my 5 month jack russell bitch doesn't seem to clean herself very well. i noticed yesterday that she had quite a grubby (winkle as i like to call it..) and it was a bit pink around the crease. i cleaned it with a very mild disinfectant solution (suitable for babies) and cotton wool and it seems much better now - normal coloured. but im a bit concerned that she doesn't really clean herself, occasionally she'll have a look at it and give it a single cursory lick but that's all. is this a problem ? or will it get better when she's had her first season and realises that she needs to clean it ?
sarah
(owner of/owned by dirty-bottomed lily)

Some dogs clean themselves, others dont, its like humans!!!

I have had a bicth that didnt clean herself till her second season (first one was a real mess) but after that she has stayed clean, i think its a case of wait and see if she canges her mind but if no improvment then you have have to do it for her:) nice huh?

Rox

Y'see you need to get a cat like breed like the akitas,never done giving themselves a wash,quite amazing,sandra.

Well it's always bottom cleaning in our house as the Bulldogs cant get around to clean them selves, each morn and night wipe faces/ears/tums and bums,( lovely and clean) thats the fun of owning a Bulldog :-)

at least your bulldogs have an excuse, my lily is just lazy ! :D

My Cairn cleans herself often, but the hairs still get a bit matted and stuck sometimes.  I use blunt end scissors (baby scissors) to trim around the area.

I often have to clean Abby's bum as well if I do not keep that area trimmed back.  The hair tends to grow around her back end and poo can end up sticking.  

This is the kind of thing they never seem to write about in dog books! :-o

Stacey

Hello Lilly's Mum

My Molly (7 month westie) has also given me cause for concern in this area!  When she was very young she had a poorly tum and got poo all over herself down there aswell (hope you know what I mean!!!!).  the only way she would let me near her was for hubby to get her on her back on his lap and then basically drip feed her treats.  She lay there like cleopatra or something!  We use baby wipes for both bottoms as the poo tends to get caught in her white hair.  Lovely.

it is absolutely impossible to clean her on my own, my boyfriend holds her on her back whilst i try and wipe between the flurry of kicking legs, im sure she only has 4, seems more like 20....