make a bucket in the garden impossible (i.e. definitely mine, who regularly come back from walks looking like bog monsters!), it would be useless - you'd get halfway through and the token would run out, just like it does when I'm trying to vacuum my car at the garage :)

M.

In answer to that question, see the new thread 'This is what they will think of next!'

Sarah